THERE is a chapter still missing in the school and general
history books. This is the chapter that deals fully and justly with the
great accomplishments of all the peoples of northern and western
Europe in discovering, colonizing and otherwise utilizing the
and lands of the northern part of the Atlantic including, in its proper
setting, the Norse discovery of the North American Continent.

This is an accumulative story of early beginnings, of long develop.
ment, of ample sweep and perspective, full of heroic effort and great
accomplishment. It is difficult therefore to understand its long neg-
lect. Most of the elements of this story have been known for a long
while though the story continues to grow and factors have been
added in our time both by students abroad and by Stefansson and
others in this country.

Please note that the statement in the above paragraph is that the
story of the northern sea routes to America is "neglected" not
"omitted." One cannot say that the story of Lief Eriksson and the
voyages to America are omitted. It is now customary to include or
refer to the Norse voyages to parts of the North American coast.
The neglect lies in giving the facts no background or development.
The treatment or attitude suggests that the historians have come to
accept somewhat reluctantly the facts that Liefs discovery of Amer-
ica and Karlsefni's attempted colonization are real. The suggestion
remains that though these early facts in American history are ac-

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