"The parliament of each Dominion is supreme, but all owe allegiance to Edward VIII, who is also King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
"In general, crown colonies are those parts of the Empire in which, owing to an unsuitable climate or to a large native population, few Europeans make permanent homes. A few white men develop and control the resources of the country, enabling it to take its proper place in the international trade of the world.
"The British Empire is largely a Maritime Empire. For the most part, it was won by hardy British seamen, who pushed their way into the uttermost corners of the world and brought country after country under the beneficent sway of Britain. It was held, and still is held, largely by the power of the British Navy, which has long controlled the sea-ways of the world.
"Europe has long been the home of the most highly civilized races in the world. Her peoples have long been foremost in industry, commerce, science, and art.
"Europe's importance is due chiefly to the fact that it is the home of the white peoples of the world. The white races have proved themselves superior to all others in many ways. They are more eager to acquire knowledge and to put it to practical use. They are more energetic. They have a greater capacity for organization, which is one of the chief characteristics of civilized man.
"Three-quarters of the people of Ontario are Canadian by birth, largely of British ancestry. In certain sections of the province there is a considerable number of French-Canadians. Most of the inhabitants not born in Canada have come from the British Isles. There are several large reservations for Indians with a population exceeding 27,000.
"About four-fifths of the population of Quebec are descendants of the original French settlers and speak French as their native tongue. The remaining fifth, chiefly of British descent, are found principally in the cities and in the Eastern Townships.
"The majority of the people in the United States are of European extraction, with the British element predominating. The Negroes, who are the descendants of the slaves, form about ten per cent of the population. The Indians, who formerly occupied the whole country, are now mainly confined to reserves and are not increasing very much in numbers.
"A large part of the population of Mexico is made up of the peons, or labouring class. The peons are poor, lazy, and ignorant. The ruling class in Mexico are the descendants of the original Spanish settlers.
"The Norwegians are an intelligent and industrious people.
"The Greeks have always been sailors and traders, frugal, energetic, and industrious.
"Three-fourths of the people of Asia are of the Mongol race, to which the yellow-skinned peoples of the world belong. The remaining fourth of the Asiatics are, like ourselves, of the Caucasian race, although most of the Asiatic Caucasians are darker in colour than we are.
"In the Sudan the natives are all negroes, an entirely different race from the people of North Africa.
"Somaliland, which forms the north-east corner of the continent, is divided into three protectorates, belonging to France, Britain, and Italy. Except for its game, including giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and gazelles, the land has very little interest or value for the white man.
"The aboriginal inhabitants of Australia are a peculiar race, somewhat resembling the Negro. The natives are fast dying out, although there are still some 60,000 scattered over the whole continent.
"The Publishers are indebted to many companies, and individuals for the use of photographs for purposes of illustration. The various Departments of the Ontario government have also been very helpful in the way of supplying both information and illustrations.
This item by George Noviss was included in Montage, December 2008, The Mensa Newsletter for Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, London, Windsor, Sarnia
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