Classic legends of Atlantis--Chinese and Japanese accounts of early voyages to America--Prince Madoc and the Welsh legends--The voyages of the Vikings--Eric and Leif and their adventures--Columbus and his schemes--The most memorable voyage in history--Post-Columbian voyagers and explorers--Many men from many lands flocking to the newly-discovered continent--A new world opened to the civilization and to the greed of Europe.....17 CHAPTER II. “IN THE GOOD OLD COLONY TIMES.” Parcelling out the country--Foundation of the earliest colonies--Jamestown and its settlers--Strange improvidence of the colonists--Troubles with the Indians--John Smith and Pocahontas--The Pilgrims and Puritans--Substantial growth of the New England Colonies--New York--Troubles with the Mother Country--Growth of the spirit of independence--The War of the Revolution and its results.....60 CHAPTER III. THE STORY OF THE NATION. Establishing a constitutional government--Disputes with other powers--A second war with England--Territorial acquisitions--Settlement and admission of new States--The slavery question--War with Mexico--The rush for gold in California--The Kansas troubles--How the great war was precipitated--The campaigns from Bull Run to Appomattox--Political results of the war--Rapid growth of the country since--The present state of the nation.....105 CHAPTER IV. WORLD’S FAIRS. The origin and object of universal exhibitions--New York’s Crystal Palace--Spirit and hopes of its projectors--Its display of the nation’s greatness--The Centennial Exposition of 1876--Magnitude of the enterprise--Description of its hundred buildings--Calendar of events--An impressive exposition of national development.....146 CHAPTER V. THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. Preparations for a celebration of the quartercentenary of Columbus--Chicago chosen as the site--Marvelous history of the Western Metropolis--How the Columbian Exhibition was organized--Sketches of its promoters--The principal buildings and grounds--Financial arrangements--An exhibition surpassing all its predecessors and fittingly commemorating the birth of a new world.....204 CHAPTER VI. SOCIETY’S FOUNDATION-STONE. Marriage Customs in the United States--Shiploads of women disposed of as wives to the earlier Virginia Planters--The Marriage Relation should be closely guarded--Divorced people, have they _moral_ right to remarry?--A rich man and a stupid wife--Drifting apart--Duty of the Church--Views of a happy wife--Novels, love and marriage--“Beauty and the Beast”--An insulting imputation--_Is it_ the “best match?”--Marriage blunders.....247 CHAPTER VII. THE DEMON OF DIVORCE.