THE ISLE OF RUIM, 249 



and trace out for one's self the main features of its 

 gradual evolution. By so doing we get away from mere 

 dynastic or political considerations, leave behind the 

 bang of drums or the blare of trumpets, and reach down 

 to the living facts of common human activity themselves 

 —the realities of the workaday world of toilers and 

 spinners. By narrowing our field of view, in fact, we 

 gain a clearer picture on our smaller focus. We see how 

 the big historical revolutions actually affected the life of 

 the people ; and we trace more readily the true nature of 

 deep-reaching changes when we follow them out in detail 

 over a particular area. 



