TO-DAY and TO-MORROW.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 306, 23 December 1908, Page 9

TO-DAY and TO-MORROW.

Now that it has come to the fine point Of Only 2 days, to-day and tomorrow, on which it is possible to subscribe for the Historians , History of the World, many words are out of place. The Form of Subscription put at the foot of this page —valid only if used to-day or to-morrow—speaks in so compelling a tone as renders nugatory anything that could be repeated as to the offer except that there are now only two days left on which you can avail yourself of it. Tear off the form and despatch it at once with P.O. for 7/e. You will seldom have taken action upon which you will look back with more entire satisfaction. At this eleventh hour there is only one consideration to which it seems pertinent to invite your attention —the consideration of what the History proves itself to be in the experience of those who have already possessed themselves of the volumes in New Zealand. In respect of such a possession as the History —of which you have already seen a full description in the prospectus, and of which the general interest and utility are easily conceived —no testimony from which you might gather confirmation as to its value to you individually is stronger than that offered by those around you who have already purchased and gained practical experience of the work.

The opinions formed of the History by Lord Roberts, Lord Cromer, Lord Curzon, Lord Milner, Mr. Haldane, Admiral Sir John Hopkins, the Bishop of London, the late President Cleveland, and other leading men in England and America, have already been published. When favourable opinions of this kind are endorsed over and over again, many hundreds of times, by purchasers of all callings in New Zealand — professional men, men of business, farmers, manufacturers, working mcn —then the testimony assumes such weight as is fairly overwhelming. It is impossible to go wrong in acquiring a possession which calls forth such expressions of enthusiasm — and not from unbiassed critics, but from men and women who judge closely of something which they have bought in the belief that it would prove a possession of exceptional value, and that it was offered to them at an exceptionally low price.

You can see that to be without a possession which means so much to your neighbours is to be at a disadvantage. More than one purchaser of the History speaks of its pages as affording a "revelation." History has for too long dropped out of the horizon of the general reader in all English-speaking countries. Now that it has been rendered available to all, an acquaintance with history will count heavily in a man or woman's favour as the years pass.

To all who have not already done so, we would add an invitation to come and ice the Historians' History at the N.Z, Herald Office.

is all that need be paid to-day in order to secure free delivery of the complete 25 volumes (with the Oak Bookcase if required; at the introductory subscription price, the balance of which is payable in monthly ininstalments — starting one month after yot have received the volumes — of the same small amount. Every reader of this paper can afford 7/ 6 to-day, and very few can have reason t< hesitate in committing themselves to the extent of 7/ e a month. You make your purchasi gradually, without noticing it, while you are enjoying the use of the books. You could no make a sounder investment. The price has already been raised in England, and in two day the History will cost £3/2/6 more than its present price in New Zealand, plus the cost o freight and charges. The Times will never again sell the History for less than this higher price at which it will continue to have a perennial sale, for the History is indispensable, withou rival, and, unlike a work of science, will never grow out of date. Nor is the History a b'bol which you will read once and then lay aside. It tells too great a story, and in too engrossing j fashion, for that. It will remain for your lifetime, and for those who come after you, a stori of inexhaustible interest and instruction. ggf Because you take the History note upon the instalment system, you are not bound to thi method of purchase. You may at any time pay the balance in cash. If by so doing, or by making higher monthly payments, you complete purchase before the stipulated time, you will be entitled t a discount of 5 per cent, upon the amount that would ho~* been outstanding, had you made pay ments of only the usual amount. Only pay your 7/6 now.

Some typical letters from purchasers in New Zealand.

It teems almost a dUeourtety not to puilis7t the whole collection of letters received from purchasers of the History in New Zealand, so warm is their appreciation and su desirous are they that others should profit by their experience while there is still time to do so. At the letters, however, would fill many pages of this paper, a few are printed here as typical of the rest. Multiply each letter by fifty, and you will have some idea of what the History is to others, and would be to you.

The Record Price. The " Southland Times," Invercargill. I pronounce it a " magnum opus "in '■ the best sense of the term, and one for ha which all English-speaking' peoples must th; for ever be under a heavy obligation to a the publishers. From my knowledge of I the " Times " people I had no hesitation an about ordering- the work by your own tui description, but I must tell you that the 301 reality far exceeded even my high expectations. I have barely as yet had time even to scratch the surface of the History, but have read enough to satisfy mc that the money charged is there over and over rie again. How it is done is a mystery, and ac I would not believe the " Times " sworn wi affidavit that there is any profit in then» books at the price, on practically the pur- tot chaser's own terms. or 6th December, 1908. H. F. C. KING, hi: sij "No one can afford not to know His- do tory." by New Plymouth,. be I am more than delighted with the th "Historians' History of the World." For na years I have been longing for such a ca work, and now that it has really come it to is a revelation. It is worth a great deal ac to mc, as my early education was some- of what curtailed; consequently, this oppor- yo tunity to make myself acquainted with M the history of the world in such a read- se able, interesting, manner comes as a al boon. In fact, it will be invaluable to my to family for years to come, for it provides ar interesting and profitable reading for the Y< young people, for no one oan afford not m to know history. I feel sure that I shall re never regret my purchase. m 30th Nov., igoß. John C. Legg. sp to " For tho Whole Family." th 41, Ward Street, Christchurch. ti< On closer acquaintance with the His- th tory lam more in love with it than ever, in I always seem to have something to look cl forward to, and find it a source of T pleasure, amusement, and education, not ci only to myself but my family. bi 10th Dec, 1908. George C. Johnston, it ra p: Tho Advantages of a World Tour. w Patumahoe. H With the work now in my possession I 01 feel that though denied the pleasure of a bi world tour, and the chances such would " afford of seeing men and things, I can now study the different nations and peoples at my leisure. Not only can I see them as at present but from remotest antiquity and follow the building of the race and the nations from the cradle rr of infancy to the majesty of manhood, b In fact, your History affords to everyone (1 availing himself of its possession a liberal f; education In itself. It cannot but enlarge a our ideas, and though not detracting one a whit from our belief and pride in the h great Empire to which we belong, it p must show us that there have been and d ' aife'otheT nations as great in their way J , 7fh December, 1008. Joseph Henry. ,! No Book More Desirable " Te Aomarama," Milton Road, Napier. As one of the ordinary ruck of readers, being neither a student nor a critic, I . have pleasure in expressing my opinion : of " The Historians' History of the , World." Like most workers in these j> ! busy times, fiction and biography have |. i largely entered into my reading; the his- • > torical novel and the lives of soldiers and t statesmen being my favourites. It has V ; always been my custom to verify, or.. 1" otherwise, the statements of the authors t by reference to history. Unfortunately ■> - my purse has not been long enough to . mc with, historical records of every V country of the world. " The Historians' ■- History" has fully supplied my want, £ t ' and has created a taste for historical f knowledge and research which I have s s not hitherto possessed. I can think of ; 3 no work that I could wish to see on my library shelves so much as the " His- < torlans' History." It has more than ful- ""'' filled my expectations regarding it, and is worth much more than the price charged for it. To the ordinary omnivt orous reader such as I am, I can heartily s recommend these 25 volumes as the best r possible investment he or she can make. - J. H. Thompson. • ;' l I For Working Men. ( [. g Serpentine Avenue, Dunedin. '■ a I desire to express my thanks to you for enabling mc, a member of that class of society generally known as working men, to purchase such an instructive and . valuable work as the " Historians' His- ' tory of the World." ' 5 30th Nov., 1908. John MacCallum. j ■y A Vivid Narrative. 1 a- Ohau, Manawatu Line. ; Id The details are given so clearly that t while reading them one has the imprests sion of being actually thefe on the spot. ' iv They give a complete picture of what we get but a glimpse of at our schools. : 17th December, 190 S. J. C. Randall.

"No Reading Man should be without Them." Wesley Parsonage, Napier. For more than a week I have been " in a nook with a book " whenever I could snatch ten minutes from the claims of circuit work. The " book " has been one or another of the 25 superb volumes of the Historians' History of the World, or the excellent supplementary volume on "Australia and New Zealand." No readIng man should be without these, if he can possibly pay the moderate sum asked by the publishers. They are as interesting to my boys as to mc, so pleasantly are they written and illustrated. This " Historians' History" is a delight to the eye of the book-lover, and a prize for the shrewd book-buyer who likes much matter for little money. I trust that the venture will be highly successful. zßth Nov., '08. (Rev.) Albert C. Lawry. " Charm and Fascination." Wellington. I have duly received the cf Historians' History" in good order. A few hours spent in skimming through the different volumes proved its oharm and fascination. You have succeeded in unrolling the ages in a most captivating manner, and retaining all that is keenly interesting. The condensation has been admirably thought out. 28th Nov., 1908. E. E. Hammond. Manager South British Insurance Co. " Incalculable Good." 38 and 40, Nelson Street. Auckland. It is undoubtedly a splendid thing- to have the complete work in the home. So many of us are woefully ignorant of the past events of countries other than England. Here, on one's own shelves, is an easy, interesting and reliable history of any country that one may want, or ought, to know about. I think the publication will do Incalculable good, for I feel sure that many will now be drawn Into an acquaintance with history of which they had hitherto not the slightest conception. This is not the place to enlarge on the fat-reaching and beneficial influence of a knowledge of history. We have only to remember what great master-minds of the world have said on the subject. To say that " The Historians' History of the World " will do much to bring about this knowledge is saying a great deal, yet I am firmly of opinion it is not saying too much. 2nd December, 1908. Frank M. Hills. " A Book that Everyone Ought to Have." Nelson Bros., Ltd. Tomoana, Hawkes Bay. Copy of *" Historians' History of the World " to hand. I have not quite read it all yet (!) but a cursory glance indicates it to be a work of much merit. The amount of work involved in its compilation must have been stupendous, and it strikes mc as a boob that everyone "with a few pounds in his pocket ought to have on his shelves. The matter is good, letterpress good, illustrations good, and general get up excellent. 7th December, 1908. W. Nelson. " More Exciting than Fiction." 12, Onslow Street, St. Albans, Chch. I find the " Historians' History of the World " is a treasury of information, instruction, and entertainment. To those who prefer light reading, or fiction, its all embracing range of worldly records offers stories far surpassing In interest and excitement any works of fiction; while to the scholar and student it is a' mine of unfathomable richness. That such a vast and infinitely various storehouse of historical knowledge should be, offered at a price within the reach of aU, seems to mc a marvel of enterprise.Indeed, I consider the book a monument to the culture, genius, and industry of the promoters and writers, as well as the greatest literary boon ever offered the public. 2nd December, 1008. W. A. McINTOSH* " A Revelation." Carisbrook, Dunedin. The work is much beyond my greatest expectations. The binding (pigskin) is simply the best piece of work I have ever seen, being beautifully tooled and finished in the best style of the bookbinders' art. The printed matter is also excellent, the paper and type being of the very best quality, and showing great care in execution. The read|ng matter Iβ quite a revelation 3rd Dec, 1908. A. C. Nicholson. For the Sake of the Children. Devonport, Auckland. I am more than pleased with the " His tonans' History of the World," it ha: filled a great want. It is not only a ver\ interestingly written book, but is an in ftructive work, and every family ehouli have it, not only for their own benefit but especially for their children's Tin great and beautiful work should do awa< with a lot of u"!ess literature nh Dec. 1008. Elizabeth Johnstone

A Recommendation. Main Street, Palmerston North. I find they fulfill every expectation I ad formed of them. My one regTet is tat I had not been in possession of such comprehensive work many years ago. can honestly recommend the work to nyone who has any love of sound literaire at all. >th November, 1908. John Dillon. " A Book for the Mth Century." Kensington Road. Whangarei. To one has left the greater libraes behind, to one who has never had ccess to them, and to one who realises hat is meant by " the proper study of ran kind is man," the " Historians' His>ry" is, and should be, the brightest rnament in his museum and treasure in is library. What the biograph does for ight, and the gramaphone for sound, is one for every Intelligent person to-day y this History and, as its possession is eyond the means of none, he who misses ie procuring , of the work is not unfortuate, but unwise. If the gramaphone an let you hear to-day's singers and ora»rs, this History can let you hear the ctors in life's history through a multitude f yesterdays. If the biograph can let ou see the London, the Rome, and the lexico of to-day, this History will let you cc—and feel—and enter into the life of II times. In fact, armed with this Hisiry, you. wizard-like, can annihilate time nd space in regard to the story of man. 'ou merely open the volumes and the lasters of language and history do the est. As to the selection, the arrangeient, and the style of the work, I cannot peak too highly. I know what it means 0 probe into Grote and Mommson, to hrust into Motley and Hume. The selecion of material is well nigh perfect for he scope of the work; the arrangement n its smoothness, its continuity and its learness is, if possible, more perfect. ?his, in such a work, is the most diffiult task of all. And then the style, linding, paper, print, and illustrations—„ t is certainly a joy and a possession of are value. To sum up: If the "Encyclo>aedia Britannica " is the greatest literary lork of the last century, the " Historians' listory of the Wctld." alone could have ipened this one successfully. There is >ut one phrase which can epitomise it, ' ne plus ultra." C. S. SOLOMON. "Practically a Gift." Otahuhu. To say I am delighted with it only nildly expresses my satisfaction. Its jinding, paper, type, and illustrations more especially the reproduction of : amous historical pictures by famous irtists) are very fine, and I can sincerely r id vise any reading man or : woman<iioinvest in a copy of it. which, at the iresent price and under the present conditions, IjLjiraoiloaUy _a_glft JoJhe jurghaser. ist December, 1908. HENRY PATCH. A Possession that enriches Life. 112, Worcester Linwood. ' During the last few weeks I have had in opportunity of examining the " His:orians' History of the World," and I can :ruthfully say the more I read it, the greater interest I feel. It seems to mc a ?Teat privilege to read history, substantiated by the highest and latest authorities. I think it is a wonderful opportunity for a working man to improve his education, and to make his acquaintance with the histories of different countries, a branch of learning that is generally inaccessible to men of limited means. 1 fed my life has been considerably enriched by the possession of the " Historians' History of the World," and hope many more will avail themselves of the splendid opportunity of making themselves possessors of this wonderful library. 25th November, 1908. A ; E. Haynes. interesting Wherever It Is Opened. " Koronui,' ,c Te Mata, Co. Raglan. The ground covered is immense, and, unlike many historical works, it is anything but dreary. It is interesting and soems to grip you wherever you open a volume, and the arrangement of the matter appears excellent. 1 feel the better I know the work the better I shall appreciate its worth. sth Deo, 1908. W. Morgan Santart. " Within the roach of all." Tauranga. The« promise a rare treat to one who has always felt the fascination of this most interesting study. Perhaps this history will supply the deficiency caused by the neglect of that study in the New Zealand schools. The means of procuring it are within the reach of all, and, apart from its educational value, it cannot fail to give pleasure to, and interest, the most casual reader. The whole work is admirably got up and beautifully illustrated. 3rd. Dec, 1908. Vincent J. Blake, / Government Surveyor.