Many students and writers upon the signs of the times take an extremely pessimistic view of the situation, and believe that we shall witness "blood to the horses' bridles." No one can deny that things are desperately bad, and that something must be done soon to relieve the strain or the very worst may be apprehended; yet the author prefers to see things through optimistic eyes, and believes that God will raise up a Moses, (or Doctor Jones, if you please,) who will lead us to a higher and better state than this world has yet ever known. The old adage 'It is always darkest just before dawn,' is beautifully applicable to the present state of the world. So I take courage and launch my book out upon the tempestuous sea of humanity, trusting that it may be welcomed as the harbinger of a better and happier era. I am sure that it bears to the world the olive branch of peace.
As is usual with prefaces, this one is anticipatory and can only be appreciated after one has perused the book. So I make the request of the reader that he re-read it after having become acquainted with the scheme and scope of the work.
This volume is to be immediately followed by volumes two and three, which complete the set.
" II. Two men resolve to go picnicking. 7
" III. Mrs. Jones offers some objections. 10
" V. The Government joins the picnickers. 18
" VIII. Relating how the beautiful picnic progressed. 32
" XII. Greenland's Icy Mountains and the Russian Bear. 63
" XV. A model teacher and an ideal student. 94
" XVI. The Count steps over the line. 100
" XVII. Farewell to Beauty and the Beast. 108
" XVIII. Woman locates the North Pole. 118
" XIX. The planting of the Flagstaff. 125
" XX. Battle of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. 135
" XXI. Things material and spiritual. 143
" XXIII. The world at the feet of Doctor Jones. 164
The North Pole! That spot upon earth so environed with trackless fields of unbroken snow and mountains of ice; with an atmosphere so cold that none but the bravest and hardiest of mankind can breathe it and live. And yet these apparently insuperable obstacles have but stimulated men to do and dare all things, so that they might but reach that _ultima thule_. In vain have our utilitarians cried, "Qui bono?" God has planted within man the spirit of lordship and domination; and, true to that spirit, he will never rest until Nature shall have yielded up to him her last secret, and his restless foot shall have trodden the wildest and farthest spot of earth. Then, and not till then, will he stand crowned "Lord of Creation."