Ridpath's history of the world; being an account of the ethnic origin, primitive estate, early migrations, social conditions and present promise of the principal families of men .. . 41 what facts or circumstances, what condi-tions of knowledge may be said to existfrom which evidence and informationmay be drawnconcerning theearliest stages ofhuman existence—that uncon-scious and infan-tile condition be-yond the reach ofall ethnic mem-ory—beyond thehorizon of lightand vision ? Arethere any sourcesof thought andreflection, .suffi-ciently maturedto take the nameo f knowledge,from which, as ifby a
Ridpath's history of the world; being an account of the ethnic origin, primitive estate, early migrations, social conditions and present promise of the principal families of men .. . 41 what facts or circumstances, what condi-tions of knowledge may be said to existfrom which evidence and informationmay be drawnconcerning theearliest stages ofhuman existence—that uncon-scious and infan-tile condition be-yond the reach ofall ethnic mem-ory—beyond thehorizon of lightand vision ? Arethere any sourcesof thought andreflection, .suffi-ciently maturedto take the nameo f knowledge,from which, as ifby a mirror, lightand intelligencemay be throwninto that remoteregion below thedawn of our race-consciousness? Fortunately—most fortunately-—such sources ofknowledge d oactually of themhave been dis-covered in com-paratively recenttimes. Severalfields of investi-gation haveopened their treasures to the human mind, and withevery stage of the exploration new andvaluable evidence has been gained rela-tive to the great questions which we M.—Vol. 1—4 have placed at the head of this whole group of sciences, growingever more luminous with each additional. OF MANKIND—WHEN AND WHERE ?Drawn by Emile Bayard. discovery, have yielded their results,from which ever-improving generaliza-tions may be drawn regarding the prim-itive stages through which the race of 42 GREAT RACES OE MANKIND. man has come into its present state. The principal of these sciences are as follows: Astronomy, Geol- Cycle of sciences that may be ogy, Archaeology, Palseon- made to testify. tQ{ogy} Anthropology, Eth-nology, Ethnography, Tradition, andHistory—the last named including thepoems, the dim chronicles, and mis-shapen annals in which the records ofthe Ancient World are mostly contained—and finally Chronology proper. edge which considers the distribution,motions, and characteristics of the heav-enly bodies. It has for its Astronomy con- first and immediate sub- tan^da^ST*ject the
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