An outline of humor / Being a true chronicle from prehistoric ages to the twentieth century

Being a True Chronicle From Prehistoric Ages to the Twentieth Century
Edited by
Carolyn Wells
Editor of “The Book of Humorous Verse,” “A Nonsense Anthology,” etc.
G. P. Putnam’s Sons New York & London The Knickerbocker Press 1923
Copyright, 1923 by Carolyn Wells Houghton
Made in the United States of America
Dedicated WITH Highest Regard TO DOCTOR HUBER GRAY BUEHLER
Outlining is a modern art. For centuries we have collected and selected, compiled and compended, but only of late have we outlined.
And an Outline is a result differing in kind from the other work mentioned, and presenting different conditions and contingencies.
An Outline, owing to its sweep of magnificent distances, can touch only the high spots, and can but skim those. Not in its province is criticism or exhaustive commentary. Not in its scope are long effusions or lengthy extracts.
Nor may it include everybody or everything that logically belongs to it.