[Illustration: Cover art] THE GREATEST STORY IN THE WORLD PERIOD III The Development of the Modern World [Frontispiece: A COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVE EVER MADE FOR A PUBLIC RAILWAY STANDING UPON THE SAME TRACK ALONG WHICH IT HAULED THE FIRST TRAIN ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, 1825, AND THE "FLYING SCOTSMAN" CROSSING THE OLD LINE AT DARLINGTON.] THE GREATEST STORY IN THE WORLD PERIOD III The Development of the Modern World BY HORACE G. HUTCHINSON LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. FIRST EDITION ... 1926 PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES {v} PREFACE TO PERIOD III In this third and final volume of the Greatest Story in the World I have tried to give an outline sketch of the happenings of the last five centuries. It is the period which must appeal more forcibly than any earlier time to all of Anglo-Saxon race, because it is the Anglo-Saxon race that plays by far the largest role in it, and a role which becomes of constantly increasing interest right down to the present day. We first see Great Britain, in the gallant figures of Elizabeth's sea-captains, as chief actor in thwarting the aims at world empire of Spain. A little while, and we see her again taking the lead in abating the arrogance of the Grand Monarque, Louis XIV. of France. But of far greater importance than even this checking of the powers of the would-be masters of the world is that part which fortune or Providence assigned to her to play so conspicuously throughout the second half of the period which this volume covers--the part of mother of nations. It is thus that the historian, J. R. Green, writes of her as she appeared to the world after the United States had fought their way to independence--not a nation broken by her loss, as all had perhaps expected to find her, possibly a sadder and certainly a wiser nation, but, most surprising of all, stronger and more adventurous.