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Front Matter
Preface
T
HERE is little that is of more practical value to the
young folk of to-day than the history of Rome. How a
village kingdom became a mighty republic, how the
republic became a world-embracing empire, how that
empire, the dread and pride of its millions of
subjects, fell so low as to become the sport of its own
soldiers—all this is, indeed, a tale of marvel. But
the history of Rome is more than a mere story. Many of
the difficulties and many of the advantages of the
Roman Republic are akin to those of the American
Republic. The solution of such problems as have already
presented themselves in the United States is even now
demanding the highest wisdom of the land. Other
problems will arise in the near future. Roman history
is a mighty object lesson, of value to every citizen of
our Republic, of especial value to the children into
whose hands the government will so speedily pass. What
is learned in years of maturity is an addition to one's
mental equipment; what is learned in childhood becomes
a part of the mind itself. That those who read this
book may find it of interest to-day, of service
tomorrow, is the wish of the author.
March 1, 1910.
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