Excerpt from The Great Cities of the Modern World

There is a saying, as Old as it is true, that he who would be a writer must first Of all have something to write - something new to tell, or some new or better way of putting forth what is already known. This volume has not been called into existence as some thing new, but because there was not, so far as could be found, any work devoted en titely to a description of the outward appearance and real position of the great cities OF the modern world. A metropolis represents a focus of power; the chief forces of a country's civilization are centered in its great towns; and it has been believed that in giving a description of the large cities of the chief countries of the world, and bringing them together in a classified volume, there will be presented in a condensed form the leading features, not only of the great cities of the world, as a whole, but also of the civic national life of all the important countries of the globe. The endeavor has been to prepare a book instructive and interesting to readers of all ages, but especially to place before young people a clear and, in a measure, complete idea Of the greatest cities of our time, rated according to size, importance in intellectual, commercial, and manu facturing power, and descriptive of population and architectural appearance. In all cases the aim has been to make the leading features - either of a single city or a national group - stand out prominently and leave the strongest impression. To combine all these characteristics into a single volume upon so broad a subject it has been necessary to consult a multitude of authorities; and, although these are far too many for the briefest enumeration. It is but just to acknowledge that valuable aid has been received from the standard encyclopaedias and from nearly all the leading works of reference of both special and general character whose scope comes in any way within that of the Great.

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