The Circle of Knowledge: A Classified, Simplified, Visualized Book of Answers
ESSENTIAL FACTS OF EVERYDAY INTEREST IN NATURE, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, TRAVEL, GOVERNMENT, SCIENCE, INVENTION, EDUCATION, LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION, INDUSTRY, BIOGRAPHY, HUMAN CULTURE, AND UNIVERSAL PROGRESS
Easy to Read; Easy to Understand; Easy to Retain
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HENRY W. RUOFF, M.A., Litt.D., D.C.L. Editor of “The Century Book of Facts,” “The Capitals of the World,” “Leaders of Men,” “The Standard Dictionary of Facts,” “Masters of Achievement,” “The Volume Library,” “The Human Interest Library,” Etc.
NUMEROUS TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS, MAPS TABLES, DUOTONE AND COLOR PLATES
Exclusive Publishers for Canada and Newfoundland: THE JOHN A. HERTEL CO., Ltd. TORONTO, ONTARIO
THE STANDARD PUBLICATION COMPANY BOSTON · WASHINGTON · CHICAGO 1917
Copyright, 1916, by THE STANDARD PUBLICATION COMPANY
Copyright, 1917, by THE STANDARD PUBLICATION COMPANY
All Rights Reserved
All books that are really worth while may be divided into four classes: first, books of information ; second, books of inspiration ; third, books of entertainment ; fourth, books of excitement . By far the most important and practical of these classes is the first. The next in importance is the second; while rather trivial importance attaches to the third and fourth.
THE CIRCLE OF KNOWLEDGE preëminently belongs to the first; but it is also designed to be both inspiring and entertaining. In its methods of presentation and in its editorship it typifies the modern, progressive spirit. Behind it lies a quarter of a century of successful editorial experience in selecting, adapting, and translating from highly technical treatises into simple, clear, understandable language the essentials as well as important sidelights of human knowledge. Its purpose is to answer the why, who, what, when, where, how, of the vast majority of inquiring minds, both young and mature, and to stimulate them to still further questionings. For it is only through this self-questioning process of the active mind that individual progress is possible.
Unknown
---
THE PUBLISHER’S PREFATORY
EDITOR’S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
GENERAL OUTLINE OF CONTENTS
FIRST DIVISION: THE KINGDOMS OF NATURE
SECOND DIVISION: THE KINGDOMS OF MAN
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Color Plates
Diagrams, Maps and Charts
Other Full Page and Text Illustrations
THE WORLDS IN THE SKIES
THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE CONSTELLATIONS
SCIENTIFIC TERMS USED IN ASTRONOMY
BOOK OF THE EARTH
OUR EARTH: ITS STRUCTURE AND SURFACE
A GEOLOGICAL VIEW OF THE GROWTH OF THE EARTH
THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH
ATMOSPHERE, CLIMATE AND WEATHER
BOOK OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM
RELATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE
CHIEF DIVISIONS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS
BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
TABULAR VIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE ANIMAL TYPES
ANIMALS IN CLASSIFIED GROUPS
SCIENTIFIC TERMS CONCERNING ANIMALS
BOOK OF RACES AND PEOPLES
MAN AND THE HUMAN FAMILY
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE RACES OF MANKIND
DICTIONARY OF THE HISTORICAL RACE GROUPS
THE ANCIENT EXTINCT NATIONS
HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY AND DISCOVERY
THE WORLD’S GREATEST EXPLORERS
EXTINCT NATIONS OF THE PAST
THE DARK AND MIDDLE AGES
THE EASTERN OR BYZANTINE EMPIRE
THE SARACEN EMPIRE: ITS FANATICISM, ART AND LEARNING
GERMANIC EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE
LIVING NATIONS OF THE WORLD TO-DAY
BOOK OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
HOW TO SPEAK CORRECT ENGLISH
WRITTEN ENGLISH.
GODS, HEROES AND MYTHICAL WONDER TALES
BOOK OF THE SCIENCES AND INVENTION
APPLIED ARITHMETIC, WEIGHTS AND MEASUREMENTS
THE CALENDAR
CHEMISTRY
HOW TO READ A GAS METER
OUTLINE COURSE OF ELEMENTARY SCIENCE FOR THE GRADES
SOME GREAT MECHANICAL INVENTIONS
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
BOOK OF THE HUMAN BODY
SYSTEMS AND ORGANS OF THE BODY
THE FIVE GATEWAYS OF KNOWLEDGE
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHY
BOOK OF THE CHILD WORLD
THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN DURING SCHOOL LIFE
HOW TO TEACH A CHILD TO READ AT HOME
COUNTING AND NUMBERS
COMBINATIONS OF NUMBERS
PRIMARY IDEAS OF DIVISION
NUMBERS IN MULTIPLICATION
PRIMARY MEASURES FOR CHILDREN
TELLING THE TIME
THE CALENDAR
FORM AND COLOR
STORIES
INDEX
SUPPLEMENTARY INDEX
Transcriber’s Notes
General Notes
Specific Notes
Changes and corrections made