2.  A bibliography of the best general histories of ancient, mediaeval, and modern times, and of important political, religious, and educational movements; also a bibliography of the best historical works dealing with each nation, and arranged under the following subdivisions:  (a) The general history of the nation; (b) special periods in its career; (c) the descriptions of the people, their civilization and institutions.  On each work thus mentioned there is a critical comment with suggestions to readers.  This bibliography is designed chiefly for those who desire to pursue more extended courses of reading, and it offers them the experience and guidance of those who have preceded them on their special field.

3.  A classified index of famous historic characters.  The names are grouped under such headings as “Rulers, Statesmen, and Patriots,” “Famous Women,” “Military and Naval Commanders,” “Philosophers and Teachers,” “Religious Leaders,” etc.  Under each person’s name is given a biographical chronology of his career, showing every important event in which he played a part, together with the date of the event, and the volume and page of this series where a full account of it may be found.  This plan provides a new and very valuable means of reading the biography of any noted personage, one of the great advantages being that the accounts of the various events in his life are not all in the language of the same author, not written by a man anxious to bring out the importance of his special hero.  The writers are mainly interested in the event, and show the hero only in his true and unexaggerated relation to it.  Under each name will also be found references to such further authorities on the biography of the personage as may be consulted with profit by those students and scholars who wish to pursue an exhaustive study of his career.

4.  A biographical index of the authors represented in the series.  This consists of brief sketches of the many writers whose work has been drawn upon for the narratives of Great Events.  It is intended for ready reference, and gives only the essential facts.  This index serves a double purpose.  Suppose, for instance, that a reader is familiar with the name of John Lothrop Motley, but happens not to know whether he is still living, whether he had other occupation than writing, or what offices he held.  This index will answer these questions.  On the other hand, an admirer of Thomas Jefferson or Theodore Roosevelt may wish to know whether we have taken anything—­and, if so, what—­from their writings.  This index will answer at once.

5.  A general index covering every reference in the series to dates, events, persons, and places of historic importance.  These are made easily accessible by a careful and elaborate system of cross-references.

6.  A separate and complete chronology of each nation of ancient, mediaeval, and modern times, with references to the volume and page where each item is treated, either as an entire article or as part of one; so that the history of any one nation may be read in its logical order and in the language of its best historians.