There are, however, certain _limits_ to the theory of race progress
that need to be drawn at once. It is easy to perceive that not all
races have left such epochs behind them, because some are still in
barbarism; others have advanced to a considerable height and then
retrograded. Of those which have advanced with more or less steadiness
for two thousand years, like England, France, and Germany, not every
period of their history contains valuable culture elements. The great
epochs are not clearly distinguishable in their origin and ending.
Again, only those periods whose deeds, spirit, and tendency have been
well preserved by history or, still better, have found expression in
the work of some great poet or literary artist, can supply for children
the best educative material.
The culture epochs of history can be of no service to us in schools
except as they have been suitably _described_ by able writers. In
history and literature, as handed down to us by the great literary
artists, many of the culture epochs have been portrayed by a master
hand. In the Iliad, Homer gives us vivid and delightfully attractive
scenes from life in the heroic age. The historical parts of the Old
Testament furnish clear and classic expression to great typical
historical scenes as illustrated in the lives of Abraham, Joseph,
Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon.
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