1870 reached upwards of $315,000,000, and exports for the same year amounted to more than $254,000,000.

The first steam railway went into operation in 1827, and have since extended their lines until they span the continent from shore to shore with a total length of 72,623 miles. The electric telegraph was first introduced in 1844, and there are now 75,137 miles in use.

The resources of the country in agricultural products, and the mechanical arts, stimulated by the inventive talent and genius of its people, have wonderfully developed.

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In referring to the inventive genius of America, Mr. Charles Reade, a writer of whom England may be justly proud, says: Europe teems with the material products of American genius. American patents print English newspapers, and sew Englishmen's shirts. A Briton goes to his work by American clocks, and is warmed by American stoves. In a word, America is the leading nation in all matters of material invention and construction, and no other nation rivals or approaches her."

In 1836, Congress authorized the appointment of a Commissioner of Patents, which with one assistant was all the help necessary to meet the requirements of the Patent Office. Now a force of nearly 400 are employed, and issue nearly 20,000 patents annually, while the accumulation of models is so great as to

demand for their accommodation one of the largest public buildings in the world.

We may justly point with pride to our educational, religious, charitable, and humane institutions. It is not the design of this article to enter into details, and while we recapitulate some of these great triumphs in the past, we are not content much of the time to look backward. America is still one of the youngest nations of the world. We have no fellowship with those countries whose chief glory is exhumed from the ruins of centuries and milleniums that are past. Our motto is Onward! We welcome other nations that are rapidly adopting our principles of popular liberty, public education and political equality. We bid them welcome to the peaceful contest for the highest honors of the centuries to

come.

The past is secure. What shall be the future? In 1976 the custom of hereditary office holding will be obsolete, and all civilized nations will be practically republics. All will be confederated, and wars will be infrequent. Temptations to crime will be lessened, but criminals will be more surely if less severely punished. The English language will prevail over all North America, as well as in other large portions of the world. Many new editions of this book, or of others of the same kind, will have been published; and there will even then, as now, be

croakers complaining that the present days are not as good as the former, and also men of faith and hope and enthusiasm, looking for better days to come. Read, then, and be happy, for intelligence is an essential element of genuine American citizenship.

E. O. H.

IMPORTANT EVENTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

PRIOR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT.

860 Iceland discovered by Noddod, an adventurous Northman, by accident, and called it Snowland. 864 Flokko attempts to plant a colony on the island (Iceland): he returns to Norway, after spending the winter and spring, and pronounces it unfit for habitation. 874 Iceland settled by a colony from Norway under Earl Ingloff, who sought refuge from tyranny at home. 985 Greenland discovered by Bjarni Herjulf of Norway. 1000 Newfoundland and Nova Scotia discovered by Leif. 1002 The Northman, Thorvald, sails for America. 1170 The Welsh claim the discovery of America by Madog. 1380 Nicolo Zero, a Venetian, sails for America. 1492 Oct. 12. Christopher Columbus discovered America. 1497 July 3. Labrador discovered by John and Sebastian Cabot.

1498 Coast of North America explored by Sebastian Cabot.

1499 Amerigo Vespucci visited South America.

1504 Amerigo Vespucci's narration of discovery published. 1507 The Western Continent first named America. 1512 April 6. Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida. 1519 The Gulf of Mexico explored by Francis de Garay. 1521 Fernando Cortez conquered Mexico.

1522 Magellen makes the first voyage round the world. 1534 June. Jaques Cartier discovered the St. Lawrence

River.

1541 De Soto discovered the Mississippi River.

1565 Sept. 18. The Spaniards settled St. Augustine, Florida.

1602 May 24. Bartholomew Gosnold discovered Cape Cod.