PREFACE. 



THE year whose history is set forth in this vojume was a year of peace on 

 our side of the world, and of war on the other. The great struggle between 

 China and Japan, across Korea which suggests that Japan may be about to 

 occupy a position with relation to Asia similar to that held by Great Britain to 

 Europe has been long and bloody, and has awakened a lively interest all over 

 the globe. A brief narrative of this war, showing its causes and its course to 

 date, will be found in the articles " China " and " Japan." Other events of 

 importance in foreign lands include the death of the Emperor of Russia and 

 the coronation of his son ; the assassination of President Carnot of France and 

 the choice of a successor ; and the change of ministry in Great Britain. All 

 these are recorded, with portraits, >in the appropriate articles. The record of 

 " Geographical Progress and Discovery '* shows what was done during 1894 to 

 extend our knowledge of hitherto unknown lands and unnavigated seas. This 

 article is illustrated with a portrait of Capt. Peary, the latest arctic explorer, and 

 one of Mrs. Peary, the only woman that has ever taken part in such an expedi- 

 tion. It also contains a settlement (with a map) of the somewhat overdiscussed 

 question of the source of the Mississippi. 



In the United States, the most important events of the year were the passage 

 of the new Tariff bill (with the income-tax section) and the great railroad strike. 

 The full text of the tariff law, together with an abstract of the debate upon it, 

 showing clearly all the arguments that were advanced for and against it, and 

 President Cleveland's letters will be found in the article " Congress." 



In the sciences, the "Progress of Astronomy in 1894" is set forth by Dr. 

 Lewis Swift, the self-taught astronomer, director of Lowe Observatory, in Cali- 

 fornia; "Chemistry," "Metallurgy," and "Physiology," by Dr. William J. 

 Youmans, editor of " The Popular Science Monthly " ; and " Physics," by 

 Arthur E. Bostwick, Ph. D. 



The articles on the several States and Territories of the Union will be found 

 very full. That on " New York " includes an account of the Constitutional 

 Convention, with the gist of the amendments (all of which were adopted at the 

 November election) given in untechnical language. The article is illustrated 

 with a portrait of Hon. Joseph H. Choate, president of the convention. 



Following the World's Columbian Exposition, the description of which was 

 completed in our last volume, came the California Midwinter Fair and the 

 Antwerp Exposition, both of which are described and illustrated in these pages. 



