Lithuania Past and Present

From the preface: " In the following pages I have not attempted to do more than scratch the surface of a subject which, for adequate treatment, would require several large volumes. My main purpose is to arouse interest among English readers in a country and people whose glorious past and present renascence, under peculiarly moving conditions, are surely an earnest of great future achievement in all constructive activities. To this end I have tried to give a general outline of Lithuanian history, geography, economic position and possibilities, present-day political problems, cultural characteristics, etc., so that Britishers may no longer be able to plead ignorance as an excuse for their unfortunately apathetic attitude towards the legitimate aspirations of the Lithuanian people. Should the reception accorded this modest preliminary essay warrant it, I shall gladly hereafter embark upon a more exhaustive and ambitious handling of this fascinating subject. For much of the material embodied in this book I am indebted principally to Stasys Šalkauskis’ masterly study Sur les Confins de Deux Mondes, W. St. Vidunas’ La Lituanie dans le Passé et dans le Présent, and Dr. Joseph Ehret’s Litauen, which have rendered readily accessible many facts which otherwise might have eluded compilation. I make no apology for largely employing the Lithuanian spelling of place names. The sooner we adapt ourselves to changed conditions the better. But for the reader’s convenience, I have appended a short glossary giving the former Russian and present Lithuanian renderings of these centres."