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diff --git a/old/50148.txt b/old/50148.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 28b5ff7..0000000 --- a/old/50148.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5955 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Looking Forward, by Arthur Bird - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Looking Forward - A Dream of the United States of the Americas in 1999 - -Author: Arthur Bird - -Release Date: October 6, 2015 [EBook #50148] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOOKING FORWARD *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - LOOKING FORWARD - A Dream of the - United States of the Americas - in 1999 - - - - BY ARTHUR BIRD - - Ex-Vice Consul-General of America - at Port-au-Prince, Hayti - - - - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The author respectfully submits it as his firm and immovable -conviction, that the United States of America, in years to come, -will govern the entire Western Hemisphere. - -The Stars and Stripes which never knew, nor ever will know defeat, -will, in years to come, gather under its protecting folds, every -nation and every island in this hemisphere. - -It is a duty we Americans owe to the republics of Central and South -America to give them the benefits of our pacific government, the -rule of the People, by and for the People, exemplified in the great -Constitution of the United States of America. - -America has to-day an inviolable Monroe Doctrine. Any attempt on the -part of Europe to violate the spirit or letter of that wise doctrine, -would be promptly resented by America. - -Our American flag already protects and defends every republic in the -Americas. How many years will it require to convince the Central and -South American Republics that their security and path of safety is -to come under the flag that already protects them? - -The purpose of this book is to clearly establish this important fact in -the mind of every patriotic American. Our glorious, starry banner will -rule the entire Western Hemisphere. It will be the emblem of Peace, -Liberty and Civilization, floating over a united America from Alaska -to Patagonia. This is America's Destiny. - -In setting forth this great truth the author has avoided the well -beaten paths and dusty roads travelled by writers from the days of -the Deluge up to the hour of going to press, and it is to be hoped -that the reader, now and then, may find some refreshing scenery along -his pathway. - -If this book serves to stimulate patriotic pride and strengthen -respect for our liberty-loving flag, it then will not have been -written in vain. - - - Most respectfully submitted, - The Author. - - - - - - - - LOOKING FORWARD - - ----A Dream of---- - - THE UNITED STATES OF THE AMERICAS, - - 1999. - -CHAPTER I. - -The American Colossus. - - A Dream of Magnificent Expansion. America becomes the Mightiest - Nation of the World and extends her Domain from Alaska to - Patagonia. - - -Gauged by certain standards and viewed from certain standpoints, -a mere century is but a brief compass of time. - -From an individual point of view, in the daily routine of life, a -century appears to be an embryo-eternity. When time is gauged with -clock like precision and to each minute is allotted its full value, -a century assumes an unfathomable depth. But, in the cycles of time, -a century is a mere footprint in the passage of time; a small link -in the endless chain of eternity. - -Time is easily annihilated by mental process. Witness the feat -performed by Mahomet, related in a certain chapter of the [Mahomet -on Rapid Transit.] Koran. The faithful are informed in this passage -of the Koran that the Prophet was awakened one morning from a deep, -refreshing slumber by an angel and was summoned into Paradise -to confer with Allah. While in the act of ascending to Heaven, -Mahomet's foot struck and upset a pitcher of water which stood near -the couch. The Koran unblushingly proclaims that the Prophet held 999 -long conferences with Allah and had safely returned to his couch, -ready for another snooze, before the water in the falling pitcher -had time to spill on the floor! - -There is something very refreshing in this narrative. It shows that -Mahomet was well up in rapid transit matters and again it proves the -sublime virtue of a man, a son of the desert, a turbaned Washington, -who couldn't tell a lie and who resisted the temptation to make this -batch of conferences with Allah an even thousand. Mahomet missed his -calling; he ought to have been a newspaper reporter. - -Assuming the prerogatives of the Koran, the author, at one stroke -of his pen, proposes to annihilate time. Plunged into a profound -slumber he had a dream. Great men and little men; the renowned and -the ignorant; the philosopher and the Australian bushman; quakers -and cannibals; the prince and the peasant, all these and myriads of -others, have had their dreams. Love's dream has been the theme of all -ages, the burden of songs untold. The dream of conquest, the dream of -ambition and dreams of every human passion and desire have throbbed -within the human brain. - -But the author's dream is not swayed by human emotions; it is not -the handmaid of [America's Giant Republic, 1999.] passion. It is a -dream that unseals the book of the future and reveals to the world -the colossal, peace-loving, giant republic of the universe in the -year of our Lord, 1999, - -The United States of the Americas, the mightiest nation ever known -in contemporaneous history. - -It is related that at a national anniversary celebration dinner, held -a few years ago, in the classic regions of Chicago, while the toasts -were being dissected, a guest arose and proposed to "Our Country,"--the -United States of America, bounded on the north by Canada; on the south -by the Gulf of Mexico; on the east by the Atlantic and on the west -by the Pacific Ocean. Another gentleman arose and protested warmly -against the narrow limits as ascribed to our beloved country. "Let -us," he continued, "drink to the prosperity of the United States of -America,--bounded on the north by the North Pole; on the south by -the Antarctic Region; on the east by the first chapter of the Book -of Genesis and on the west by the Day of Judgment." - -At the fin-de-siecle of the twentieth century, in the year of our -Lord, 1999, the United States of the Americas were virtually bounded -as above related. The comparatively small segment of territory known -and officially recognized in 1899 as the United States of America, -still retained in 1999 its predominant importance, yet this territory -in the twentieth century became only a small fraction of an integral -whole. In 1899, compared with its neighbors, the United States of -America appeared like a whale by the side of little fishes,--a large -loaf compared with which its neighbor-nations in Central and South -America resembled little biscuits,--half baked at that. - -In 1999 the little fishes were glad to come to the great American whale -for protection and become a part of our grand union. Our glorious -and ever-victorious banner remained precisely the same in 1999, as -it must ever remain for centuries yet unborn, the pride of America -and the glory of the world. The stripes on our noble flag were still -red and white alternately; the only difference was in the number of -the stars on the field of blue; they had increased from forty-five -to eighty-five and Old Glory proudly waved in 1999 over one mighty -united republic from Baffin's Bay to the straits of Magellan. - -Place in your hand an acorn. Pause as you gaze upon it, consider the -mighty giant which slumbers within its bosom. It is only an acorn,--a -mere pigmy. Plant it; watch it as it develops into a mighty, towering -oak, which, in its majesty of strength seems to bid defiance to the -very heavens. Beneath its massive branches and grateful shade the -weary traveller may pause to rest his limbs and seek refuge from the -heat of day. - -Our pilgrim fathers were the "acorns" of the colossal republic known -in 1999 as [Commenced on a Small Scale.] the United States of the -Americas. Little did they those pure and sturdy fathers, dream that -from their loins would spring the greatest and grandest government -descended to men since the promulgation of the Decalogue. From small -beginnings, great ends may often be accomplished. The avalanche that -rolls and thunders down the mountain side, sweeping before it forests -and boulders, begins business in a very small way. A little handful of -snow starts the uproar but before its headlong career has terminated, -the very mountain itself trembles beneath the mad rush. - -So it was with that splendid political structure, known in 1999 as the -United States of the Americas. Its humble origin was easily traceable -to Plymouth Rock. From the landing of the pilgrims to the close of -the nineteenth century, the rapid growth of the Federal States left -nothing to be desired. But in the nineteenth century America was -still an acorn, from which a mighty oak was to be reared in 1999, -a tree under whose branches were sheltered in one mighty republic -all the territory from Hudson's Bay to Cape Horn. - -In the year of our Lord 1999 the world gazed with an admiration, -akin to awe, upon [Eighty-five States in the Union.] the magnificent -spectacle presented by the United States of the Americas, a colossal -republic, embracing eighty-five states, bounded on its northern apex -by the states of Alaska, East and West Canada, while the state of -Patagonia guarded the extreme south of the American giant, including -all islands of the seas lying in the Western Hemisphere, between the -Arctic and Antarctic regions. - -It frequently happens that the insignificant child of to-day, soon -becomes, by reason of growth and intellectual force, the leader of -the family, a tower of might and strength in their midst, one to whom -they look for counsel and protection. - -So it was with America, the Child of Destiny. In 1776 America was a -mere infant, attached to the breast of a harsh, unloving mother. By -leaps and bounds this American infant budded into childhood, and in -the year of 1899 had already become a busy, good-natured youth, whose -prowess, industry and great future already commanded the respect of -the world. In 1899 the western hemisphere was politically divided into -independent republics, with the minor exception of certain European -dependencies, belonging to England, France and Denmark. The United -States in the year last named was universally regarded as a prodigy -in the family of nations. Its magnificent resources and its expanding -industries; its keen inventive genius; its limitless [A Big Fellow, -Decidedly.] agricultural wealth; its absolute liberty and entire -freedom from militarism, challenged the envy as well as the admiration -of the world, while the naval and military prowess of the young -American Republic, evidenced in the Spanish-American unpleasantness -of 1898, exacted from other nations a wholesome and enduring respect. - -Such, in brief, was the condition of America in 1899. Little indeed was -the popular mind prepared for the extraordinary developments and the -remarkable series of events that brought about in 1999 the creation -of the United States of the Americas. In that memorable year all of -the independent republics of Central and South America had joined our -union and were governed under the great Constitution of 1776, which -is and always will be, the most inspiring document that ever issued -from the pen of man, one that will continue to bless mankind as lone -as the sun retains its power and the earth gives forth its fruits. - -How did all this happen? The Dream furnishes the solution. Read on. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -Under The Eagle's Wing. - - The Mighty Oregon and the Little Yankee Schooner met on the high - seas. "Let us keep together for mutual protection." Mexico the - first republic to join our union. The Central and South American - Republics all stampede for the shelter of the great American - Eagle. Peru joins our union in 1921, Venezuela in 1925, Canada - comes stumbling along in 1930. - - -Every American patriot recollects with feelings of pride and admiration -the great voyage of the U. S. battleship Oregon, the noblest floating -citadel of the nineteenth century, during the spring of the year -1898, from the Golden Gate to Jupiter, Florida, a distance of over -14,000 miles. With only five first-class battleships to its credit, -it was of paramount importance for the U. S. government to secure the -services of the Oregon to join in the volcanic welcome that awaited -the arrival of Admiral Cervera's squadron in the Caribbean sea. - -The memory of that eventful voyage will remain vivid in the -recollections of more than one generation. After the noble vessel had -rounded the turbulent waters of Magellan and her stout prow pointed -north, anxiety for her safety increased at every knot she covered. The -Spanish phantom, at that critical period of the war, looked like a -towering mountain, an elevation, however, which was designed to be -soon transformed, by subsequent events, into a mole-hill. - -One bright afternoon, while steaming in latitude 30 deg. south and in -longitude 40 deg. [A Saucy Little Yankee Craft.] west, shortly before -touching at Rio Janerio, the great Oregon spoke an insignificant, -one-masted little schooner, a mere shell, tossing upon South Atlantic -billows, with a crew of two men. The fact that the diminutive -sail boat proudly unfurled at her masthead the glorious flag of -America, was the sole feature, in her case, that saved her from utter -insignificance. The Oregon displayed signals, asking the captain of -the little vessel if he had spoken any Spanish war-vessels adding, -as a matter of information, that war had been declared between Spain -and the United States of America. - -It happened that this was the first intimation the captain of the -schooner had received that a state of war existed between the two -countries above named. In reply he promptly signalled to the Oregon -that he had not seen any Spanish men-of-war, and, being somewhat of a -Yankee humorist, added, that if war had been declared, the best thing -that they could do would be "to keep together for mutual protection." - -This anecdote of the recontre of the Oregon and the tiny schooner -illustrates aptly the conditions that ruled in 1999 and during -several preceding decades. In that year was witnessed a grand union -of all the peoples of the Western Hemisphere under the starry banner -of America. The little Republics of Central and South America were -heartily glad to seek the protection of the Great Leviathan of the -North, and, gathered into one great Republic, The United States of -the Americas, they stood together one and indivisible, "for mutual -protection." - -In 1999 the world beheld the imposing spectacle of a United America, -a nation in magnitude and power that eclipsed any previously known -confederation of States, invincible in war and unrivalled in arts, -sciences and industry. The Americas were all under the protection -of the same stars and stripes, employing the same legal tender and -coinage and in 1999 the English tongue had been adopted officially -by every Central and South American State. - -The first Republic that knocked at our gates for admission into the -grand union of [Mexico makes the First Break.] the Americas, was -Mexico. In the year 1520, the Spaniards, under Cortes, that valiant -and most intrepid of Castillian warriors, had already crushed that -most dreaded of all barbarian monarchs, Montezuma, and had reduced -the Aztec Empire into vassalage and slavery. In 1898, by a series -of the most brilliant victories, American prowess and arms, coupled -with dare-devil bravery and resolute fighting, had in turn driven -out the Spanish hordes from the Americas. With this turn in the tide -of history, nothing could be more fitting than the incorporation of -Mexico as a State in our Federal Union. Could they have witnessed our -brilliant American victories against Spain in 1898, Montezuma and -his Aztec warriors would have arisen from their graves and shouted -for joy at the knowledge that at last their wrongs at the hands of -Spain had been avenged by the sword of America and their Spanish -oppressors of 1520 had at last been hurled back to the Castillian -haunts from whence they had emerged under Columbus and Cortes. - -Mexico added a new star to our flag in 1912, just one hundred years -after England and America crossed swords. These swords have been -sheathed in their scabbards, never again in the world's history to -be unsheathed against one another. - -As early as the year 1899 the desire to join our American Union began -to manifest [Awakening of the Americas.] itself. In that year the -little island of Jamaica already had under advisement the question of -joining the American Union, and the people of Jamaica were seriously -agitating the matter. They regarded this step as one that would benefit -their material prosperity. This belief was shared by the inhabitants -of the other West Indian islands and gained strength with every year, -culminating in 1912 in the action taken by Mexico. - -The incorporation of Mexico into our grand American Union created a -profound sensation, not only in the Americas, but, also, throughout -the world. It was a purely voluntary act on the part of Mexico, -one which could not be fondly ascribed by the ever-jealous nations -of Europe to "Yankee greed." It brought about a distinctive turn -in the tide and the conviction became firm in the minds of all that -the example of Mexico would be followed, sooner or later, by every -Republic in Central and South America. - -In 1920 public opinion in Peru became ripe for a change. The affairs -of that Republic had been unsuccessfully administered and the land -of the Incas seemed likely in that year to be devastated by Chile, -that active and more or less prosperous people, sometimes called the -"Yankees of South America." The prospect of another disastrous war -with Chile crystalized public opinion in Peru and hastened action on -her part. In the following year of 1921, Peru became a State in our -Union. Venezuela came next in 1925, then followed in rapid succession -the entire group of Central American States, Guatemala, Salvador, -Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras. - -In 1930 Canada at last joined the American Union. Canada had long -occupied the position of an old maid in reference to the Union; -she had been entirely willing for many years, but had withheld her -consent; England, of course, had to be consulted, and with the utmost -good nature was present at the wedding ceremonies, giving away the -Canadian bride into our union in a most gracious manner. - -Between 1930 and 1935, in rapid succession, the entire stretch of -territory known as South America, and the eleven Republics occupying -that continent, were incorporated into the United States of the -Americas. The State of Brazil was recognized by Congress in 1931, and, -on account of its large area, consisting of 3,209,878 square miles, -the new State was styled the "Texas of the South." - -During the last half of the nineteenth century the burning issues -caused by the [Old Wounds are Healed Up.] Civil War were generally -and vaguely characterized as those which existed between the -North and South. The question of State sovereignty, slavery and -the resultant Civil War, divided the North and South into two vast, -hostile camps. The fall of Richmond in 1865 terminated hostilities, -it is true, but a bitter, relentless political and social war was waged -between these sections for over a quarter of a century thereafter. The -deep wounds caused by the Civil War began to slowly heal, but it -required a foreign war to demonstrate to the world that time at last -had conquered all animosity, all the anguish and bitterness of spirit -that had existed between the North and South. - -During our war with Spain from April 22, 1898, to October 26, of the -same year, Confederate generals who had taken prominent parts in the -Southern army, men who had led their hosts to help tear into tatters -the great Constitution of the United States, unsheathed their swords -once more, in 1898, and to their lasting honor, this time it was in -defense of that very Constitution. In 1898 the men of the South eagerly -followed the lead of Wheeler and Fitzhugh Lee and sprang to arms in the -defence of a united country. It was a most impressive spectacle; one -that filled the world with amazement and America with patriotic joy. - -In 1999, that little strip of territory lying between Mason and Dixon's -line and the [No more "South" in 1999.] gulf of Mexico was no longer -known or recognized as the South. The sceptre of the South had passed -into the keeping of the South American continent, which territory in -1999 had been divided into ten States of our great American Union, -namely the States of Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, -Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru and, in the extreme South, the State -of Patagonia. - -The real and actual South of the United States of the Americas, in -1999, consisted of the States above named, a vast sweep of territory -lying between the 10 deg. North and 55 deg. South of the equator, embracing -8,207,688 square miles in area, with a population of 127,000,000 -souls. In 1999 the State of Brazil alone had a population of -42,000,000. - -The Middle States of the great American Republic in 1999 were those of -Central America, namely the States of Costa Rica, Salvador, Honduras, -Guatemala, Nicaragua and Mexico. - -The Northern States of the great Republic in 1999 consisted of those -states lying between Alaska and the Mexican gulf, including the newly -acquired States of East and West Canada. The population of the Middle -States in 1999 was estimated at 75,000,000, while the census of the -Northern States figured at 329,000,000. The total population of the -United States of the Americas in 1999, figured at 531,000,000 souls. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -The Cuban Question Settled. - - The wretches who blew up the Maine. America is slow to anger - but terrible in punishment. Cuban native government not a - success. Joins our Union in 1910. - - -Cuba became part of the United States in 1910. The direct cause of the -war of 1898 was the blowing up of the Maine. Through this premeditated -and diabolical act, no less than 266 of our brave American sailors -were murdered in cold blood. - -The Madrid authorities were innocent parties to this lamentable -transaction and their representative in Havana, Captain-General Blanco, -has been acquitted of the heinous charge of participation in that -fearful piece of butchery. The guilty men, the assassins who blew up -the Maine on the night of the 15th of February, 1898, were Weylerites, -whose chief, the infamous Gen. Weyler, had been removed from office -by the Sagasta government. To resent this slight upon their chief; -to embroil their home government in a war with the United States, -and to gratify their thirst for American blood, these Weylerites, -(who themselves located the mines in Havana harbor,) watched their -opportunity and exploded the mine that destroyed our gallant vessel, -hurling into eternity 266 of as brave men as ever trod a deck. - -But the vengeance that was meted out to Spain for the treachery -of her murderous [The Maine was Avenged.] sons, was sweeping and -most complete in its character. Our martyrs of the Maine have been -avenged. Spain has learned along with the rest of the nations, that -America is slow to anger but swift and terrible in her vengeance; -from the punishment of Spain the world has learned a Yankee lesson -that will be remembered in all time to come. - -Apart, however, from the castigation of Spain, America had a duty -to perform in the liberation of Cuba. From the date of the arrival -of the first shipload of Spaniards in 1492 to the departure of the -last load of Spanish officials and soldiers in 1899, Cuba had rested -under a cloud. Prosperity under Spanish rule, from Valesque in 1510 -to Blanco in 1898, appeared to be an impossibility. From Christopher -Columbus to Admiral Cervera, the first and the last Spanish navigators -dispatched by the crown of Spain to Cuba, the life-blood of that -fair isle had been wasted away. Its history may fitly be written in -blood. Such condition of affairs could not be endured always at the -threshold of a vast, liberty-loving Republic and Cuba's loud appeals -for aid stirred America to action. War was declared after a formal -demand upon Spain for the liberation of Cuba. The result of the war -of 1898 was that Spain stood up to the front just long enough to get -kicked into tatters. - -On the 1st day of January, 1902, the military occupation of Cuba by -the troops [A Civil War in Cuba.] of the United States terminated -and the government passed into the keeping of the Cubans. The Cuban -government, under President Gomez, was beset with difficulties from -the start. It was found difficult to bridle and keep down jealousies -and partisan feelings among the Cubans themselves. They appeared to -detest one another under their native government as cordially as they -did their former task-masters, the Spaniards. As soon as the Cubans -established their own government, love of country vanished from among -them; there appeared to be no unity of purpose. - -In 1907 a civil war broke out in the fair but unfortunate isle, -and during the summer of that year the terrible scenes of the last -struggle with Spain, under Weyler, were again re-enacted. During that -year and the two following years of 1908-09, the gleaming machette -once again performed its deadly work. - -This fratricidal war came to an end early in 1910, when the Cubans -by a plebicite, or popular vote, rendered an almost unanimous vote in -favor of the annexation of Cuba to the United States. This important -decision was ratified by Congress and received the official signature -of President George Dewey, the hero of Manila, at noon on the 24th -day of December, 1910. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -Keynote of American Expansion. - - The Awakening of America. Dewey the Idol of a great Nation. His - immense responsibilities at a critical period of the war. In - 1999 Manila is still on every tongue. Spain's bargain with - Germany. Discomfiture of the German Admiral. - - -It was the first gun of the Raleigh, fired in Manila bay at dawn on the -first day of May, 1898, that sounded the keynote of America's future -greatness. The echo of that gun had not died out even in 1999. It -still rang amidst the nations of the earth, reverberating across its -seas and continents. It was the signal that sounded the dawn of - -The United States of the Americas, a mighty Republic, which, in -the year 1999, embraced every square foot of land in the Western -Hemisphere, from the snow-clad huts of the Esquimos to the rock-ribbed -straits of Magellan, with its teeming, hustling population of -531,000,000 souls. Uncle Samuel was boss of the ranch, from its -Patagonian cellar clear to its roof in the Arctic region. With its -mighty talons [The Great Bird of Freedom.] clutching the narrow -isthmus of Panama; with its beak pointing into the Atlantic, far -beyond Porto Rico; with its tail-feathers covering the expanse of -the Pacific, clear into the Philippines, the American Eagle was a -proud bird to behold, as its mighty wings spread from the North to -the South Pole. And Dewey's guns did it. - -At critical periods the fate of nations, as well as of individuals, -seems to suspend by a single, slender thread. At such moments, -so keenly poised are the balances of fate, that a mere breath may -disturb them. Admiral Dewey, the idol of America, unknowingly, held -the fate of a vast Republic in the hollow of his hand. He knew it not; -America knew it not. But in the light of events in 1999 such proved to -be the case. Had he failed; had his brave squadron been annihilated by -treacherous mines in Manila bay; had our American fleet been destroyed -at Cavite, instead of Montojo's squadron, the Dream of the United -States of the Americas would not have been realized in 1999. - -But America is unconquerable; and Dewey won. When, on the 24th day of -April, 1898, the momentous message flashed across sea and continent -to Dewey, ordering him to "sink or capture" the Spanish squadron, the -American Eagle gave its first shrill cry of defiance. Every man on the -American fleet off Hong Kong swelled with pride from Commodore Dewey -to the humblest powder-monkey. Theirs was a mission to feel proud of, -and when Dewey's six warships sailed south to Manila, April 27, 1898, -to interview the Castillians, every man on board the American squadron -was ready to lay down his life in the cause of our noble country. - -These were the men with cool heads and unflinching bravery who first -encountered the Spanish hosts. These were the men who electrified -a whole world by the splendor of their matchless victory. The word -gratitude is a feeble one indeed to adequately express the feelings of -the American people when the truth became known. At first it seemed -incredible that such a brilliant stroke could have been accomplished -in less than ten days after the declaration of war. In 1999 men -occasionally referred to Trafalgar and the battle of the Nile, -Farragut's heroism at Mobile bay, the encounter of those two little -scorpions, the Monitor and Merrimac, and other naval engagements, as -matters of history, but the peerless American victory at Manila bay, -the praises of the one and only Dewey and his brave men, were still, -in that year, the theme on every tongue. - -In 1999 it was reckoned a high distinction for any American to be -able to say that his father, brother or relative took part in the -great victory at Manila. Indeed, there still lived in 1999, in the -State of Brazil, an extremely old man, aged 115 years, who took part -in the gallant fight off Cavite in 1898. - -When Dewey's squadron left Mirs bay to proceed upon its eventful voyage -to Manila, Earl Stanley, at that time a stripling of fourteen years, -hid in an empty hogshead [A Plucky Little American Lad.] in the -hold of the warship Boston, just as the American fleet was weighing -anchor. When the mountains about Mirs bay and the Chinese mainland -had disappeared from the sight of the squadron, Stanley, the young -stowaway, emerged from his retreat and soon after landed in the arms -of a marine, who brought the lad before the Captain. That official was -at first inclined to deal severely with the young culprit. The latter, -however, was straightforward and fearless in his bearing. He plainly -told the Captain that he stole his way on board the Boston to share -in the fight and he was ready to do anything to fight under the Stars -and Stripes. The Captain, though outwardly severe, secretly admired -the lad's pluck and turned him over to the charge of a gun-crew. In -1999 Earl Stanley resided in Rio Janeiro, and for over sixty years -had been drawing a monthly pension of $35 from the government. He was -in that year the sole survivor of the battle of Manila, an exclusive -distinction he had already enjoyed for many long years. - -Aside from the sweeping results of the action off Cavite, Admiral -Dewey's firm and resolute attitude towards Aguinaldo and his -mercenaries, as well as his open defiance to the German squadron, -gave the keenest satisfaction throughout the United States. - -As early as the year 1902, the fact, long suspected, was at last -officially confirmed, that before the declaration of war in 1898 -[Spain failed to deliver the Goods.] between Spain and America, -there existed a firmly established secret alliance between Spain and -Germany. Spain had bartered with Germany for her active support in her -war against the Yankees. In compensation for her aid and countenance, -Spain had agreed to cede over to Germany, in fee simple, the entire -group of Philippine islands. After Dewey's matchless victory of the -1st of May, Germany slipped on her "thinking cap" and experienced an -exceedingly sudden change of mind. Her "aid" in the Spanish cause was -not worth a baby's rattle. As to the German "countenance," it looked -so crest-fallen and hopelessly sour that Spain as she gazed upon it -refused to be comforted. - -But, notwithstanding this, with an impudence that was positively -refreshing to contemplate, after the battle of Manila, Germany put up a -fine game of bluff and acted as though she held a proprietary interest -in the Philippines. The German government dispatched a fleet of seven -war vessels to Manila bay, under command of Admiral von Diederichs, -under a flimsy pretext of "protecting German interests." In reality -it was intended by the presence of this German squadron in Manila -bay to annoy, bulldoze, and if possible to intimidate Commodore Dewey. - -For six weeks after the battle of Manila, Dewey's fleet as a result -of the fight, was [Little Powder but lots of Pluck.] low in its -ammunition and coal supplies. There was one very important fighting -factor however, that never ran short on the American fleet, as that was -the indomitable pluck and fighting mettle of Dewey and his men. Dewey -diplomatically tolerated some of the petty annoyances offered at -that time by the Germans, but they were given by the brave American -commander to distinctly understand that there existed a danger-line -which once crossed, would bring death and hospitals in its wake. None -knew better than the German Admiral that the practice of lighting -matches around powder magazines is a very unhealthy one. - -Admiral Von Diederichs bluffed around with his squadron, but with -a wisdom that Solomon himself might have envied, he gave Dewey's -danger-line a wide berth. It was only when Admiral Dewey sent his -famous request to the Department for the Oregon, "for political -reasons," that the German fleet in Manila bay suddenly discovered -that they had some urgent business elsewhere, and made a very hasty -exit from the unhealthy neighborhood of an American Admiral who had -a mind of his own and a fine lot of lads to back up his opinion. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -Centennial Celebration of Manila -1998. - - America never surrenders, and that is one reason why we hold on - to the Philippines. Grand Celebration of the Dewey Centennial - throughout the Americas. - - -In the year 1999 the American possession of the Philippine islands -was regarded throughout the United States of the Americas as a master -stroke. Statesmen in that year asked themselves how the Americas -could have ever developed their enormous Asiatic commerce, without -having a point d'appui, or base of operations, in Oriental waters? - -In the year 1899 Christendom (and Heathendom, as well,) beheld with -amazement the carving up of China by the greedy vultures of Europe. In -that year of her interminable history, China resembled a huge, helpless -jelly-fish, attacked on every side by the sword-fishes of Europe. While -this interesting process of China-carving was in full operation, -America, as a result of Dewey's victory, discovered that a pearl [The -Philippines in 1999.] of rare value had fallen into her lap. When -Dewey entered Manila bay on the ever memorable morn of May 1st, 1898, -he had not so much as a hitching-post to fasten the painter (rope) of -his smallest launch. But, before the setting of the sun on that day, -he had laid low a whole empire under the keels of his squadron. There -lived not a solitary European Admiral of the period of 1898 who would -not have given his right arm to have been in Dewey's place. - -In 1999 it appeared incredible that one year only after the battle -of Manila there were men (earnest and well-meaning patriots, many -of them,) who were strenuously opposed to the retention of those -islands by the United States of America. It was difficult, in the -twentieth century, to conceive how short-sighted, how unmindful of -our country's glorious future, were those so-called anti-expansionists. - -In 1999 the argument was clear and indisputable that America in 1898 -had not waged a wanton war for conquest. It was a necessity of war that -brought about the destruction of the Manila wing of the Spanish fleet, -and the city was captured subsequently as an act of self-defense. It -became [Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep.] a measure of necessity to -"put to sleep" every Spanish gun afloat in the Pacific. Had Dewey -allowed any of these sea-hounds to escape and prey upon American -commerce in that ocean, what would have become of our merchant shipping -in the Pacific? Our finest steamships would have been at the mercy of -the most contemptible Spanish privateer. Hundreds of precious lives -and American shipping, representing millions of dollars, must have -been destroyed by the pirates of the red and yellow flag. But Dewey -put them all to sleep and rocked them in the cradle of the deep. - -This deed of self-defence accomplished, then what? Ought Dewey to have -vacated Manila bay and made a laughing-stock of himself or stand his -ground and bring the fight with Spain to a finish? There can be but -one patriotic answer to this question. - -Dewey stood his ground, and in 1899 public opinion throughout the world -divided itself into two great camps--those who openly and others who -secretly admired the brave American Admiral. - -On the 1st day of May, 1998 the Centennial anniversary of the battle of -Manila was celebrated with a volcanic display of intense enthusiasm -throughout the United States of the Americas. It was "Dewey Day" -from the State of Alaska clear south to the State [Equal to the 4th -of July.] of Patagonia. The seals in Baffin's bay wore an extra -smile, while the albatross and other gulls at the Horn circled about -and fluttered as though something uncommon was on. - -Every city in the vast Republic was in gala attire to honor the -glorious memories of the day. In Washington, (Mexico,) and at the -capitals of each of the eighty-five States of the Americas the Manila -Centennial was signalized with a patriotic enthusiasm seldom equaled -but never eclipsed. - -The celebration of the Centennial anniversary of Waterloo by the old -allied nations of Europe in 1915 proved a very brilliant affair, one -which dazzled the world by its magnificence and regal splendor. But -the Manila Centennial in 1998 relegated the Waterloo episode entirely -in the shade. The only American national celebration of the twentieth -century that might compare with it was the Bi-Centennial celebration -of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th day of July, 1976. - -The Manila Centennial in 1998 celebrated what was universally regarded -as the pivotal [Turning Point of American History.] or turning point -in American History. From the date of that battle in 1898 the supremacy -of the United States became established as a first-grade power. Its -prowess in war and triumphs in the arts of peace were universally -recognized. Little then is it to be wondered at that the American -Colossus in 1998 seethed with patriotic fervor on the 1st day of May -of the Manila Centennial anniversary. - -The preparations for the great event had been under way for nearly -a year. It was clearly remembered in 1998 that, although Bunker -Hill was an insignificant fight from a military point of view, yet -it was a glorious battle for America from the fact that it proved a -turning point in our nation's history. So it proved with the battle of -Manila. It was a turning point in our national history that demanded -a fitting celebration of its centennial anniversary. - -In 1998 the President of the United States of the Americas was Vernon -R. [A Chip of the Old Block.] Schley, a grandson of the famous -Admiral who annihilated Cervera's fleet on the 3rd day of July, 1898, -while the commander-in-chief was inconveniently away on some other -errand. Upon President Schley devolved the high honor, but irksome -and difficult task, of firing at sunrise a salute of aerial torpedoes -in the capitals of every State in the vast American Republic, and, -at the same moment, from his private office in the Capitol building -in Washington, Mexico, the President unfurled the American flag on -the dome of every State house in the Americas. - -This, of course, was accomplished by means of electricity. At first -thought it might appear to be a very easy task to press a button in -the State of Mexico and fire off aerial torpedoes in the States of -Alaska, the Canadas, Peru, Patagonia, Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia -and Brazil at the same instant, extending the salutes to the Middle -American States of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Salvador, Guatemala, but as a -matter of fact, the task of the President was by no means an easy one. - -On the Manila Centennial anniversary day President Schley required -nearly three [Going Around with the Sun.] hours of constant work to -fire the national salutes from the Eastern to the Western Capitals of -the great Republic at exactly sunrise in each city on the 1st day of -May, 1998. The sun arose on the Eastern Capitals of the New England -States that morning at 5:32 A. M. in Hartford, Boston, Montpelier -and other cities, but it was nearly 8:43 A. M. before the President -could fire off the aerial torpedoes over the Golden Gate, unfurling -at the same moment Old Glory, which waved to the morning breezes of -the broad Pacific. - -All those States of the Americas, from Canada to Patagonia that are on -the same degree of longitude received their signals from the President -at about the same time. The most easterly city of the American Union in -1999 was Rio Janeiro, situate on the 40 deg. longitude. The torpedo salutes -were first fired there in honor of the great Centennial. The next -city that saluted was Montevideo. Buenos Ayres next followed. Boston, -Mass., Caracas in the State of Venezuela and Bogota in the State -of Colombia were next "touched off" by President Schley, and so in -the course of the rising sun each American city saluted the glorious -day. When this feature of the 1998 centennial program was explained -to a Frenchman on the 1st day of May of that year, he shrugged his -shoulders as only a Frenchman can, exclaiming: "Mon Dieu, vhy don't -zey fire a salute in zee sun,--parbleu." - -In this vast aggregation of eighty-five States the Dewey Centennial -celebration was everywhere observed with marked enthusiasm, but the -style of the celebration differed widely, according to the section -or location of the State in which it was held. [Different Ways of -Celebrating.] Throughout Alaska and the two Canadian States and the -northern belt of States, military pageants, naval parades, athletic -sports, orations, concerts and banquets predominated. - -In the tropical or Central American States, high mass was celebrated -in all the cathedrals and churches in Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, -Salvador, Guatemala and Costa Rica, and the day was given to feasting -and dancing. Throughout the southern sections of the United States of -the Americas, in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and contiguous States, -the Te Deum was chanted in all the principal churches and high mass was -celebrated with a pomp and magnificence that appeals so irresistibly -to the heart of the Latin race. In each State of the Americas ample -appropriations had been voted from State funds to meet the expenses -of the great day. Not a family in the colossal American Republic -of 500,000,000 souls lacked on that day for a feast of the choicest -delicacies, with a carte blanche of wines of the most grateful and -generous vintage. - -On the occasion of the Manila Centennial in 1999 Englishmen were -accorded the seat of honor at every table in the Americas and the -health of King Alexander II, who in 1999 wielded the sceptre of Great -Britain, was tossed off with gusto and enthusiasm by every living -American. England's true and sterling friendship to America in 1898 -was still vividly remembered in 1998. The strong grasp of her hand -at a critical period in 1898, when her attitude became a matter of -vital importance to America, was still cordially appreciated. - -Every American Governor in the South American States as well as those -of Central and North America, gave a sumptuous banquet in honor of -the day. At Rio Janeiro Gov. Day entertained no less than 9,000 at -his festive tables. Gov. Horace K. Depew, a grandson of the Senator -and ex-railroad magnate, entertained 30,000 guests in Washington, -(Mexico). In splendor, elegance and lavish hospitality even the -chronicles of the Middle Ages could furnish no parallel. Gov. Depew's -guests were banqueted and feted in one of Montezuma's old palaces -which still retained much of its architectural beauty and was rich -in the memories of a glorious past. - -High mass was celebrated in the cathedral of Mexico. Gov. Depew and a -brilliant staff attended the services. All public edifices [Celebrating -in Mexico.] and private houses were profusely decorated with garlands -and festoons of beautiful tropical flowers of the most gorgeous -dyes. Massive arches, embellished with medallions of Dewey, were -erected on all the principal streets and avenues. These were made of -verdant boughs, intertwined with the choicest floral creations of the -tropics. Martial music and a constant firing of aerial torpedoes kept -public interest at its keenest edge, from dawn to night. These festive -scenes in the State of Mexico were re-enacted all over the Americas -on the 1st day of May, 1998. The Dewey or Manila Centennial was a -tribute to the memory of the man who at Manila bay, electrified the -world and laid the corner stone of the United States of the Americas. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -England's Valued Friendship. - - The American Victory at Manila was also an English Victory, so - proud did our British cousins feel over it. Spain's bribe of the - Philippines. France and Germany beg England to remain Neutral - while they set out to thrash Uncle Sam. - - -If the reader is an American, the question will naturally arise, what -became of our transatlantic cousins in the "right tight little island" -in the year 1999? In what light was the stupendous fabric of the -United States of the Americas regarded by England in that year? Did -England view with friendliness and complacency the development of -the American Colossus? Surely the awakening of the Americas, both -politically and industrially, must have seriously challenged the -attention of England. Was England in 1999 the same powerful, cordial -friend of America that she so well proved herself to be in 1898? - -During the year 1899 Admiral Seymour of the British Navy, while -cruising in Asiatic waters, paid Admiral Dewey a visit on the -Olympia. His parting words to the American Admiral were: "Your victory -at Cavite was also our victory." No words could better express the -fraternal and cordial relations existing in 1899 between England and -America and the Dreamer feels proud and happy to say that in 1999 -these cordial relations were still in full force. Providence, it -would appear, had selected these two great nations to act as leaders -and standard-bearers among the peoples of the earth. Their spheres -of action in 1999 did not clash, hence no jealousy existed between -the two nations. - -In 1899 America, while perfectly friendly to England and proud to -be her ally, was reluctant to enter into an offensive and defensive -alliance with her. The spirit of American independence, always -self-reliant, was slow and exceedingly cautious in the matter of -"entangling alliances." The only alliance possible would be one with -England, which nation is the parent of the Anglo-Saxon race. - -England's wise and friendly course during the Spanish-American war, -had filled the [England our Firm Friend.] heart of every true American -patriot with gratitude. By her sagacious action the unpleasant memories -of 1776, 1812 and the Alabama episode, had been entirely obliterated, -root and branch, from every American breast. - -Before the outbreak of hostilities in 1898, which culminated in the -Yanko-Spanko war, there existed between France, Germany and Spain a -secret, yet none the less tacit understanding, that in the event of -war, the two powers first named would come forward to the assistance -of Spain as against the cordially detested Yankees. France held the -bulk of Spanish securities and was vitally interested in the issue -of the conflict between Spain and America. The success of the Spanish -cause or its disaster, signified either the gain or loss of millions -of Spanish securities. Her sympathies, therefore, were given over to -Spain and the French government and people were quite ready to expend -chilled steel and smokeless powder against the bulwarks of America. - -Germany, on the other hand, in her self-assumed role of general -meddler-in-chief of [Spain's Two Great and Good Friends.] -the so-styled "European concert," was spoiling for a fight with a -country that had taken from her hundreds of thousands of her best -citizens and whose industrial expansion was a thorn in her side. - -For the first time since 1870, when the French tri-color was humbled -in the dust of Sedan, Germany and France were interested in a common -cause against America, and were actuated by the same selfish motives -against the American Republic. Both were ready in April, 1898, -to fly at America's throat and in unison with Spain, administer to -our American Republic a first-class thrashing. These two worthies -entertained the notion that the great American Republic would very -soon be humbled and be only too glad to sue for peace on bended knees. - -In return for her valuable services in this delightful program, -Germany was to be rewarded by Spain with the gift outright of the -Philippine islands. This was the beautiful cluster of grapes which -tempted the cupidity of the German fox. - -But, alas, in the language of the lamented Josh Billings, "nothing is -more certain than the uncertainty of this world." France and Germany, -(an ill-assorted and graceless pair,) had reckoned without their host. - -Sorely against their wishes, with hat in hand, France and Germany found -themselves under the absolute necessity of calling at the office of -a certain pugnacious and only too well known gentleman by the name -of John Bull, whose home since the days of the Druids and William -the Bastard has been in the snug little island of England and whose -postoffice address is London. - -They (F. and G.) came to consult John Bull on the very important -subject of their proposed expedition against America, with Spain -acting as a tail to their kite. - -They explained to Mr. Bull the object of their mission; they set -forth in a very clear [A Very Anxious Pair.] light that Uncle Sam, -on the other side of the Atlantic, needed a sound thrashing, and -what was more, needed it very badly. France and Germany posed before -J. B. as champions of a weaker nation that they were both very anxious -to protect. They represented that they had no possible interest in -the outcome of a war between America and Spain. All they asked of -England was merely to remain neutral,--to keep quiet while the three -prize stars, France, Germany and Spain, proceeded to give Uncle Sam -a taste of their raw-hides. - -Then it was that the British Lion gave a roar, and in clear, -unmistakable language informed both France and Germany if they -ventured to fire a gun against America in the defence of Spain, -England would not remain neutral, but would side with America and -lend her assistance on sea and land. - -The British Lion is not to be trifled with. France and Germany knew -this only too well, and when the war broke out they decided to remain -home and wisely stay in doors while it rained. Spain went to war -alone with her powerful enemy and took her medicine, we were nearly -tempted to say, "like a good little man." - -The era of fraternal love, inaugurated through England's wise -action in repulsing the advances of France and Germany, proved -the keystone to the greatness of America and England in 1999. Ever -after the Spanish-American war they remained loyal and true to one -another and their friendship and mutual interests ever increased -thereafter. Throughout the twentieth century England and America -stood side by side in every emergency. It was not necessary to -draw up legal documents with enormous seals and yards of red silk -ribbon to cement the alliance of true friendship that existed between -the two nations. Their hearts beat in unison in the common cause of -humanity. In the twentieth century England and America were invincible -in war and leaders in all arts of peace. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -Our Foreign Relations in 1999. - - -Having clearly set forth in our earlier chapters the splendid -proportions and the commanding position on this globe held by the -United States of the Americas in 1999, it now becomes necessary in -order to determine the position of the great American Republic in its -international relations, to review, in brief, the condition of Europe, -and, more particularly that of England, in the twentieth century. - -In the year 1999 the British and American flags protected over one-half -of the human family and before the close of the twenty-first century it -appeared certain that English would become the universal language. The -population of the world in 1999 figured at a trifle over 2,000,000,000 -souls. The population of the United States of the Americas in 1999 was -rated at 531,000,000, while that of the British possessions figured -at about an equal amount, making a grand total population of over -1,000,000,000 people under the flags of the two nations. It is easy -to comprehend how, under two thoroughly enlightened governments, -[English the Universal Language.] with a good system of education, -free schools, and an enterprising press, English rapidly came to -the front as the universal language, and in the year 1999 it became -obvious and clear to all candid minds that the Anglo-Saxon race -already dominated the world. - -The Arbitration Treaty between England and America was signed on -the 6th day of June 1910. By the provisions of this document it was -agreed that in the event of any dispute between the two countries -Arbitration as a settlement for all difficulties would be resorted -to. Public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic was sternly opposed -to any resort to war between England and the Americas. The Arbitration -Treaty was signed by her gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, who was -still seated on the British throne and was enjoying a fair measure -of health in 1910 at the venerable age of 92 years. This marvelous -and well-preserved lady still retained the homage and respect of -the entire world, and the indications pointed to a grand celebration -of her Majesty's centennial anniversary in 1918. But the world was -denied that privilege and honor. In the year 1912, the Duke of York, -(Victoria's grandson,) succeeded to the British throne, assuming the -title of Alexander I. - -In 1999 radical changes had taken place in the map of Europe. The long -international [France Gobbled Up by Germany.] feud and bitterness -existing between France and Germany had been twice weighed in -the scales of war. The wound caused to French national pride by -the fall of Sedan, Metz and Paris, rancored long in the breasts -of all Frenchmen. It was a grief silently borne, but none the less -keen. In 1907 the French military party again shouted the battle cry, -"A Berlin," and in the brief but disastrous war that followed again -were the proud eagles of France trailed in the dust. France lost more -of her territory in the Franco-German war of 1907 and Germany saddled -on her an enormous war indemnity in the shape of $3,000,000,000. - -This was a hard blow to French national pride. Russia, her ally, -proved false to her promises of aid and France was left alone to -determine the issue with Germany. - -The terrible disaster of 1907 only added oil to the French fire of -hatred, and in 1935 France, for some imaginary cause, again entered -into another war of revenge, (guerre de revanche,) against Germany. As -a result of the war of 1935 France utterly collapsed. At the close -of that war Germany took possession of Paris and maintained German -garrisons in all of the forts surrounding that city for a period of -[Germans Hold Paris for Ten Years.] ten years, or until the year -1945. Germany determined, while holding possession of Paris, to reduce -the enormous military establishment of France, the maintenance of -which had greatly impoverished both countries. In order to suppress -and crush France, German garrisons were maintained in every province -of France. In this manner Germany kept her mailed grasp upon France, -ready at any moment to stifle her upon the least show of resistance. In -1999 France became practically reduced to the condition of a German -province. - -Those who lived in the year 1899 will recollect only too well the -crying injustice [The Wrongs of Poor Dreyfus.] perpetrated upon the -person of an innocent French officer, Dreyfus, who suffered and was -humiliated in a manner which, fortunately, seldom falls to the lot of -man. France's lack of moral courage to grant justice to Capt. Dreyfus -for so many years, proved to the world that "la belle France," after -all, was merely a Dead Sea apple,--beautiful to the eye but rotten -to the core. - -It is then no cause for surprise that France, the moral coward, -in 1935, had been transformed into a German province. - -In 1999 Spain and Turkey had both been carved up, banqueted upon -and digested by [Adieu Spain and Turkey.] the political cannibals -of Europe. In the partition that took place in the twentieth century -England had been careful to secure for herself some of Spain's choice -side-cuts and joints and also secured her slice of Turkey. - -Turkey had been an invalid for many long years, and its obliteration -from the map of Europe was merely a question of time. These -semi-civilized and blood-thirsty Turks with a hideous history -drenched in innocent blood, champions of lust and rapine, oppressors -of Armenia and violators of chastity, were finally driven out of -Europe in 1920, hurled back once more into the dens of Asia Minor -from whence they came. - -Russia had long held a first mortgage upon the Turkish vagabond's -estate in Europe and possessed herself of a large share of the -vacated territory. But Russia, strange to relate, was kept out -of Constantinople in 1999. England, Germany, and what was left of -France, as well as Italy, were still fully determined that Russia -should never command the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. The European -Powers were ready, as of old, to smash Russia and defeat her ambition -in that direction. They knew only too well that once firmly [Shut Out -of Constantinople.] planted in the Ottoman capital Russia would then -become the absolute master of Europe. In 1999 the Turkish territory -about Constantinople, on both banks of the Bosphorus, was recognized -as a neutral zone and was held in trust by the united nations of -Europe. No war vessels were permitted to anchor in the Dardanelles -under any pretence whatsoever. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -The Fate of Spain. - - The Invention of aerial warships. In 1924 an International Congress - is held at Washington. Law passed prohibiting the use of aerial - warships. Spain is first to violate the compact. The penalty is - extermination from the face of the earth. - - -Spain, in 1999, was reduced to a mere geographical quantity. Ever after -the Spanish unpleasantness with America, in 1898, Spain's unhappy -history had been sliding down a greased pole. From the moment that -Columbus discovered America, Spain became a spoiled child of fortune. - -In 1492 Spain had a population of 40,000,000 people,--frugal, -industrious and prosperous. In the arts and sciences they led the -world in those days. In military science and navigation none could -equal them. The discovery of America utterly ruined Spain in less than -three hundred years. Spaniards thereafter ceased to depend upon their -own energy and resources. Intoxicated by the brilliant discoveries -of Columbus, the dazzling conquests of Pizarro, Cortes and De Soto, -Spain has endeavored since the fifteenth century to enslave the New -World and live upon the sweat of others' brows. - -The acquisition of sudden and prodigious wealth in the New World; -the steady flow [The Dangers of Sudden Wealth.] of money brought -into Spain by slave labor; the luxury and voluptuous ease of life -thus engendered, form important factors in the history of Spain's -decline. After losing all of her vast possessions in the New World, it -was left to America in 1898 to give the Spaniards their coup-de-grace -and check their baggage for Madrid. - -In 1942 Spain ceased to possess a government of her own. After a -devastating war, (une guerre a l'outrance,) Spain ended her official -existence and was parcelled out among the European nations. England, -with Gibraltar to start with, secured a generous slice of the Spanish -booty. In the twentieth century England was still well inclined to -make the best possible use of her opportunities, and America was -always glad to advance her cause, whenever it was practicable to do so. - -The annihilation of Spain came about after the following manner: - -In the year 1917 the world rejoiced at the prospect of a permanent -solution of the war problem. The new devices invented and perfected by -the deviltry of man, to be employed in the destruction of his fellow -men, had reached in that year such a degree of perfection that war -simply meant the wholesale destruction or total annihilation of those -who engaged in it. - -In 1917 aerial navigation was practically solved, and a new and vast -element had [A New Element in War.] opened its possibilities to -the will of man. At the close of the nineteenth century the "blue -etherial" was wholly unobstructed in its vast extent and still defied -the skill of our best inventors. Prof. Langley and his disciples had -not yet solved the great question of aerial navigation. In 1899 this -most inviting and ever tempting field of research still remained an -unsolved mystery. The old fashioned balloon, with no will or control of -its own, subject to the whim or caprice of every breath of air, was the -best apology we could offer in 1899 for purposes of aerial navigation. - -In 1917 the problem of aerial navigation had been practically solved -by Tesla, in [AErial Navigation Perfected.] whose brain many profound -secrets of nature had long been harbored. With the aid and potentiality -of electricity, (the slave of the twentieth century), aerial navigation -had been perfected. One of the first devices invented for use in the -air was the aerial warship, operated and controlled by electricity. - -Loaded with a quarter ton of dynamite, these deadly warships, without -anyone to navigate them could be made to hover over a city and threaten -its population with total annihilation. They were popularly called -"death angels." The sight of one of the warships blanched the cheeks -of the most intrepid, filling the city or town over which it hovered -with utmost consternation. - -The human mind recoiled with horror at the thought of war with such -fearful engines [Simply Wholesale Murder.] of destruction. In fact -war carried on with aerial dynamite ships was no longer worthy of being -called by that dignified name, it was simply a wholesale destruction -of lives and property. With strange inconsistency, the world in -1917 appeared to be willing to wage war on the "retail plan." It -was apparently willing to sacrifice human beings in terrible battles -fought between powerfully armed vessels, with heavy rifles and rapid -firing guns. The world was willing to slaughter life by one method, -yet it held in abhorrence these "death angels," which accomplished a -wholesale instead of a retail destruction of life and property. With -an inconsistency peculiarly its own, the world in 1917 appeared quite -willing that 50,000 men should be destroyed in a single battle by -rapid-firing guns, which could mow down a whole regiment at a time, but -the proposition to destroy an army of 50,000 men with one of the deadly -aerial warships, was everywhere regarded with horror. By this decision -the world placed itself in the position of a man who was willing to -be killed by the shot of a six-inch rifle, yet strongly objected on -the score of humanity to being riddled by the shell of a 14-inch rifle. - -War at best is but a relic of barbarism, and, be it waged with aerial -warships, or submarine torpedoes, with Mauser rifles or smooth bore -guns, it accomplishes the same end; nations are plunged into ruin; -the family circle is broken; widows and orphans are left disconsolate. - -Be this as it may, in the year 1924, a Congress of the leading nations -was held in the city of Washington, (then situated in the State of -Mexico,) and, as a result of its deliberations a solemn compact was -entered into, signed by the Ambassadors of every civilized nation, and -a treaty of the most [AErial War Ships Prohibited.] binding character -was ratified, in which it was stipulated that under no conditions, -named or unnamed, would the use of aerial warships ever be permitted -as an instrument or medium for waging war among nations. - -It was furthermore agreed and stipulated between these nations that if, -at any future period, any nation on the habitable globe should ever -permit itself to employ a system of aerial warships for the prosecution -of war, the other signatories of the treaty would make common cause -and combine in an attack against the offender. They would proceed to -invade its territory, destroy its cities and monuments, lay waste its -plains, obliterate its flag and name from the family of nations. The -remaining property of the violator of the treaty must also be seized -and sold, the proceeds to be donated to charitable deeds. - -It was further stipulated between the signatory powers that the -punishment meted out to any violator of this solemn treaty would -be in the same kind as its offending. In other words, a nation that -employed the use of aerial warships and practiced the horrible system -of dropping from great heights heavy charges of high explosives upon -cities, fleets or shipping, would be wiped out from the face of the -earth and annihilated by the same methods of destruction. - -The first violator of the Washington Treaty of 1924 proved to be -Spain, the [A Bad Rascal Caught.] ancient home and abiding-place of -the Holy Inquisition, that reprobate among nations; the emaciated -and wasted offspring of priestcraft. To her in 1930 was meted out -the condign punishment which she richly deserved for her flagrant -violation of the Washington Treaty in prosecuting her war against -Morocco. During this war, in the year 1929, Spain had resorted to the -use of aerial warships and by employing a fleet of "death angels," -she had utterly destroyed the ancient city of Fez, the capital of -that barbaric North African State, reducing the city into a heap of -ruins and causing the slaughter, in less than thirty minutes, of over -175,000 people. Tangier, on the northern boundary of Morocco, a city -of 75,000 population, had also suffered the same fate from the Spanish -"death angels." Tangier, with its inhabitants, was reduced to ashes -in less than ten minutes. - -In order to chastise Spain for her wanton cruelty and open violation of -the international convention of 1924, a peremptory note was served upon -the Madrid authorities, signed by the Treaty Powers, with the names -of America and England at the head of the list. It was particularly -observed that the signature of the United States of the Americas was -underscored, as though to remind Spain that America had not forgotten -the wrongs of Cuba. - -On the 21st day of April, 1930, (just thirty-two years after the -declaration of our [Hoisting the Storm-signal.] first war with Spain,) -notice was served upon the Madrid authorities that within thirty days -from date, the allied nations of the world would mobilize their aerial -war fleets and proceed to devastate Spanish territory. This ultimatum -included Ceuta, the Balearic islands, as well as the ever-faithful -isles of the Canaries. - -This international ultimatum was dispatched in conformity to the -terms of the Washington Treaty of 1924, which demanded, irrevocably -and without appeal, the extinction of any nation that employed such -barbarous methods of warfare as aerial warships and the practice of -hurling gun-cotton, dynamite and nitro-glycerine from the skies upon -defenceless cities. - -At last Spanish pride was humbled. With a terrible doom to face, -with no friend to counsel, succor or comfort her, Spain was at last -brought to the dregs of humiliation. [Spain Sheds Crocodile Tears.] -In vain did that unhappy country plead for leniency and mercy. Spain -was willing to sue for peace and safety upon any terms, but in vain -did that stricken nation wave the olive branch. - -The countenance of the world was withdrawn from Spain. The Treaty -Powers were obdurate and Spain must suffer for the terrible slaughter -of Fez and Tangier. The world in 1930 demanded that an example should -be made. It was determined to settle, once and forever, the important -question of using dynamite and other fulminants as a weapon of war -thrown down from airships. It had been determined that any nation -employing such barbarous methods of warfare should be uprooted from -the face of the earth. - -The object and purpose of the thirty-day notice was to allow the entire -population, men, women and children, ample time to leave the doomed -kingdom. The Treaty [Thirty Days to Leave Spain.] Powers, in seeking -to punish Spain, did not wish to sacrifice life. The punishment Spain -was to receive consisted in the annihilation of her kingdom and the -destruction of her cities and monuments. Like modern Jews, who had -lost their Palestine, they were thereafter to be scattered over the -face of the globe, with no country and no national ensign of their -own. Such was the fiat of the nations in 1930 and this decree was -fulfilled to the letter. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -The Annihilation of Spain. - - Arrival of the "Death Angels" over Spain. Spaniards cross the - Pyrenees into France. The doom of Weyler and his cohorts. "Remember - the Maine." Madrid and the principal cities of Spain in - ashes. Portugal's action applauded. No more aerial warships. - - -On the 21st day of May, 1930, a remarkable sight presented itself -over the Pyrenean range of mountains on the northern boundary of -Spain, dividing that country from her northerly neighbor, "la belle -France." High above the peaks of [Arrival of the "Death Angels."] -that natural barrier between those two countries, and visible to the -naked eye, could be seen what appeared to be a large flock of birds -of enormous size, moving swiftly and silently in a southerly direction. - -Vast multitudes of Spaniards who were crossing the Pyrenees to seek -shelter in French territory, gazed with awe upon the ominous sight -presented by these "death angels" as they proceeded south on their -errand of destruction. They knew only too well the character of these -deadly messengers of war whose use had been prohibited in battle by -all civilized nations. In the case of Spain they were not used for -purposes of warfare but merely as instruments of punishment for her -wanton violation of the Treaty. - -During the preceding thirty days the volume of immigration from Spain -into France had kept an unbroken stream. On the 21st day of May, 1930, -the appointed day of doom, a large share of the Spanish population -had found its way across the border into France, and some of the -provinces about Madrid, notably Segovia, Castille and Salamanca, -were as innocent of population as the desert of Sahara is of cascades. - -On that memorable day of May, 1930, the cities of Spain might easily -have been [Spanish Cities Two For a Cent.] bought up for a song or -a jack lantern. Weyler and his ferocious cut-throats, (the same imps -who blew up our Maine and martyred 266 brave American sailors), were -the only beings who remained in Spain on that day of doom. The gang -had the run of the kingdom for a few brief hours and were probably -amusing themselves very much after the manner of rats who enjoy the -exclusive privilege of a sinking ship. - -The Butcher and his satellites were holding high carnival in the -regal apartments of the Royal Palace in doomed Madrid, when the aerial -war craft of America, England and the Allied nations, silently stood -guard and floated over the city, veritable angels of death, fearful -to behold. - -The cellars of the Royal Palace had been ransacked and wines of the -choicest vintage [Handwriting on the Wall.] were being guzzled -by the Weyler brigands. Amidst revelry and shouting, and the din -of rattling castenets, the mazes of fandangos were performed by -voluptuous and sinuous Castillian sirens, from whose wild eyes blazed -forth that baleful light, incited by wine and unholy passion. These -dark, olive-skin belles in their terpsichores before the Butcher -and his aides, were as innocent of habiliments as Madame Eve when -that exalted personage made her debut in Eden. In the midst of this -debauchery, and while revelry was yet at its zenith, history again -repeated itself. Suddenly, like a prolonged flash of lightning, -the revelers saw distinctly the handwriting on the wall. It was an -inscription that carried terror and consternation into the hearts of -the Weylerites and read: "Remember the Maine." - -At this critical and interesting part of the program, Capt. Sigsbee, -(then eighty-one years of age,) who in 1930 commanded the aerial warship -"Maine," and who had been especially selected for that mission, gave -the signal and from her kelson the aerial "Maine" dropped a little -surprise package containing one hundred and thirty pounds of dynamite -upon the Royal Palace of Spain. Weyler and his gang, one moment later, -were roasting in company with their forefathers. Such, then, was the -fate of Weyler, the destroyer of our noble "Maine," an [More Spanish -Mules Killed.] arch fiend whose cruel orders were blindly obeyed -by others of his ilk, carrying to unhappy Cuba a degree of misery, -starvation and death that shocked the entire world. - -The British aerial warships, as well as those of Germany, Russia, -Austria, Italy, France, Holland, Greece and Japan, took their signal -from the first shot or discharge of dynamite dropped by the "Maine," -and joined forces with the American aerial warships in the total -annihilation of Madrid. The scene of destruction that followed the -attack of these aerial warships baffles all belief. Indeed, naught -may come within the scope of human imagination that can depict the -horrors, wholesale slaughter and utter desolation that may be wrought -by aerial warships. Ships floating in the air [It's Murder in The Air.] -two miles over a city and dropping within its limits huge charges -of dynamite, are fearful engines of destruction. In the twinkle of -an eye they can turn stately churches, lofty buildings, beautiful -homes, hospitals, colleges, parks and pleasure resorts into ashes, -and still vastly more terrible would be the loss of life. - -The bare thought that human beings with souls to save and a God to -answer to, might, in a flash, be hurled into eternity by these aerial -dynamite ships, without a moment's warning, and their habitations -turned into charnel-houses, is in itself sufficient to make one's -flesh creep. - -The Washington treaty of 1924, forbidding forever the use of this -barbarous method of warfare and threatening with destruction any -nation that employed it, was a wise and humane compact. - -Spain's flagrant violation of the international treaty in 1929, when -she wantonly destroyed Fez and Tangier, was universally condemned. On -the other hand, the destruction and razing of Spain in 1930, as a -punishment for her bad faith, received the warmest commendations of -the world. It was fully realized that Spain's chastisement fitted -her case as perfectly as the bark fits the tree that it encircles. - -Yet, the razing of Spain in 1930 fills one's better nature with -sadness. The [Too Bad about Spain.] widespread destruction of a -kingdom replete with historic memories, rich in treasure-troves of -art and science, dotted with thriving cities, fertile plains, lovely -vales and teeming with beautiful homes, appeals to heart, as well -as imagination. Although richly meriting her fate in 1930, Spain's -doom in that year deeply stirred the hearts of all humanity, but the -lesson it taught was that the world would never tolerate the use in -war of aerial dynamite warships, and this lesson proved a salutary one. - -From Cadiz to Saragossa, and from Alicante to Corunna, the deadly -aerial ships pressed on their way, sweeping destruction before them. The -chief cities of Spain, namely, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, -Murcia, Cartagena, Granada, Cadiz and Saragossa, were all destroyed -in rapid succession, after the fate of Madrid had been decided. The -costly palaces of the Madrid grandees crumbled into dust from only -a few dynamite discharges of these air-ships. - -Sad indeed it was to witness the destruction of the magnificent -paintings in the Royal Art Gallery of Madrid, containing as it -did in 1930 three thousand chef-d'oeuvres of the world's immortal -artists. The gallery contained the best examples of Titian, Raphael, -Rubens, Muerillo, Van Dyck, Veronese and Tenier, a grand collection -of rare paintings that were valued at $300,000,000, and that had -required several hundreds of years to collect. - -Strange to say, in 1930, there was no cathedral in Madrid for the -air-ships to destroy. For some reason, unknown even to Spaniards, -their national capital had never enjoyed this luxury. It is a maxim, -old as the hills, that shoemakers are usually the ones who wear the -shabbiest shoes; the ill-dressed man in a community is very apt to -be the tailor; the most neglected man during sickness is oftentimes -the physician, and the man who invariably neglects to make his will -is the lawyer. Following in the line of this well-established rule, -it ceases to be a surprise that priest-ridden Spain, the first-born of -Rome, should find herself without a cathedral within the limits of her -national capital. If the cathedral of Madrid escaped the palsied touch -of the dynamite air-ships the reason therefor was simple enough. Madrid -never possessed one. - -Portugal escaped the ravages of the dynamite air-ships, and in 1999 -that kingdom [Ordered West by Portugal.] still proudly guarded the -western shores of the Iberian peninsula. In the spring of the year -1898, Portugal endeared herself to every American heart when her -government ordered Admiral Cervera and his squadron to sail away from -her possessions, the Cape de Verde islands, and "go west." Cervera had -to face the music, and it was with heavy hearts that the mariners on -board of the Oquendo, Marie de Teresa, Vizcaya, Colon, and the torpedo -destroyers, Pluton and Furore, weighed anchor and, like Columbus, -set their faces toward the Western Hemisphere, but, this time, with -the certainty that their noble vessels never again would plough their -prows in European waters. - -The inglorious fate of Spain in 1930 ever after proved a warning to -all other nations. In 1999 air-ships navigated the "blue ethereal" -in every quarter of the globe. It was a safe, economical and swift -method [No More AErial Warships.] of transportation, but after -the destruction of Spain, in 1930, aerial warships were put out of -commission and condemned. In 1999 so stringent were the international -laws against their use that the mere possession of an aerial warship -by any nation was likely to embroil others in a war of extermination -and on suspicion alone a most rigid investigation was instituted. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -Europe in 1999. - - The Pope Casts his Lot in the New World. Complications in Europe - Rendered his Residence in Rome Undesirable. No Refuge in Europe - Available for his Holiness. Generous Offer of the Southern States - of the American Union. The Papal See transferred to Rio Janeiro - in 1945. - - -The relations of the United States of the Americas with Italy in 1999 -were of a character that demand more than a passing notice, going -far to illustrate the political eminence that had been attained in -that year by the great American Republic. - -In the year 1927, the long standing and severe tension that had -existed between the Papacy and the Italian government ever since -Napoleon III in 1870 withdrew his French garrison from the Holy City, -became greatly intensified and had reached an acute stage that proved -beyond human endurance. - -The strained relations between the Vatican and the Quirinal had -reached a critical stage. The fierce struggle between Church and -State had attained a point of utmost tension. It became obvious, -even in that year, that the break and parting of the ways could not be -very distant. In 1927 the Popes of Rome had already been prisoners in -the palace of the Vatican for a period of over fifty years. Patience -in their case had ceased to be a virtue. Rome had long been a house -divided against itself and its rule under two kings could not always -endure. The delicate position of the Pope became a most unenviable -one. The insolence of the Roman rabble even found its way under -the glorious dome of St. Peter, where, on Palm Sunday, in the year -1923 Pope Pius X was insulted by a clique from the Roman slums. That -the Holy Pontiff, the spiritual ruler and sovereign of 328,000,000 -Catholics, should experience insult in St. Peter's, his citadel of -strength and power, proved a scandal beyond belief. - -Convinced that his temporal power was forever broken, Pope Leo -XIV in the year [The Pope Decides to Leave.] 1945 decided, after -consulting a Conclave of Cardinals, to abandon the city of Romulus -and Remus and to shake from his sandals the dust of ancient Rome. It -was at first thought that the College of Cardinals would check their -baggage and take the overland route to Avignon, in southern France, -an honor which many centuries before had already fallen to the lot -of that ancient municipality. - -But it was otherwise decreed and great was the astonishment of the -world when its nerves were thoroughly startled by the startling news -that Pope Leo XIV had elected to remove the Papal See from Rome and -to establish it in the United States of the Americas. The world's -astonishment was akin to consternation when the news of this radical -change of base was first announced and it was learned that the Vatican -intended to cast its lot in the new world. - -A proposition to transplant the Papal See from its ancient anchorage in -the Italian [It Startles One's Nerves.] peninsula into the new world -would have been scouted in 1899 with scorn and derision as the wild -phantasy of a babbling maniac. People living in 1899 might perhaps have -seriously entertained a proposition to remove the pyramids of Egypt -from their ancient foundations and transfer them to the sandlots of -San Francisco, to open up a Chinese laundry in the King's Chamber; a -proposition to dispatch an army of laborers with shovels to the crater -of Vesuvius and attempt to extinguish that volcano by shoveling in -sand, might, in 1899, have been regarded as a plausible undertaking; -the attempt of a delegation of Protestant ministers to personally -convert the Sultan of Turkey from Mohamedanism and induce him to attend -a camp-meeting, might have commended itself to all good citizens in -1899, but the startling proposition to remove the Papal Court from -ancient Rome to South America, appeared to all minds in 1899 as the -most improbable of all improbabilities, yet in 1945, (forty-six years -later,) the public mind was better prepared for this great change -and the removal of the Court of Rome in that year to Rio Janeiro was -entertained in better grace and in a more conciliatory spirit. - -In 1945 the position of the Papacy in Rome was no longer endurable. The -[Rome Unsafe for the Pontiff.] sacred person of the Pontiff became -no longer safe within the precincts of the Eternal City. The Vatican -had been frequently violated by mobs from the banks of the Tiber and -the slums of Rome, over which the Italian government could effect -no control. The revered head of the church, like his Divine Master -while on earth, knew not where to lay his head. - -Europe in 1945 had no refuge or shelter to offer to His -Holiness. Russia, the home of the Greek church, could offer him no -asylum, where one of his exalted rank might dwell in peace. Austria, -that steadfast and ever faithful son of the church, would gladly -have sheltered the Papal Court, assuring it permanent safety and -a splendor commensurate with its prestige, but, unfortunately for -Austria in 1945 that country was rent in twain, a shadow of its former -greatness. Hungary had long enjoyed her richly merited independence -and in that year had become a leading European power. - -The eyes of the Papacy could not turn to Spain for succor in -1945. Spain in that year was reduced to a barren waste, having expiated -her crime of 1930, that of employing powerful fulminants from air-ships -to destroy two African cities. France in 1945 had no refuge to offer -the Pope. As a result of two unfortunate wars, she had passed into -the custody of Germany, occupying the position of a mere vassal. - -Realizing the serious difficulties which environed the Papal See in -1945, the Catholic states of the southern tier of the United States -of the Americas, known as South America, made an urgent appeal that -the Court of Rome might be removed into their midst. - -Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, -Argentina, [The South to the Rescue.] Paraguay and Patagonia levied -contributions among the faithful and between them the munificient -sum of $500,000,000 was raised, to be placed at the disposal of the -Pope. Accompanying this gift offering was sent an earnest petition and -prayer that the Pope would consent to abide in the new world, where a -splendid reservation consisting of 17,000 square miles of choice lands -had been placed at his disposal in the neighborhood of Rio Janeiro. - -In the petition of the South American States praying His Holiness -to acquiesce in this important project, it was pointed out that the -Pope would be domiciled upon the only continent which was catholic in -its entirety, with no creed to oppose, and, in removing the throne -of St. Peter to Rio Janeiro, the Pope would occupy the position of -a patriarch surrounded by his faithful children. The invisible, but -none the less galling fetters, that had enslaved the Pope since 1870, -making him virtually a prisoner in the Vatican, would be entirely -removed. In the State of Brazil he might rule a principality of no -mean proportions, far larger and immeasurably more wealthy than the -Papal kingdom of 1870 when Pius IX was yet King of Rome. The catholic -citizens of South America represented fully the many advantages of -removing the Papal Court from the old into the new world. - -It will be recollected that in 1999 the total population of the -United States of the Americas amounted to 531,000,000. Of this vast -population at least 175,000,000 citizens residing in South America -were adherents of the church of Rome. - -The liberal offer that came from the South American States received -the utmost [The Pope Accepts the Offer.] attention from the Papal -authorities. To withdraw from that ancient city seemed like the -uprooting of all traditions. The irreligious were prone to make merry -over the proposition, predicting with strange irreverence, that in -Rio Janeiro the Pope would feel like a cat in a strange garret. But -with such innuendoes we have nothing in common. Let history proceed -undisturbed in its course. - -It required a heroic sacrifice to give up Rome, filled with the -most precious historic memories, a city in which lies enshrined the -dust of St. Peter's successors. This step meant the abandonment of -that magnificent cathedral, which in 1999 still formed an aureole -of glory about the Eternal City. But Rome in 1945 was no longer a -safe tabernacle for the Papacy. Its mobs were unbridled in their -license. The person of the Pontiff was no longer safe within the -walls of the Vatican. The Italian government proved to be an abettor, -if not an instigator, of these outrages. - -With a dark, threatening cloud hovering over the throne of St. Peter -in Europe, and [All Headed for the West.] on the other hand, bright -skies and a most alluring and tempting prospect eagerly awaiting its -transferment to Rio de Janeiro, after long hesitation and endless -Conclaves, the Sacred College of Cardinals, (the Pope concurring,) -gave its official sanction in 1945 to the removal of the Papal See -to the Western Hemisphere, under the aegis of the great American -Constitution, the noblest document ever written by the fallible pen -of man, a charter which protects and defends all who are worthy and -they who seek its sheltering folds. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -England's Domain in 1999. - - England Rules Supreme in Africa in 1999. Electric Railroads - Built by American Engineers Cover the Dark Continent. France - Suffers Two Waterloos. England's Rule in India Unshaken in the - Twentieth Century. - - -In 1999 England was the ruler of Africa and her domain over the Dark -Continent was indisputable. From the Delta of the Nile to Cape Town, -from Abyssinia to Liberia, the British lion was free to roam and -roar throughout the enormous, heart-shaped African continent. From -Alexandria to Cape Town became, in 1999, a comparatively short journey -over the electric railroads which in that year traversed the entire -length of the Nile basin, with important stations at Berber and -Khartoum, Uganda, Zambo to Pretoria, thence to the Terminal of the -roads at Cape Town. This electric railroad through the Nile basin, -the lake regions and heart of the African continent, was completed -and in operation in 1930, after a sacrifice in its construction [It -Reduced the Census.] of 19,000 lives and an outlay of $152,000,000. It -proved to be, however, the backbone of Africa, the vertebral column -from which scores of other electric railroad branches reached out -both east and west, like the ribs of a mastodon. - -The great presiding genius and leading spirit in African railroads was -Cecil Rhodes, the same who was regarded as being the most prominent -colonial Englishman. It was through his perseverance and untiring -energy that the great system of African railroads was created in -1930. Rhodes was a really great man. Thousands courted his favor -and smile, and tens of thousands trembled at his frown. Throughout -Southern Africa so great in 1899 was his power and influence that he -was called the "Deputy Almighty." - -In the construction of these African electric railroads America played -an important role. Cecil Rhodes was at first inclined to award the -contracts for rails, copper wires, cars and general equipment to -English manufacturing firms but his worthy patriotic sentiments soon -vanished when it was demonstrated clear as sunlight, even early as -1898 that America could produce a far superior grade of machinery in -much less time and at much less cost. In 1901 Cecil Rhodes awarded -all his heavy contracts to American firms. In other words, England -furnished the capital and America practically built the entire system -of African railroads in 1930. - -The first "eye opener" in the line of American competition against -British machinery came into prominence in the spring of 1899, when work -had already commenced on the north division of the great trunk line -through Africa. The Atbara bridge and the first lesson in industrial -economy that it taught, will not soon be forgotten. Bids were invited -from British and American [America Leads the World.] bridge builders -in April, 1899. It was represented to all competitors that the proposed -bridge must be completed in the shortest time possible. - -When the bids were opened it was discovered that the English engineers -required seven months to complete the work, while their American -competitors guaranteed to complete and deliver the bridge in forty-two -days from date of signing the contract and the work was to be completed -for a much less sum than the price demanded by the English builders. - -The lesson of the Atbara bridge was not lost upon the great "Deputy -Almighty" of South Africa and Cecil Rhodes became the [A Peaceful -Victory.] means during the first quarter of the twentieth century -of securing many million dollars to the American trade. Africa's -most urgent needs in 1900 were railroads and missionaries. England -supplied a very superior article of the latter, while in the railroad -field no country could equal the American output. - -In the nineteenth century it had been the unpleasant experience of -France to suffer at the hands of England two Waterloos. [France Eats -"Humble Pie."] One was the great and only Waterloo, which drenched -the soil of Belgium with the blood of many brave men. Waterloo, -Jr., overtook the French soldiers at Fashoda, on Africa's soil -in 1899. When in that year England ordered France to leave Fashoda -without any further ceremony a victory was won by England, bloodless, -but none the less effective. - -After the Fashoda incident France gradually lost her African provinces, -leaving England in undisputed sway over a continent that in wealth -and resources proved far superior to her great Indian Empire. In 1999 -Alexander II, of Great Britain, ruled over a mighty empire. In the -nineteenth century British kings and queens were just plain, every day -royalties, transacting a legitimate business in that line and otherwise -enjoying the respect and confidence of their patrons. It was generally -understood that the "king can do no wrong." This was indisputable for -the simple reason they never did anything at all. But when great Africa -became a British province, it was then felt necessary to add still -another title to the British Crown and in 1999 Britain's Sovereign -became known to his chums and acquaintances as King of Great Britain -and Ireland, D. F., Emperor of India, Mogul of Africa and Right Bower -of the Americas, because, in 1999 none of England's important deals -were regarded as complete without a Yankee plum in the pie. Sometimes -England contrived, as the phrase goes, to "get her foot in it" but -cousin Jonathan across the salt pond, always managed to yank her out. - -In 1999 England still held a firm grip upon India. The secret of -Samson's herculean [How England Holds India.] strength was due to -the fact that a lawn-mower had never tampered with his hair. But the -secret of the British lion's power in India did not consist in the -fact that the lordly beast cultivated a full mane. - -India in 1999, as in the year 1899, still continued to remain the -world's most brilliant illustration that nations which are divided -among themselves must inevitably fall. In 1899 the question was -repeatedly asked, how can England with a mere corporal's guard, hold -together the vast, mystic India under her sway? How can a nation of -40,000,000 people, like England, hold under her sway a far distant -continent like India with its population of 350,000,000 people? - -In 1999 India still remained a house divided against itself and England -was boss of the whole ranch. The eighty different principalities of -India, each one speaking a different dialect and governed by alien -potentates, fired by mutual hatreds which were fanned by fierce -jealousies and the immutable laws of caste, were still as far apart in -1999, in point of harmony and cohesive action, as the Himalayan peaks -are remote from the spice groves of Ceylon. [Cannot Hold Together.] -If at any period in the eighteenth, nineteenth or twentieth centuries -these principalities of India could have united themselves together -in a common cause and arisen in the might of their power against -British rule, England would be driven out of India in ten days' -time. India's 350,000,000 population represents an enormous mass, -but, as long as it remains divided into practically eighty different -nations, all of them animated by bitter hatreds and antagonisms, -England will experience no trouble in retaining absolute control of -her large but very acrimonious Indian family. - -The power and stamina of the Anglo-Saxon race, which already dominated -the [Anglo-Saxons Rule the World.] world in 1999 through the vast -Republic of the Americas and the world-wide British Empire, exemplified -itself in a high degree in the British government of India. Only one -desperate struggle was ever attempted against British rule in India -and the disastrous failure of the mutiny in 1857 was yet fresh in -the minds of many in 1999. - -The great, mighty India, the home of mysteries that baffle all reason; -the fount which holds the sacred Ganges and boasts of Benares' holy -soil, was still under the lion's paw in 1999 and bid fair to remain -under British rule for many centuries yet to come. Mystic India, the -land of the loftiest mountains, deepest jungles and broadest plains; -the home of Pharsee and Thug; the lair of lion, tiger, leopard and -elephant; the Eden of the deadly cobra, India, the world's vast -and mystic continent, remained a British province throughout the -twentieth century. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -Back in God's Country Again. - - A Grand Constitution that could Govern the World. The American - Flag must Rule the Western Hemisphere and None Save God can - Prevent this. America's Perilous Over-confidence. Our Great Navy - in 1999. England's Friendly Offices in 1898. America and Great - Britain Firm Friends Forevermore. - - -Having thus briefly reviewed the condition of Europe in 1999; the -changes that had been effected in the map of that continent; the -cordial relations existing between the American Eagle and the British -Lion in that year; the acknowledged supremacy of America and England -over the entire world; the obliteration of Spain in 1930; the fall -of France in 1935; the banishment of moslem rule from Europe and the -grandeur of British rule in Africa and India, let us again return to -God's own country, The United States of the Americas, which chosen -land, in 1999, became the wealthiest, most prosperous and powerful -of all nations upon this inhabitable globe. Having traveled abroad in -the preceding chapter to secure a glimpse of the world's condition in -that year, we gladly set foot again in the new world to examine more -closely and accurately into the status of the great American Colossus. - -If there are any who believe that the great and infallible constitution -of the [It Could Govern the World.] United States of America is not -broad and strong enough to include in its scope and government every -country in our Western Hemisphere from Alaska to Patagonia; if there -are any Americans who believe that Central and South American Republics -can never be governed under our American Republic, employing the same -language and the same coinage, all sheltered under the noble flag of -Bunker Hill, to such unbelievers in the future expansion of America -we appeal in vain through these pages. They fail to understand that -America has a great duty to perform and is destined to become the -light of the world. - -To any fair minded and candid student of history the conclusion -must come with force that America with [It is the Hand of Destiny.] -her forty-five states in 1899 was a mere local affair compared with -the certainty of all the other republics joining under one government -with ours in 1999. - -America in 1899 was yet in the cradle of her infancy, occupying a -modest and narrow strip of territory extending from Maine to Florida; -fringed by Canada on the north and laved by the waters of the Mexican -gulf on the south. - -Her position on this continent was that of a Gulliver by whose side -the other southern republics looked like Lilliputians. Providing -that the giant is gifted not only with strength and a stout heart, -but governed, also, by good principles, why should the Lilliputian -Republics of Central and South America fear? Would it not be better -for them to make common cause with their great American neighbor and -live under one flag? - -In 1899 the tendency of the period was to consolidate; the "trust -epidemic" then [Uncle Sam's Big Trust.] raged at its height; the aim -of that period, at least in commercial affairs, was to gather together -the small concerns and unite them into a whole. The United States of -the Americas in 1999 was largely built on the trust principle. Uncle -Sam was running the biggest concern in the government line and the -little South American Republics had simply been gathered in by the -big fellow. They all were merged into one great American nation, -governed by the same constitution, and all lifted up their gaze with -patriotic pride to the Stars and Stripes. - -At this juncture it might be interesting to learn by what means and in -what manner was this vast American Republic protected by sea and land -in 1999. Conscious of her vast resources and enormous strength, America -from the close of the Civil War in 1865 to the year 1885 remained -practically unarmed, keeping on hand a mere corporal's guard in the -shape of an army. Her navy up to 1882 consisted of an aggregation of -warships of more or less antiquity, mere washtubs with smooth bore -guns, whose ordnance, discharged against a modern battleship, would -have about the same effect as throwing boiled peas at a brick wall. - -Twenty years after the close of the Civil War, in 1885, America had -commenced to [Uncle Sam Wakes Up.] rub her eyes and to awaken from her -perilous Rip Van Winkle siesta of two decades and to realize, at last, -that a strong navy had become a national necessity. Over-confidence -is a dangerous foe to national safety. America, a land filled with -liberty-loving patriots and master mechanics, set to work none too -soon to provide herself with a navy; fighting machines that in point -of speed and prowess would compare favorably with the output of the -best foreign shipyards. It became obvious to the veriest child that -if our national dignity at home or abroad were to be maintained, and, -if we did not proposed to be bluffed by small concerns like Chile and -Spain, the best thing to do about a navy would be to build it at once, -forthwith, "and on the word go." - -Congress took spirited action in the matter, making liberal -appropriations for the construction of a first grade fleet of -modern warships, armed and equipped with best and most penetrating -rifles. This patriotic and sensible policy had been inaugurated none -too soon. - -The month of January, 1898, found America in possession of a small, -but highly [Small but Powerful.] efficient navy and on the brink -of war. What we had in the line of war vessels was of the best, but -America could proudly boast of something immeasurably better than a few -fine ships and heavy guns. We possessed what no Congress or Parliament -could make to order or purchase by appropriation, and that was a keen, -patriotic sentiment throughout both the American army and navy. - -"The man behind the gun," anxious to lay down his life by the side -of the powerful [The True American Hero.] breech-loading destroyer -he loved so well to train and groom; "the man behind the gun," who -loved and cared for his mighty weapon as a father would his child; -watching it by night and day, praying for the hour when he might belch -from its throat missiles of destruction into the enemy's ranks,--"the -man behind the gun," God bless him, is America's own true born. In the -hour of peril, at Manila, Santiago and at Puerto Rico, these heroes, -man and gun, did their duty right nobly and well. In 1999 the world -still rang with the valor of their deeds. - -But America in 1898 found herself still unprepared. The war issue -was lodged with a power of the third magnitude. Left alone with -the Dons the tale would soon be told. Only one year before our war -with the yellow and red flag, an American gentleman summed up the -situation in a very concise manner: "When we get at the Spaniards, -they'll hold together just long enough to get kicked to pieces." - -But Spain had other partners, two powerful nations, who, for selfish -reasons, would have been only too glad to give Uncle Sam a punch in -the ribs. Germany, having been fortified by a bribe from Spain for -her co-operation against America, having been promised by Spain as a -reward for assistance the entire group of the Philippines, was only -too eager to close the bargain. The Teutons were spoiling for a fight -with Uncle Sam, ostensibly in behalf of Spain, but more especially -for a grab at the Philippines. France, on the other hand, distinctly -recollected that she owned and held the bulk of Spanish securities -and if the Dons in their brush with America took "a header," these -Spanish securities would not be worth a last year's bird nest. And -now comes an important question: Was America prepared in 1899 to -clash in naval combat with the combined forces of Spain, France and -Germany? Josh Billings would have made short shift of his reply by -saying: "Well, hardly." - -Spain's two unhappy partners, in their dilemma then turned their eyes -and steps [Called at the Captain's Office.] toward a little island -that lies slightly north of their territory. France and Germany heard -the growl of the British Lion and before they joined Spain in a war -against America, John Bull must be consulted. As a result of their -interview this ill-mated pair became well convinced that England -would put up with none of their nonsense and would not remain neutral -should they join Spain in hostilities against America. France and -Germany became converted to other views and very wisely decided to -remain at home, meek as lambs, while Uncle Sam was carving up Spain -to suit the queen's taste. - -In 1999 our American patriots did not propose to get caught in -the trap of January, 1898, in which America found herself. In the -year first named America was able to meet in war any combination of -European nations that might hazard themselves in the field against -her. The unfortunate spectacle of a great nation like America, on -the eve of war, rushing around as we certainly did in March, 1898, -buying up odds and ends of war vessels and fairly begging to buy -smokeless powder at any price, will never again be repeated in this -great country. The lesson of 1898 was yet fresh in the minds of all -in 1999. Americans of the twentieth century were too shrewd to get -caught napping again in that manner. - -In 1999 the United States of the Americas embraced eighty-five -states. Canada [The New American Navy.] had been divided into two -American States, namely, East and West Canada. The original territory -of the United States in that year consisted of sixty-two sovereign -states; Texas alone had been divided into three separate states. To -these were added the six states of Central America, namely, the newly -created American States of Mexico, Nicaragua, Salvador, Costa Rica, -Guatemala and Honduras. Next came the newly admitted American States of -Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, -Uruguay, Paraguay and Patagonia, making a grand total of eighty-five -states, which formed in 1999 the United States of the Americas. - -By enactment of Congress provision had been made that every State -in the Union must build, equip and maintain at its own cost at -least one battleship of the most modern type and unrivalled power; -one armored cruiser of the highest speed, (35 knots per hour,) and -three submarine destroyers of the most approved pattern and of the -most enterprising character. - -As a result of this wise policy the navy of the Americas in 1999 -consisted of eighty-five (85) first grade battleships; one hundred and -seventy (170) of the swiftest and most powerful cruisers; two hundred -and [Five hundred and Ten Warships.] fifty-five (255) submarine -destroyers, popularly called in that year, "uplifters." Such was the -numerical strength of the American Navy during the closing period of -the twentieth century, on a peace footing. In the remote possibility -of a war, provision had been made to mobilize the American fleet upon -a far more formidable standard of efficiency. The total number of our -war craft of all classes aggregated in that year, five hundred and ten -(510) vessels. - -When one reflects that the coast-line of the great Republic, along the -Atlantic and Pacific shores of the Americas, embraces fully 34,000 -miles, every mile of which was entitled to our national defence, -it will be recognized that the American Navy in 1999 was barely in -keeping with the vast proportions of the Republic it had been created -to defend. Indeed, it was regarded as being a modest establishment -of its kind, judged by the standards of that period. - -The question very properly offers itself, "If the United States of -the Americas in 1999 represented such a powerful nation, wealthy and -prosperous, potent in enterprise and industry, what use had it for -a navy of five hundred and ten warships?" This question is easily -answered by quoting an old and sterling axiom: "In time of peace we -must prepare for war." - -The folly of March 1898, when America, on the eve of war with Spain, -rushed in [Not to be Caught Again.] breathless haste into every -European navy-yard to purchase any thing that could float a gun, and -offered haystacks of gold for smokeless powder, was not to be repeated -in 1999. It was recognized in that year that the best guarantee for -peace was to maintain an efficient army and powerful navy, to exact a -proper respect for a flag that protected 531,000,000 American citizens. - -The big American Republic in 1999 did not propose to place itself, with -its vast population and interminable coast-line, in the humiliating -condition of China, a people who, though mighty in population, -remain helpless as infants in matters of national defence. America -did not intend to suffer the fate of China. Although her territory -was vast and her population reckoned by the half-billion, America did -not propose to permit European cormorants to pounce upon her coasts, -and, as in the case of China, steal a whole country under the guise -of civilizing it. In 1999 the Americas maintained a formidable army -and navy in order to impress the fact upon the world that we were -not like lambs, wholly without means of self-defense. - -The perilous American policy, inaugurated after the Civil War, of -existing without any army or navy worthy of the name, was exposed -through our war with Spain. Americans cheerfully acknowledged the -fact that England's friendliness tended to bring that war to an early -close. Even Spain in 1898 professed to hold our army in exalted -contempt, regarding Americans as a nation wholly unfit for war, -at best, a nation of wheat raisers and pork-packers. Many Spaniards -honestly imagined that Admiral Cervera could sail his squadron into -New York harbor, land his marines at Coney Island and after bombarding -the clams and battling with lager kegs, march his men over the Brooklyn -Bridge and capture City Hall. - -In 1999 Americans did not propose to again get caught napping, as -in the "good old [Eternal Vigilance in 1999.] days" of 1898. They -remained armed and ready for war on drop of the hat. No nation in -the former year would venture unaided to combat the great American -Republic. America in the twentieth century became invincible. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Our Army and Navy in 1999. - - Justice done to both Schley and Sampson. The American victory off - Santiago opens the eyes of the world. Emperor Wilhelm congratulates - himself. America maintains a vigorous Monroe Doctrine. - - -Long before the advent of 1910 every trace of the bitter -controversy that had so long disturbed American naval circles over -the Sampson-Schley quarrel, had fortunately been effaced. The hatchet -had been buried, or figuratively speaking, had been thrown overboard, -and in 1999 this unhappy feud, which tarnished the prestige of the -world's foremost navy, had been obliterated. In 1999, when all heat -or vestige of passion had passed away, this unfortunate episode was -regarded as being the one and only blot that associated itself with -the memory of a wonderful naval exploit, the brilliant engagement on -that ever memorable Sunday morning of July 3, 1898, when the Spanish -squadron steamed into the jaws of death. - -Time accomplishes wonders. It tones [The Brave American Officers.] -down the angles; it dulls the keenest edge and can even render mild, -bitter animosities, which, alas, often sting sharper than serpent -fangs. Long before 1900 it was universally acknowledged that gallant -Admiral Schley had been persecuted. His tormentors, men of high -station, became heartily ashamed of persecuting a brave officer who -had committed what apparently, in their judgment, appeared to be the -crime of annihilating the Spanish squadron off Santiago. - -Students of history in 1910 very naturally asked themselves: "If -Admiral Schley was so bitterly assailed at the close of a sweeping -victory, in what manner would he have been treated by these carping -critics had a portion of Cervera's fleet made good its escape?" - -Admiral Sampson appeared to be willing [Sampson's Unlucky Absence.] -and anxious to secure credit for a victory that had been fought -and won during his absence. But the question arises, would Admiral -Sampson have been willing to shoulder the blame if Cervera's vessels -had escaped destruction or would he have saddled Admiral Schley -with the responsibility? The reader must form his own conclusions -in this matter. On the other hand, all impartial students of history -in the twentieth century cheerfully accorded to Admiral Sampson full -credit for his gallant services on blockade duty during that war. His -responsibilities were great and pressing, and he discharged his duties -with utmost fidelity. - -A pathetic story indeed is that of the [The Ever Watchful Eye.] -"Man in the Iron Mask." None can read that page of French history -without being touched by the sad fate of this mysterious prisoner of -state, who was generally supposed to be a twin brother of the King of -France. He was treated by his attendants with the utmost deference and -courtesy. His raiments were of the costliest fabrics. The governor of -the citadel in which the "Man in the Iron Mask" was imprisoned, was -obsequious in his attentions to the distinguished prisoner. His wishes -were observed with the most scrupulous care and the Great Unknown -ever ruled his guardians with the sceptre of a king. The prisoner, -however, was obliged to wear his iron mask night and day. Any attempt -on his part to remove it, meant swift and certain death. - -The feature of his confinement which, perhaps, directly appeals -to the world's sympathy, was the human eye that watched his every -movement. Through a hole in the door of his apartment, (which was -sumptuously furnished,) that eye never relaxed its vigilance. Night and -day its ceaseless vigil continued until death's kindly hand relieved -the distinguished sufferer from the terror of its unceasing gaze. - -And so it was with Cervera and his squadron. The Spanish admiral -became the modern "Man in the Iron Mask." A prisoner behind the -lofty hills of Santiago, [Watched by Night and Day.] the eyes of -Sampson's fleet watched the narrow opening of that harbor night and -day, nor did their vigilance relax for one second of time. By night the -piercing eye of the electric search-light closely watched the harbor -entrance. The thoughts, the hopes and prayers of our noble America -were all centered upon Sampson and his brave men. He proved himself -to be an excellent fleet commander and in the twentieth century his -services were appreciated at their just value. - -The glorious victory at Santiago bay, occurring only sixty days after -Dewey's target practice in Manila bay, amazed and electrified the -world. England felt a genuine [American Plymouth Rocks.] pride in -both of these achievements and pointing to America observed: "These -American roosters are from our own setting and their name is Plymouth -Rock." When the German Emperor heard the great news from Santiago -very few men in Europe were more pleased over it. His joy, however, -was prompted by feelings of self-preservation rather than from -exultation over the American victory. Wilhelm patted himself on the -back and shook hands with himself for at least five consecutive hours -when he reflected how narrowly he had escaped getting involved in a -war with America and the fortunate escape of his German fleet from -the fate that overtook Cervera's vessels. This is the reason why the -German squadron cleared out of Manila immediately after Dewey sent -his famous request to Washington to dispatch the Oregon to Manila, -"for political reasons." The "bulldog of the American navy" reached -Manila in due season but Admiral Von Deiderichs withdrew long before -the "crack of doom" had ploughed her way into that harbor. As for -France in 1910 she had not yet recovered from her surprise, while -to Spain these disasters proved a paralytic shock of a most severe -character. From 1898 to 1930 Spain was merely walking around to stave -off funeral expenses. - -With a relatively strong navy of five hundred and ten (510) war ships -to patrol her coasts in 1999, the United States of the [Large Army -not Wanted.] Americas were not under any necessity of maintaining a -large standing army. It was fully realized that an efficient sea-power -must be maintained. With that arm of defence in her possession the -maintenance of a large standing American army can never seriously be -entertained. It has always been a popular belief in America that if -a foreign army of invasion were to land upon our shores, Americans -would give it a very warm reception, so spontaneous and effusive in -its character that a majority of the invaders would never find their -way back home again. Many of them might become permanent residents in -American soil, so deeply rooted that none but Gabriel's trump could -marshal them into line again. - -Germany in 1899 held the world's medal [Germany's Splendid Army.] -for the finest and best equipped army, a magnificent engine of war, -ready to move within an hour's notice, and woe to the enemy that -obstructs its path. Without any doubt in the closing period of the -nineteenth century the General staff of the German army was justly -regarded as the highest authority in military science. Such a vast and -smooth working engine for the destruction of human beings was never -before known. If the sun had been good enough to stop twelve hours in -its course to accommodate Joshua's beggarly army, that luminary would -no doubt gladly stand still a whole week on request of the chief of -staff of the German hosts. - -In 1899, with a population of barely 50,000,000, Germany possessed -an army of 2,500,000. France with much less population had fully as -many men under arms. Russia with a population of over 90,000,000 had -an army on a peace footing of 3,000,000 men. The burden upon Europe -was a most crushing one. In 1899 this drain was fast sapping the life -of those nations, robbing their industries and peaceful avocations -of the flower of their youth. This armed state in the time of peace -was fully as ruinous as war itself. No wonder that the Czar of Russia -urged a congress of the nations to convene and, if possible, devise -some system to reduce these huge armaments. For this well-meaning -attempt to relieve the military burdens of Europe the Russian Czar -deserves much credit but, unfortunately, the proposition proved to -be impracticable. The international conference at the Hague in the -summer of 1899 secured no definite results. - -In 1999 America did not propose to fall [No Standing Army in -1999.] into the European snare of maintaining a huge standing -army. When America in 1899 was merely a small Republic, consisting -of only forty-five states and a few odd territories, the idea of -maintaining a large standing army, on the European plan, was scouted -with derision. In 1899 Americans scoffed at Europe's military -establishments as a symbol of Barbarism. In 1999 when the great -American Republic included the entire Western Hemisphere, military -rule became more unpopular than ever. In the twentieth, as in the -nineteenth century, America remained firm in her adherence to the -Monroe Doctrine. This wise policy will always prove one of the best -safeguards of our American Republic. Europe must be kept out of the -Western Hemisphere. America will always belong to Americans only. In -the twentieth century the Monroe Doctrine lost none of its force, -and for many centuries its principles will still remain a living issue. - -With a Monroe Doctrine to maintain and defend, it is not surprising to -learn that in 1999 the United States of the Americas, with a population -of 531,000,000, maintained a small army of 150,000 men. The absolute -freedom of America from military burdens in 1899 and 1999 was the -glory of the Republic and the envy of a whole world. - -The object of government is to guarantee the utmost allowance of -freedom to the citizen, and blessed indeed is the nation that can -govern itself without having to maintain a huge standing army to hurl -at any moment's notice at its neighbors. Such barbarism may answer well -enough for Europe, whose governments are founded upon wrong principles, -but in great, free America, we want none of it, nor never shall. - -America always will be the land of the free. Her principles of -government are founded upon justice and equity. The voice of the people -is heard in the land and it is supreme. The government of the people, -by and for the people, is the gift of God to Man and the Almighty -has made America the custodian of that priceless jewel. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -Removal of The Capital. - - When the Stars and Stripes floated over the Entire Hemisphere in - 1990 Washington, the National Capital, was removed to Mexico. The - name of the new capital unchanged. Vera Cruz becomes the Seaport - of Washington. The Canal completed in 1915. The new location - proves eminently satisfactory to all. The future of China and - the Philippines. - - -When the good Lord created the earth He reserved the Western Hemisphere -for the exclusive use and control of the Yankees. They were not slow -to avail themselves of their opportunity. This comes from force of -habit; opportunities they allow to pass by unimproved are as scarce -as Swiss Admirals. Americans are warranted to take care of themselves -under any circumstances. - -It will surprise no one to learn that in 1999 the Western Hemisphere -had passed in its entirety under the dominion of the Stars and -Stripes. Americans did not pounce upon and seize the continent, nor -did they even fire one shot to secure its entire control. Canada, -Central and South America simply gravitated towards the American -Union and became absorbed into one great Republic. - -The smaller Republics of the Americas realized that the United States -in 1899 were a peace-loving nation. Although its army was a mere -corporal's guard, America had a population in that year aggregating -75,000,000. Such a large nation with an insignificant army could mean -them no harm. One by one they joined our American Union of their own -free will and volition, until in 1999 the great American Union became -an accomplished fact. - -To attempt to rule such a vast stretch of country under any other than -the great [It could Govern the World.] Constitution of the United -States, would result in a signal failure. The American Constitution, -that masterpiece and perfect symbol of human liberty, is great enough -and broad enough to govern the entire globe under one flag. Indeed -as early as 1999 there were already strong indications that before -the expiration of three more centuries such might be the eventual -result. It already looked in that year as though the great American -Republic would ultimately gather under its wings, Europe, Asia, -Africa and the islands of Oceanica. - -However, there is a limit to human ambition; there is a boundary to -all possibilities. Comparatively speaking, we are dealing [America -does not want the Earth.] only with a near future when we behold, -in 1999, the proud flag of America, that emblem of liberty which -never suffered defeat, floating over one vast Republic from Alaska to -Patagonia. Other dreamers may hustle for notoriety by claiming in an -aimless way that in 2999 the American flag will float over all the -continents of the world. They may even wish to annex a few of the -planets under the American flag, but heed them not. - -Daniel Webster's eloquent words: "The Union, now and forever, one and -inseparable," reached a climax when the United States of the Americas -consolidated in 1999. Nor was there a discordant note in the grand -concert of eighty-five states. Mason and Dixon's line became a memory -of the past. The northern states from Alaska and Canada to Florida; -the middle states from Mexico to Costa Rica and the southern states -from Colombia to Patagonia, were all linked together in the bonds of -friendship and brotherly love. At last Webster's prophecy had been -fulfilled; the great Union had become "one and inseparable." - -To the inquiring mind the question naturally offers itself: In what -manner was the great American Republic governed in 1999? Were the -commands of the Federal government still issued from Washington, -D. C., or had it been found more convenient to transfer the seat of -government to a locality better adapted and more central to the new -conditions of the greater Republic? - -In 1990, by decree of Congress of the United Americas, and at the close -of a [Capital transferred to Mexico.] special national election held -for that purpose, both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote, elected -to transfer the seat of our National government from Washington, D. C., -to the city of Mexico, which in 1999, commanded a position midway -between the North and South sections of the great Republic. Although -transferred by act of Congress to the city of Mexico, our National -Capital in 1999 still retained the glorious name of Washington. The -name of Washington, D. C., was changed to that of Columbia. - -Statesmen in 1990 wisely decided to retain the name of Washington for -the National Capital of the great Republic. A few were in favor of -retaining the ancient name of Mexico for the new capital but the vast -majority of our American voters in 1990 treasured with patriotic love -and tenderness the revered name of the Father of his Country. They -believed that no matter where the capital of the Republic might be -moved to, whether it were located in Brazil or in Alaska, the fame -of Washington must go with it and bear the honored association of -that name. - -Washington, D. C., took the new name of Columbia, having become a city -of secondary political importance. The name of Washington belongs to -the national capital alone, the home of Congress, the residence of the -National Executive and forum of the Supreme Court of the Americas. The -hero of Valley Forge and champion of American Independence was still -near and dear to every heart in 1990, and may centuries yet unborn -honor his memory. - -The city of Mexico became the Capital of the Americas for manifold -reasons, [Mexico a Natural Centre.] chiefly political, strategical -and commercial. To those, who, in 1899 had been accustomed from birth -to regard the United States as that narrow strip of country lying -between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, the announcement that the -capital of the Americas had been transferred to the city of Mexico, -must cause a shock of unpleasant sensation. - -It is a human weakness to worship our idols. Woe to those who would -destroy them. Tradition must not be tampered with. Americans of 1899 -had been taught that a small and beautiful city on the Potomac was -the capital of our Federal Union. To them it must come in the nature -of a shock to learn that in 1990 the name of that city had changed to -Columbia, and Washington, the National Capital, had been transferred -to the State of Mexico. - -There are, however, other instances on record in which it has been -deemed advisable to change the capital of a great nation. If in the -year 1810 an intelligent Russian had announced to his countrymen that -the seat of government in Russia would be transferred in 1812 from -golden, sacred Moscow to bleak, cold St. Petersburg on the barren -swamps of the Neva, his prediction would have been laughed to scorn; -such a statement would have encountered a tempest of derision. Your -orthodox Russian would have raved at the mere mention of such an -eventuality. In 1810 any intelligent Russian would have regarded the -abandonment of ancient Moscow, the custodian of the Kremlin, for a -barren spot on the shores of the Baltic, as a positive sacrilege. Yet -it is historically true that in 1812 this very thing came to pass. - -Instead of uprooting our National Capital from a spot hallowed -with sacred traditions [In Perpetual Sunshine and Flowers.] and -transplanting it into a cold, sterile region, as in the case of the -Russian capital, Washington, as a seat of government, was removed from -the banks of the Potomac into the splendors of a tropical region,--into -the domain of Montezuma and his brave Aztec warriors, where fruits -and flowers chase one another in an unbroken circle through the year; -a paradise where the gales are loaded with perfumes of the forests -in which birds of radiant plumage and exquisite song fill the air -with their delicious melodies. - -Washington in 1999 was fast developing into a magnificent city, -worthy of its proud [An Earthly Paradise.] name and eminence as -the capital of the great American Republic with its population of -531,000,000 people. Built in the heart of the State of Mexico, it -was surrounded by magical charms of scenery such as only a tropical -paradise may develop. Its lofty domes and spires and stately public -buildings, many of them constructed of huge blocks of multi-colored -glass, were reared amidst a land luxuriant with the cochineal, cocoa, -the orange and sugar-cane. - -The city of Washington in 1999 was hedged by nature's most subtle -art. Beyond the capital's limits were visible a gay confusion of -meadows, streams and perpetual flowering forests. From the centre of -the new Washington could plainly be seen the majestic outlines of -ancient Popocatapetl, rising as a sombre spectre whose rugged head -seemed to cleave the skies. - -Stretching far away to the right, and clearly visible from the -observatory of the Executive Mansion might be seen, towering in its -solitary grandeur, the peak of the mighty Orizaba, with its eternal -shroud of snow descending far down its sides. How many centuries -this mighty giant of the Cordilleras has stood there, a sentinel in -the Garden of the Gods, none may tell. But ages and cycles of time -after the busy brains of 1899 shall have turned to dust, Orizaba, -with the Stars and Stripes adorning its summit, will still rear its -proud head and gaze down upon millions of American patriots yet unborn. - -The transferment of the capital of the Americas in 1990 to the city -of Mexico, [Met with General Approval.] was generally regarded -as a master-stroke of policy. From a hygienic point of view alone, -the change proved eminently a desirable one. Its removal from the -malodorous swamps of the Potomac to the elevated plateau upon which the -Aztec race reared their ancient capital, with its balmy breezes and -tropical luxuriance, proved a most welcome change. It was generally -conceded in 1899 that the site of Washington on the malaria-breeding -banks of the Potomac, was not a happy selection. - -In spite of great precautions several epidemics had devastated the -national capital during the decades from 1900 to 1940. Among other -pestilential attractions of the Potomac swamps, great prominence -was given to a fierce and aggressive tribe of mosquitoes, called -"Swamp Angels," which in 1920 increased and multiplied greatly, to -the absolute terror of the Washingtonites. It is related of these -aggressive and dangerous pests that in 1925 a swarm of them actually -carried away a sheep while the animal was grazing upon the White -House downs. - -But aside from its favorable hygienic considerations the central -position of the city of Washington in the State of Mexico commanding -the main avenue between North and South America, gave it great -political and commercial importance as the capital of the Americas -in 1990, one that was enjoyed by no other rival. - -The capture and destruction of Washington, in the State of Mexico, -could not have [It Became Impregnable.] been effected in 1999 or -at any subsequent period. The city in that year became impregnable, -so rendered by a vast system or chain of fortresses from the city -proper to Vera Cruz, its seaport, a distance of about two hundred -miles. The mountain passes and rugged defiles between Washington and -Vera Cruz frowned with heavy ordnance. Dynamite guns were ready on -every hand to scatter their deadly missiles for the edification of all -invaders. From Washington to Vera Cruz, great sentinel forts stood in -the path of the invader, an unassailable chain, many of them being -hardly visible to the eye. Fortifications were constructed upon the -high table lands of the Cordilleras, also upon the apex of precipices, -and from these dizzy summits shrinking eyes might gaze down two and -three thousand feet and admire the bewildering beauties of tropical -vegetation. It was estimated by leading engineers in 1999 that with -its line of defences to the coast the capital of the United States -of the Americas was impervious to the assaults of the world. - -The port of Vera Cruz, only two hundred miles east of Washington in -a direct line, had been permitted to retain its original name when -Mexico became a part and parcel [Washington's Outlet to the Sea.] -of the American Union. This concession was made in honor of Cortes, -the conqueror of Mexico, the boldest and most intrepid of all warriors -of the middle ages, who founded the city of Vera Cruz and destroyed -his fleet of vessels so as to compel his followers to wrest from the -sway of Montezuma, the city of Mexico. It was at Vera Cruz that Cortes -founded the first Spanish colony on the American mainland. In honor -and memory of the valiant Spanish commander and his daring exploits -in 1520, it was deemed a point of courtesy to retain for that city -the baptismal name Cortes had endowed upon it. - -In 1999 its spacious harbor was taxed to its utmost capacity -to accommodate the world's commerce while en route through the -Nicaraguan Canal, which was opened to navigation in 1915, having -cost its American investors $195,000,000. The proximity of Vera Cruz -to the canal rendered that city an available port, bringing to it a -wonderful volume of trade and commerce, and as Vera Cruz in 1999 was -merely the ocean outlet of Washington, it will be readily appreciated -that the opening of the Nicaraguan Canal and the volume of traffic -it diverted in that direction, added materially to the importance -of that region as the seat in 1999 of our national government. The -completion of the Nicaragua Canal in 1915 was a triumph to the -American science of engineering, yet so tardy in conception and -execution that it reflected at best only an uncertain honor. It -should have been constructed and opened to navigation as early -[Importance of the Canal.] as 1885. It was a case of sheer neglect -on the part of America. As soon as the Panama bubble exploded and -Frenchmen discovered that they had been hoodwinked by speculators, -America should have lost no time in constructing the Nicaragua Canal. - -The lesson of the Spanish War has taught America the value of an ocean -canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. With the possession -of the Philippines and an enormous Oriental trade the operation of -this canal became a factor of the highest importance to America. - -An American fleet of warships in the spacious bay of Vera Cruz, -only two hundred miles away from Washington, was enabled in 1999 -to steam through the canal into the Pacific in only a few hours' -time and proceed to Hawaii and the Orient in short order. This was -a great improvement on the "good old days" of 1899 when war vessels -and transports, leaving New York to go to Manila, had to crawl around -the tempestuous Horn or travel via. Suez. - -The construction of the interoceanic canal added greatly to the -importance of the new location for our National capital in the State of -Mexico. Vera Cruz became the rendezvous of the world's commerce. The -central location of Washington in the State of Mexico, midway between -the two great continents, proved an advantageous and commanding one -and was eminently satisfactory to all sections of the great American -Republic in 1999. - -In considering the vast importance of ocean canal navigation to -the Americas, it is well to ascertain what became of the Philippine -Islands and China in 1999. - -In that year of our Lord, the world was practically governed by three -great powers. [Three Great Powers in 1999.] The first and greatest of -the trio was the vast American Republic, which in that memorable year -extended from Alaska to Patagonia. Next came Great Britain, whose -sway was undisputed over the vast continents of India, Africa and -Australia, along with valuable islands of the seas, like the articles -of a traditional auction bill, "are too numerous to mention." The -third great Power in 1999 was Russia. The ruler of all the Russias was -not only Czar of the European and Siberian domains, but he was also -crowned at the sacred Kremlin as the Emperor of China. A glance at -the map of the world will show that in 1999 Russia was in possession -of nearly one-fourth of the globe's real estate. Not satisfied with -this, Russian ambition had designs upon India, intending to employ -China as her base of operations. England, however, was always alert -and ready to frustrate her designs. - -When the nations of Europe in 1898 were carving up China, (even Spain -and Italy joining in the scramble for pieces of China-ware,) Russia, -her nearest neighbor on the north, was careful to secure the biggest -share of the booty. In 1895 Russia saved China from the clutches -of Japan, for the philanthropic purpose of doing the stealing act -herself. After appropriating China's best provinces on the north, -and profiting by the completion of the Trans-Siberian railroad in the -year 1905, Russian influence at the court of Pekin, overshadowed all -others. The Chinese, like all other Orientals, believe only what they -see. Russia had long been their only neighbor in Siberia but when -the great Russian railroad was completed to Port Arthur, in a very -short period an army of 450,000 well drilled Russian soldiers was -bivouacked near the great wall of China, within rifle shot of Pekin. - -Once firmly seated on China's neck, Russian [The Russian Emperor of -China.] diplomacy moulded the Middle Kingdom as clay in the potter's -hand. Its enormous population obeyed implicitly the Czar's ukases, and -in 1999 China became a Russian province as completely as the Crimea. - -Russia, however, had always entertained a warm friendship and -cordial regard for the United States of America ever since the -rebellion of 1860-65 and her good wishes were reciprocated on the -part of all Americans. Russian respect for America became firmer and -more binding as the young American Republic attained its enormous -dimensions. Russia, great herself, realized that she had a right to -be regarded in the same class as our noble country. As an evidence -of Russian esteem for America, during the period from 1920 to 1999, -Russia granted to Americans special trade privileges in China in -which other nations were not permitted to share. - -As a result of these generous concessions to Americans our trade with -China in 1999 attained gigantic proportions and nine-tenths of it -passed through the Nicaragua canal. So important did our Oriental trade -become in the twentieth century that the inter-oceanic canal would -have been built even though it had been necessary to pave its channel -with bricks of gold and silver. American wheat had largely supplanted -rice as the staple food of China, and in 1999 the American export -of wheat to China was estimated at a value of $95,000,000. America -monopolized nearly the entire Chinese trade in farming implements, -electrical machines, cotton goods, dyes and chemicals. - -As to the Philippines, the trade with that [Peace and Prosperity -Restored.] archipelago was entirely controlled by America. After the -proud flag of America had floated one century over those islands, the -transformation scene was wonderful. The Filipinos had long learned, -after the fall of Aguinaldo, that the American Constitution was -broad and big enough to amply protect and to give them that measure -of liberty to which all nations are entitled. Long before 1920 they -became a docile, patient and laborious people and prospered in an -amazing degree. Their exports of hemp, rice and tobacco attained -immense proportions and the culture of sugar-cane became so profitable -that the Philippines were famed in 1999 as the "Sugar Bowl of the -Pacific." America proved a Godsend to those islands. The names of -Dewey, Otis and Lawton were held in high esteem for many centuries -after Dewey's great victory, which awakened America, electrified the -world and gave birth to the grandest Republic the world had ever seen. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -AErial Navigation Solved. - - Science obtains mastery over the "ethereal blue." AErial navigation - perfected in 1925. The name of New York city changed to that - of Manhattan. Washington, in the State of Mexico, becomes the - centre of all airship or aerodrome lines. The fascinations of - aerial navigation. From Manhattan to San Francisco in thirty-six - hours, with stops at Chicago, Omaha and Denver. Terrible mid-air - accidents. An air train cloud bound. - - -The Dreamer, thus far, has invited the attention of the reader to the -political conditions extant in 1999. In the preceding chapters we have -contemplated with feelings exultant, national pride, the superb growth -of the United States of the Americas, from a comparatively narrow strip -of territory in 1899 to a magnificent Republic in 1999, consisting -of eighty-five sovereign States, extending from Alaska to Patagonia, -and embracing in one Republic the continents of North, Central and -South America. In order to arrive at a lucid comprehension of the -political status of the great American Republic and its relationship -towards the world in 1899, we have reviewed the conditions of other -nations of that period. We must now pass on to the consideration -of other social and economic conditions which were prevalent in the -American Republic during the twentieth century. - -Do not imagine for one moment that in the brief compass of a century -human nature [Human Nature Remains The Same.] had changed in any -perceptible or appreciable degree. In the year 1899 the traits of -humanity were identical with those which were known to the world in -the days of the Caesars. The ebb and flow of human passions, love and -hatred in the days of the Pharaohs differed in nowise from those of -1899. If forty centuries did not change our human tendencies, it will -not surprise the reader to learn that in 1999 the human family was much -the same in its tastes and inclinations as in the nineteenth century. - -The eighteenth century was an era of oak and sails; the nineteenth -century proved to be an age of iron, steel and steam, but the twentieth -century witnessed far greater strides of improvement resulting from -the solution of the aerial navigation problem and the conquest of -electricity. The solution of these two great problems alone rendered -the twentieth century the most marvelous age of all since the birth -of Christ. - -Ever since humanity has trodden upon this green, fruitful world of -ours; ever since the gaze of man has turned upward and penetrated -the skies, from the days of Adam and perhaps ages before that first -settler made his appearance on earth, the problem of aerial navigation -has agitated human breast and brain. To solve this difficult secret -has long been the acme of human ambition. In 1899 we knew very little -more about aerial navigation than did Noah and his family in the days -when Mt. Arrarat was first used as a dry-dock. - -Quite certain it is that aerial navigation ten thousand years hence will -be limited to [A Limited Field After all.] a moderate elevation from -the earth. Never as long as the world endures will human beings with -breath in their nostrils and blood in their veins reach or travel at -an altitude of over six miles above the earth's surface. We know this -because death would overtake every venturesome traveler who soared -into those higher regions. A thousand years hence the laws of nature -will still remain immutably the same. - -But the ambition of mankind is to control the air at a reasonable -distance from the earth's surface and to navigate an element that is -entirely free from all obstructions. The aim is to so control an aerial -machine that it will not drift before every wind, but cleave the air -and move along its course in defiance of the storm. To this must be -added a guarantee of safety that the public is certain to exact before -embarking upon an aerial voyage. AErial navigation, no doubt, offers -vast attractions but while sailing through the air, with the ease and -grace of a bird, it might prove very inconvenient for passengers to -fall out at a height of a mile or two and land through the roof of -some peaceful, happy home or find themselves while unceremoniously -falling securely hooked in the fork of a tree. Such little mishaps -in aerial navigation had to be guarded against. - -AErial navigation was perfected about the [The First Airships.] -year 1925. After repeated failures of the Langley system from 1896 to -1920, the learned Washington professor changed his plans. Instead -of endeavoring to lift flat-irons with wings from the ground, -and watching turkey buzzards at anchor in the air over the Potomac -river, Langley finally created an aerial machine that was operated -by electricity and moved by a large, swiftly revolving propeller, -somewhat resembling those employed in steam navigation, but with -blades at a more abrupt angle. - -The flying machines which were constructed from 1920 to 1999 on -the Langley plan, were built of Nickalum, an alloy of aluminum, -crystalized, within a magnetic field. The specific gravity of Nickalum, -as employed in the manufacture of aerodromes, or flying machines, -was .512. It was lighter than a thin strip of pine wood, malleable -as gold and impenetrable as steel. AErodromes could not have been -successfully manufactured in 1920 if Nickalum had not been employed -in their construction. - -This new property was one of the marvelous products of the twentieth -century. It was employed in nearly everything which required strength -and elasticity. It was so malleable that waterproof garments, overcoats -and shoes were manufactured of Nickalum as early as the year 1912. - -With this wonderful and cheaply manufactured metal, aerial navigation -became a [AErodromes of Nickalum.] possibility. The old fashion -days of silk balloons drifting helplessly on air currents, had long -passed away. These pre-Adamite curiosities belonged to the period -of the nineteenth century, when man was yet living under primitive -conditions, though by no means in a state of innocence. - -AErodromes constructed of Nickalum were largely employed for traveling -and commercial purposes between 1920 and 1925, while in 1999 they had -reached a high stage of perfection. AErodromes weighing four hundred -pounds only, in 1925, could easily carry ten persons and cleave their -way like an arrow through a high wind. Small aerodromes carrying four -persons, weighed only one hundred pounds. - -If the wind were favorable on their regular trips, the high grade -express aerodromes [Some Fast Traveling.] in 1999, belonging to the -popular Sky-Scraper line, could easily make the trip from Manhattan -(formerly New York) to Washington, in the State of Mexico, a distance -of 1,949 miles in a direct air-line, in fifteen hours, making brief -stops for meals at Columbia, D. C., (formerly called Washington) and -at New Orleans. From the Crescent City it was only a short run across -the deep, blue gulf, to Vera Cruz, then followed a short spurt of two -hundred miles west of Vera Cruz to the national capital, Washington, -then built upon the site of the ancient Aztec City of Mexico. In 1999 -this was regarded as a neat, breezy little trip. - -The name of New York city (always a meaningless and unpopular one), -had been [The Great City of Manhattan.] changed in 1912 to the more -appropriate one of Manhattan. Its population in 1999 had increased -to 25,000,000 souls. Although the largest metropolis of the world, -Manhattan in 1999 had reached its zenith. - -The consolidation of the republics into one vast American Union, -from Alaska to Patagonia, and the removal of Washington as the seat -of our national government, from the little District of Columbia to a -more central and appropriate location in the State of Mexico, as well -as the opening of the Nicaragua Canal, were the leading factors that -contributed to the commercial detriment and undoing of Manhattan. The -star of destiny shone brightly over Mexico as the conspicuous centre -of the new and great American Republic and the volume of the world's -trade passed through the Nicaragua Canal, diverting millions of -freightage that otherwise must have entered the port of Manhattan. - -The great air-ship or aerodrome building centre in 1999 was the city -of Manhattan. Upon the Palisades, opposite Grant's tomb and about one -mile east of the lofty Dewey monument, were stationed vast workshops -for building these beautiful and graceful aerodromes. It was ever a -fascinating sight to the men and women of 1999 to see one of these -flying machines starting out of the shops on its trial trip. The -body of the aerodrome was resplendent in brilliant colors and the new -airships always appeared in the bravery of bunting and silk flags. - -By act of Congress all aerial navigation companies were obliged to -adopt a certain color and number. The big express lines running from -Manhattan to Rio Janeiro and Mexico, each adopted a prismatic color -along with their official number. The object of this was to enable -people to distinguish at sight an approaching aerodrome and at once -recognize by its color the aerial line to which it belonged. - -The U. S. of the A. aerial express ships alone were permitted to -use white paint on [Uncle Sam's Favorite Color.] the hull of their -aerodromes. Thousands of them were employed in the government service -and conveyed troops to all points in the great American Republic. It -was, however, strictly forbidden, under severe penalties, to carry -any munitions of war or any explosives or chemicals upon any aerial -ship whatever. The color of black was employed only on funeral -occasions. The aerodrome, which filled the functions of an aerial hearse -in 1999, was painted all black, hull and sails as well. When the eye -could discern floating in the air and moving swiftly in one direction -a long line of black aerodromes, it became known that one more poor -mortal had entered into rest, and his remains were speeding through -the air to their last resting place, namely, the nearest crematory; -burials of the old style having been prohibited by act of Congress -in 1947 throughout the United States of the Americas. - -It was a really thrilling sight to see the large aerodromes in their -brilliant colors sailing through the air with such swiftness and -graceful ease, each one carrying over its stern the flag of the -great Republic with its eighty-five stars. Like beautiful phantoms -they flitted by, gracefully, noiselessly, swiftly cleaving the air -without the least apparent effort. It was an inspiring sight. - -Bridal couples in 1999 were frequently married in an aerodrome as it -rested on a [Airship Wedding in 1999.] city square or in a modest -village green. Standing around the airship, which was always decorated -with multi-colored flags and floral designs, were invited guests, -friends and spectators. After the ceremony was over and congratulations -exchanged, the minister, as well as the nearest relatives alighted -from the aerodrome, which immediately commenced to ascend amidst the -hand-clappings, hurrahs and Godspeeds of the gathering. As the aerodrome -gracefully arose about ten feet above terra firma, a few handsful of -rice were thrown at the happy pair, who retaliated by throwing roses -and other flowers at their friends below. When the aerodrome attained -a height of about one hundred feet, the navigator steered the aerial -ship in the direction required and the journey then commenced. - -The trip across the continent in an aerial ship was always, in pleasant -weather, a delightful experience. A voyage from Manhattan (formerly -New York), to San Francisco, was a matter of about thirty-six hours, -with stops at Chicago, Omaha and Denver. Sailing through balmy summer -skies, with a continent at one's feet, was an experience never to be -forgotten. It was exhilarating to glide unchecked, without noise or -friction, dust or smoke, over lakes, valleys, plains and mountains. All -sense of danger or fear was banished from the mind. - -At night the aerodromes were compelled by law to travel at halt speed, -with two searchlights, fore and aft, in constant operation. The -port lights of all aerodromes were red, and the starboard lights were -green. These precautions were rendered necessary in order to avoid -mid-air collisions. Some disasters in 1999 filled the [AErodrome -Collisions in Mid-air.] country with alarm. In 1940 a terrible -mid-air collision occurred over Rio Janeiro. Two swift aerodromes, -attached to the Mercury Limited express, collided about 2,000 feet -over that city causing a serious loss of life. Collision in mid-air -was always the nightmare and dread of aerial navigation. People in 1999 -had not yet become fully reconciled to the delightful sensation of -dropping out of the clouds and getting their clothes torn on church -steeples and lightning rods. When they made a start for heaven they -were better prepared to make it from earth as a starting point, -rather than making a break for paradise starting from the clouds. - -Accidents, unfortunately, were of frequent occurrence. In the columns -of the Hourly Journal, published in the city of Manhattan, (old New -York,) under date of Thursday, July 17, 1984, we find the following -harrowing narrative: - - - - MID-AIR COLLISION! - - The Comet Express Collides with the Milky Way AErostatic Express. - - Twenty-five Passengers Dashed to Earth. - - Many Saved in the Descent by Using the Air-Life Preservers. - - - Manhattan, N. Y., 2 p. m., July 17, 1984.--A mid-air collision - resulting in the death of twenty-five persons, and injuries to - many others, occurred at 11 o'clock this morning at a distance - of 2,500 feet over the city of Binghamton, N. Y. - - The Transcontinental Comet Express, San Francisco to the eastern - coast, which passes Denver at 10 p. m., takes its easterly flight - and passes over Binghamton about 11 o'clock on the following - day. The west bound Milky Way Express is due over Binghamton at - about the same hour. - - A heavy fog arising from the Susquehanna prevailed at the time and - this, added to the fact that a propeller-blade of the Comet Express - was disabled, caused the collision, which collapsed the aerodrome - of the Milky Way, capsizing twenty-five of the passengers, many of - whom fell in the Court House green, being buried in the sod under - the terrific velocity of the fall. One passenger from Cobleskill, - who had just started for a trip to the Yellowstone Park, fell on - the statue of Justice on the dome of the Court House. At noon - his legs had not yet been extricated. The city is plunged in - gloom. Among the killed were five passengers from Sidney, Unadilla - and Bainbridge. The details of their death are too shocking for - recital. The bodies were taken to the Binghamton crematory and - burned. The ashes will be forwarded to-morrow to the relatives. - - On the Comet Express from San Francisco, the passengers were more - fortunate. The navigator calmed the fears of the passengers, - many of whom were ready to jump overboard and take a short cut - into Binghamton, frenzied as they were through fear. Those who - jumped were careful to adjust the air life preservers before - leaping. The Comet Express passengers landed in Binghamton safely. - - Gen. Burgess had both legs so badly broken that they will have - to be amputated. The surgeons will supply new electrical limbs - that will prove fully as serviceable as the natural ones. - - - -Terrible accidents like the one above described, taken from the columns -of the Hourly Journal, under date of July 17, 1984, were not by any -means the only class of accidents caused in the twentieth century -by aerial navigation. Under the influences of sighing breezes, an -invigorating atmosphere and a mild, genial sun, nothing could be more -delightful than a mid-air excursion on board of an aerodrome. Nothing -could exceed the pleasant sensations one experiences while noiselessly -gliding over tree-tops and church spires. - -In 1999 courtships were no longer conducted in the locality of the -much abused garden gate. Love's trysting-place was often transferred -to the roof of the paternal house, where the coy damsel frequently -awaited with anxious heart for the arrival of her lover on an airship. - -But, with all its bright attractions, aerial navigation had dangers of -its own, obstacles and difficulties. Here we have another illustration -of the perils of aerial navigation. We copy the following article -from the columns of the Sidney Record, under date of Jan. 15, 1999, -which goes to prove that aerodromes, like all mortals here below, -had troubles of their own: - - - - CLOUD-BOUND. - - The Utica AErostatic Train Delayed by a Mid-air Storm. - - - Sidney, N. Y., Jan. 15.--There is a cloud-blockade on the line of - the Oregon & New York AErostatic Transit Co., and the air train - which left Vancouver last evening is stalled at a point 3,000 - feet above Norwich, with little prospects of getting away for - several hours. - - Cloud-plows have been sent up from Syracuse, but so dense is the - raging aerial snow that the plows have been unable to reach the - stranded train. The storm is the most severe one known in years - in this locality and came on at 8 o'clock last night. It raged - over the city of Sidney all night, although no snow fell. - - The Weather Bureau in Washington, Mexico, pronounces it one of the - familiar mid-air storms and places its lowest point at 3,000 feet - above Sidney and its highest at 5,000, making a storm stratum of - 2,000 feet. The clouds are banked for a distance of thirty miles - and are almost impenetrable. - - The conditions are such as to make telepathic messages to the - conductor of the air train difficult to deliver. A message, - however, was received saying that all are well on board and the - etherize heating apparatus working well. - - - -In the same edition of that paper, on the first page, was published -another account of a serious accident, in which an air-ship soared -too high and broke away from the attraction of the earth's gravity. It -read as follows: - - - - AIR SHIP MISSING. - - The Pontiac Ten Days Overdue at Vera Cruz. - - - Washington, Mexico, Jan. 14. 1999.--The Transoceanic air-freighter - Pontiac has been overdue at Vera Cruz for ten days. It is feared - the ship has got snarled in the upper ether currents. As she has - not been spoken by other air-ships it is probable she has drifted - away from the influence of the earth's gravitation, and drawn - into the orbit of some neighboring planet. It may land in Mars. - - - -AErial navigation in 1999 was not merely confined to large express, -passenger and [Everybody in the Air.] freight ships, but also came -into general use by the public. The AErocycle of the twentieth century -was an aerial bicycle that skimmed through the air with admirable ease, -being operated like the old-fashioned bicycles suffering mortals -in 1899 used to jump over hills and rough roads, straining muscle -and nerve to the utmost tension, and frightening horses with their -"bicycle face." Two or three of the bicycles of 1899 were kept -as curiosities in a glass case in 1999 in the war department at -Washington, Mexico. They were regarded as instruments of voluntary -torture, relics of a species of refined barbarism. The invention of -the AErocycle sealed the doom of bicycles. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -The Age of Electricity. - - AErial navigation shunned by many people in 1999. The great Age - of Electricity. The Passing of the Horse. The noble beast loses - its fetters and becomes a Household Pet. Steam engines a relic - of the past. No more smoke in railroad travel. Tunnels lighted - bright as day and filled with pure air. Single-rail electric - roads all the go. - - -It must not, however, be imagined that people in 1999 passed away their -whole lives traveling in the air. Millions could not be induced under -any consideration, to plant a foot in any aerial ship. They hugged old -Mother Earth with a true devotion worthy of a better cause. Many people -in the year 1899 were to be found who entertained strong antipathies -against traveling on water, but in 1999 the opponents [Old Earth Good -Enough for Them.] of aerial navigation outnumbered them one hundred -to one. For this and other more important reasons, the genius of the -twentieth century applied itself assiduously to the perfecting of -electrical and compressed air machines of every conceivable character. - -The twentieth century saw the coup-de-grace, or death blow, given -to sails for propelling ships, horses used for traction purposes -and steam in mechanical engineering. Electricity, drawn directly -from coal, as well as the air, was procurable in inexhaustible -quantities. Electricity long before 1999 was stored with the utmost -ease and economy, and shipped all over the world for lighting, -heating and motive power. The partnership existing between the -old-fashion steam engine and electric dynamos was dissolved forever -in 1920. Electricity conducted the business alone and in its own name -after steam and its clumsy accessories withdrew from the firm. - -One of the first to feel the effects of the [Good-bye Mr. Horse.] -change was that greatly admired and beloved creature, the horse. In -1999 plenty of horses were yet to be found in the haunts of -civilization. They were generally kept as pets, gentle, graceful -and docile creatures, reminders of past centuries in which their -progenitors had so laboriously served the ends of man. Occasionally -in 1999 some old-fashioned swell, who had been acquainted with horses -and their ways in 1930, would occasionally harness up a pair to a -curious looking vehicle with shafts and take a short drive, but in -1999 such antiquities were regarded with the same curiosity Noah might -have experienced could he have seen an aerodrome circling around the -ark. Out in the country, in remote districts and mountain regions, -horses were occasionally seen doing farm work, but the sight was an -unusual one, invariably attracting much attention. It was estimated -in 1999 that in about one hundred more years the horse in cities and -country towns would become as rare as the buffalo. - -In 1930 when the horse had already ceased to be a beast of burden, -epicures openly accepted its flesh as a highly esteemed dish. Indeed -it became quite the fad for fast swells to dine on trotter steak. The -dray and carriage horses were the first ones to disappear, but the -racers held on pretty well. In 1942 the turf and paddock were still -popular, though rapidly declining. - -The competitors that drove the horse from its field of labor were the -electric and compressed air horseless vehicles. As early as 1899 the -horseless carriage was rapidly striding into popularity. In 1920 they -were common sights everywhere. In 1950 they had crowded the horse to -the wall and in 1999 horseless vehicles for business or pleasure were -exclusively employed everywhere. - -Horses in 1999 were no longer beasts of burden in the great American -Republic. [Emancipated by Electricity.] They had been emancipated by -electricity and compressed air. In remote sections of the American -Republic, like the pampas of the State of Brazil and the mountain -regions of the State of Peru, horses were frequently to be seen, -but seldom employed as beasts of burden. It took many centuries to -wipe the equine race from the face of the globe. The history and -achievements of the noble brute had been for many centuries linked -to that of man. In 1999 the Arab still loved his faithful charger, -guarding it as the apple of his eye. The noble animal still shared his -tent. In his estimation a wife or two were of little worth compared -with the swift, graceful animal that so often carried him from danger -and left his pursuers in the rear. It would have been sad indeed for -the world, so early as 1999 to lose an animal endowed by nature with -so much intelligence, an animal that again and again had decided -a thousand fields of battle and had braved all dangers by land or -sea. But from the thraldom of labor, the horse in 1999 had been -emancipated and this tribute was one worthy of his peerless fame. - -Even the reindeer of the Polar regions felt the touch of twentieth -century genius. The Laplander had no further use for the dog-power of -his ancestors. His sleds glided along the fields of ice, propelled -by electricity, of which inexhaustible supplies were drawn from the -aurora borealis. - -In 1999 automobiles required only three days to traverse the distance -from Montreal in the American State of East Canada to Washington, -our national capital in the State of Mexico. The roads throughout the -Americas had reached a high grade of perfection and travel on electric -automobiles [Good Roads Everywhere.] became a pleasure even in all -the Southern States of the American Union, such as Venezuela, Bolivia, -Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina. Uncle Sam's farm in 1999 was a big -one and was covered with good roads. Horses and steam engines were -altogether too slow for the twentieth century. - -The exclusion of steam from all railroads in 1999 proved a great -boon to travel. Railroad smoke was a drawback to steam roads, while -sparks, cinders and live coal were a constant danger to property. When -a happy bride and groom took their departure on a train for their -honeymoon in 1899 their friends pelted them with rice, while the old -fashion steam engine attached to the train rounded the compliment by -pelting the newly wedded pair with cinders and soot. Dense volumes -of black smoke [Delights of Steam Travel.] poured into the railway -coaches, filling every crevice and corner, rendering the human face -unrecognizable. Travelers in these old-fashioned cars, clad in the -bravery of fashion, in their silks and fine raiment, would journey only -a short distance when they would become almost unrecognizable from -the torrents of black soft-coal smoke that pierced their cuticle and -darkened their lives. It was hard to determine at the end of a brief -journey of a thousand miles whether the white man who bought a through -ticket in New York was a Caucasian or an Ethiopian when he landed in -Chicago, so dense was the smoke through which he had traveled. - -The delightful atmosphere of a tunnel formed one of the great -attractions of steam travel in the good old days of 1899. Our unhappy -American travelers while journeying on these steam roads would -suddenly be rushed into a black hole, the damp and foul air of which -was enough to kill a salamander, filled with smoke and asphyxiating -gases. The marvel is that one-half of the people ever pulled through -a tunnel alive. - -In 1999 these monstrosities of steam railroad [The Single Rail is -King.] travel were entirely done away with. Not a steam engine was -anywhere to be found. The single rail electric railroad was monarch -of all it surveyed, and there were none to dispute its sway. It ruled -the universe. The new-born electrical power drew its forces from the -air. Electricity was greater than light itself. Its rule was felt by -day as well as by night. - -In 1999 when an electric train dashed through a tunnel, its arch was -aglow with electric fire, rendering the passage light as at noon time -in a blazing sun. A touch of the button turned on every light in the -coaches. The air of the tunnel, instead of being black with smoke -and noxious vapors, was pure as the open air. Travel was rendered -delightful in these swift-speeding trains on the single-rail electric -railroads, which easily maintained a speed of two miles per minute. In -point of speed they were easily outwinged by the aerodromes, but for -all that, grass did not have much time to grow under the gearing of -any electric car in 1999. - -These single-track electric railroads covered the Americas like a -network of cob-webs. They were much safer than the two-track system -of railroads peculiar to the old period of 1899, when steam engines, -going around curves at two miles per minute, were liable to lose -their heads and lay down in the ditch to try and figure out where they -were at. The single rail upon which the electric car was balanced in -1999, was built about three feet above the track. The cars were so -constructed that [Two Miles per Minute.] the wheels ran along their -whole length, the sides of the car being built to a point about two -feet below the rail. The trolley wire overhead gave more steadiness -to the car. It could not upset. - -Through lines from Chicago to Washington, in the State of Mexico, -attained high speed, as well as the electric lines that crossed -the isthmus from the State of Mexico to Rio Janeiro. It frequently -happened that strawberries gathered at the base of Mt. Orizaba, -in Mexico, were delivered in Chicago in season for supper the same -day. Fish of highly esteemed flavor that were swimming in the bay of -Vera Cruz at break of day were frequently placed on ice and reached -Manhattan in time for dinner at seven p. m. the same day. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -Electrical Navigation. - - Strange and novel uses to which electricity was applied in - 1999. Hydrophobia banished from the earth. The relations of - Creditor and Debtor greatly improved. Electrical ocean, river - and lake navigation. The ocean ablaze with electric lights. Ships - navigated by wireless telegraphy. - - -It has always been the conceit of every age that its own era is the -most progressive and the most enlightened of all. In 1799 any man -who could have stood on the deck of Nelson's flagship "Victory" and -informed that gallant sailor that in 1899 warships would navigate -without sails; that powder would be used that made no smoke; that -heavy rifles would hurl a ton shell fourteen miles, would have been -dropped overboard as a monumental liar. - -The age in which we live is always a conceited one; always ready to -scoff at innovations. [The Bump of The Age.] Every age had a bump -of its own. How these precious bumps are smoothed down one by one, -is really interesting. The stage coach was king in its day. As men -gazed upon the lumbering, six miles per hour coach, the bump of the -period made them believe it was the swiftest and most luxurious mode -of travel the world would ever see. Steam came and reduced the stage -coach bump. When men saw steam locomotives drawing fast trains and -covering the country with villainous smoke, they really believed it was -the swiftest mode of travel the world ever would employ. Electricity -then appeared and reduced the steam bump. - -In 1999 electricity became a mighty monarch and an obedient slave. It -ruled and [A Lively Customer.] it obeyed. This lively king of the -twentieth century was a hustler. Sixteen distinct trips around the -globe it could make in just one second's time. Electric railroads and -flying machines could not reasonably hope to make sixteen separate -trips around the globe in one second's time. The age of 1999 was a -very rapid one, but its joints were too rheumatic to attempt any such -gait. A traveler hustling around the world at the rate of sixteen -times per second would hardly have time to visit and shake hands -with friends. - -In the twentieth century electricity, the servant-king of the -world, was harnessed [All Done by Electricity.] to everything -conceivable. Everything was done by merely pressing a button. Houses -built in that period had no stairs. Every private house had its -elevator. Press a button and up it went. Houses built in that period -had no chimneys. All heating and every bit of the cooking was done by -electricity. If you wanted heat, press a button; more heat wanted, -press two. Locks and keys also became relics of a past age. No one -in 1999 ever locked his house. Every house was provided with an -electrical outfit. Those who desired to leave the house for a few -hours attached the electric gongs and alarm bells. When connection -was made no one could leave or enter the house without raising a -pandemonium and sending an alarm to the central police station. - -The uses of electricity in 1999 were carried to even absurd -lengths. Man's most faithful, but, alas, uncertain friend, the dog, -was in evidence throughout the twentieth century. He wagged his tail -vigorously as ever in token of kindnesses received. He was as ready -as ever to sacrifice his life for that of his master, as well as to -plant his teeth into the calf of his leg. The Hindoo charmer is never -really safe until he has extracted the fangs of the reptile. - -And so it was with the twentieth century dog. Nothing can be more -violent than death by hydrophobia. The bite of the dog may prove -more terrible than that of the cobra. This scourge was effectually -removed. In 1999 dogs over one year old had their teeth removed by -electricity. Their mouths were then fitted with a false set. During -dog-days, while Sirius was in the ascendant, the false teeth were -removed and all canines were kept on a vegetable diet. Hydrophobia -became one of the lost arts. - -Another peculiar method in which electricity was utilized in 1999 -tended to rob [Electrical Dentistry.] dentistry of some of its -terrors. There was one feature of dentistry in 1899 that often tested -the best nerves, and that was the peculiar odor common to all dental -chambers of horror. This peculiar odor settles like a cloud upon the -stomach and seldom appeals in vain to one's nerves for sympathy. For -this reason an electrical machine was invented in 1999 which enabled -the patient to remain at home while an offending tooth was tendering -its resignation. The dentist, during the operation, remained in his -den, enjoying a monopoly of its odors. If a tooth ached all one had -to do was to call up a dentist, on the telephone, and ask to be placed -on the line. The victim, in the seclusion of his back parlor, adjusted -the electrical forceps and signalled to the dentist, five blocks away, -to touch it off, then the festivities commenced. These private tooth -extracting seances became very popular. No profane eyes were there -to witness the agony of the victim, as in a public dental office. If -he shouted loud enough to make a hole in the sky or tried to kick -the plaster off the ceiling, no one was any the wiser for it. But -in a public dental office (especially with ladies in the adjoining -room), while the victim is being harpooned, his eloquent groans must -be stifled and no attempt must be made by the victim to kick at the -chandeliers. The new system of home electrical tooth extracting proved -very popular. It was one of the things that had come to stay. - -In 1999, through the medium of electricity, the relations existing -between creditors and debtors became closer and more binding. [Sure -Cure for Dead Beats.] In 1899, for some reason or other never fully -explained, a debtor who had a long standing account, was liable to -dodge into some nook, corner or side street, if he caught a glimpse -of his creditor coming down the road. The relations existing between -creditor and debtor in the nineteenth century were not as cordial -as they should be. If the debt were of long standing there lacked -a certain warmth in their greeting which was perhaps difficult to -account for. - -In 1930 creditors and debtors adjusted themselves in better harmony, -at least they kept in closer electrical touch with one another. If -the sum due was $50 or over and of long standing, the law allowed -the creditor to connect his debtor with an electrical battery. The -object of this wise law was to keep the creditor in constant touch -with his debtor. If the debt was over three months due, the creditor -was allowed to occasionally "touch up" his debtor without having to -hunt him up and dun him. The creditor always had him "on the string" -so to speak. It was further specified by law that creditors must -employ only as many volts as there were dollars due on account in -shocking a debtor. These electrical shocks were merely reminders, -intended to refresh the memory of the debtor. A man owing $200 was -liable to receive two hundred volts until the debt was satisfied. - -This plan for the collection of bad debts worked very successfully. In -1999 no [Worked Like a Charm.] debtor could tell when his creditor -might touch him up. The shock reminding him of his old debt might come -during the night and disturb his pleasant dreams. Perhaps while seated -at the family table, or perhaps even while engaged in family worship, -an electric shock might come that would raise him three feet off the -floor. Such little occurrences were rather embarrassing, especially -if the debtor was talking at the time to some lady friend. A man -owing $500 was in danger of his life. His creditor was liable to dun -him by giving him a shock of five hundred volts. Such sensations, -certainly, are not as pleasant as watching a yacht race, with your -boat an easy winner. - -A curious illustration of the operation of this new condition between -creditors and bad debtors, by which the former had an electrical -control of the latter, came to light in a parish church on the banks -of the St. Lawrence. It appears that the village school teacher, who -was also choir-master, was busy with a Saturday evening rehearsal. The -members of the choir were in their places, while the professor stood -near the communion-rail, facing the choir, with his back turned -towards the empty pews. He was speaking, when suddenly his red hair -stood on end, his whiskers straightened out at right angles, while -his eyes looked big as door knobs. He then gave a leap in the air, -turned a somersault backwards and cleared ten pews before landing -again on his feet. It appears that he owed his landlord an old board -bill of $120 and the latter had just given him an electrical dun. The -choir was astounded at the professor's performance. The latter excused -himself and merely said it was a slight attack of grip. - -In 1942 any one who used the word "steamship" was immediately rated -a back number. A few of them, it is true, still fouled the ocean with -their villainous smoke, but in 1999 the electrical ship ploughed the -briny waters. It was a grand sight to see a magnificent ship nine -hundred feet in length propelled through the waters at a [Electrical -Ocean Navigation.] rate of thirty-five knots per hour by an invisible -power, a mighty giant encased in the interior of the ship, a power -that labored silently yet swiftly, with no perceptible vibration -to the vessel and without emitting volumes of black smoke. These -swiftly moving electrical ships were strange and striking in their -appearance. Those constructed in 1975 by the Cramps had no masts, -and they, of course, had no more use for funnels than a hen has for -teeth. To the people of the old school of 1899, the ocean electrical -ship looked strange indeed. The spectacle of a large steamship of -28,000 tons burden cleaving the ocean waves at the rate of forty knots -per hour, with no masts and no smokestacks, looked strangely to men in -1975 who had been accustomed in their youth to old fashioned steamships -like the City of New York, Campagnia, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Fuerst -Bismarck, Teutonic and others of that class. In 1975 the hull of the -electrical ship retained practically the same old lines. An electrical -ship, like the Great Republic, built in the year last named, plying -between Manhattan and Liverpool, was a trifle over nine hundred feet -long, with only eighty-two feet breadth of beam. From stem to stern -was built a swell body roof which covered the entire deck of the -vessel. This covering was supported by ornamental iron columns from -the bulwarks and usually stood about twenty feet above the deck. The -only object that arose above the deck-roof was the captain's bridge, in -which was stationed the steersman, who steered the leviathan by merely -pressing electrical buttons on a small disc in front of him. With the -masts and funnels removed from an electrical ocean ship, much valuable -room was thus secured, adding greatly to the comfort of the passengers. - -Electricity was pressed into every conceivable service. That wonderful -element [Lighting Up the Atlantic.] was man's best and most faithful -servant. There was no duty in the twentieth century too menial for it -to do. It transformed our ocean, lake and river craft into a blaze -of light by night. Collisions after dark were unknown to navigation -in 1975. At a distance of ten miles out at sea an electrical vessel -looked like a solid mass of moving flame. Electricity drawn directly -from the air and extracted from coal, costs practically nothing. The -chief item of expenditure was to maintain the electrical machines in -repair. In 1899 sailing ships moved along at a snail gait and during -night time a small green and red lamp on the port and starboard -sides of the ship was all that enabled other vessels to note their -presence. It was always the marvel of that age that a hundred -collisions did not take place every night on the Atlantic. But in -1999 not a sail or steamship was anywhere to be seen, on ocean, -lake or river. Electricity was cheaper, swifter and more reliable. - -In 1899 so backward was the age that small boats, called row-boats, -were still propelled with oars. In that year those primitive people -still employed the old methods of propelling a boat that were in vogue -in the days of the Phoenicians and Vikings. They still rowed a boat -in the manner of the Greek galley slaves. In 1930 seamen had no more -use for oars than a sperm whale has for paddle-wheels. Everything -that could float, from a wash-tub to a man-of-war, was propelled -by electricity. Even toy boats, sold for $5, were propelled by -electricity. The winds still raged in 1999. From zephyr to cyclone -that element ruled over the surface of the globe, but man had little -use for it. Even the staid Hollander harnessed the wind no more. His -mills were run by electricity, while the same agency was continually -at work pumping out his dykes. - -Through the agency of electricity navigation in the twentieth -century was rendered much safer. The ocean by night was dotted -with electric buoys, which tossed and bowed with every wave. On -these buoys signal-lights were placed, and passing vessels could -read the latitude and longitude in which they were in at any time -of the day. The figures were plainly marked on each buoy. By night -the Atlantic ocean between Sandy Hook and Daunt's Rock was dotted -with bright electric arc lights of 8,000 c. p. The eye never wearied -gazing upon the picturesque beauty of the scene. - -The effect of these brilliant lights on the broad bosom of the ocean, -especially during [A Scene of Thrilling Beauty.] a storm, was grand -beyond the power of pen to describe. A distant wave could be clearly -seen approaching one of these electric, mid-ocean buoys. On it sweeps, -a tremendous current that no human power could stem. The rugged blue -wall of the great wave glistens in the dazzling electric light as its -huge side and foaming crest reaches the electric buoy. It seems as -though the light and buoy must be swept to destruction and buried from -sight. As the great wave sweeps over the light, all becomes dark for -a few seconds, but when the mighty billow has swept on, the electric -arc again blazes forth in the trough of the sea bidding defiance to -Neptune's frowns. These mighty mid-ocean scenes, viewed from the deck -of an electric ocean greyhound, were thrilling in the extreme. - -Along the great chain of coast-line of the United States of the -Americas, from the State of Maine to the States of Venezuela, Brazil -and Patagonia, also on the Pacific slope from the States of Chile, -Peru and Colombia to the States of West Canada and Alaska, every -rock or promontory dangerous to navigation, was ablaze with electric -beacons. Electricity was common as air. Oceans and continents were -made more habitable to man. It became in 1999 the world's sun by night. - -The perfect and absolute control of electricity by the scientists -of the twentieth century benefited both aerial and ocean navigation, -in furnishing the motive power. But these were benefited in another -and hardly less remarkable manner by the perfected Marconi system of -wireless telegraphy, which in the nineteenth century was comparatively -unknown and in its early experimental stage. In aerial and ocean -navigation wireless telegraphy proved an invaluable aid. The bright, -young Italian inventor became a benefactor of the human race. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -Wireless Telegraphy. - - The great advantages of wireless telegraphy in navigation. Ships - are enabled to communicate with shore during voyages. Messages - received and sent at any time en route. Collisions at sea reported - at once. Belated steamers cause no anxiety. - - -In the old-fashioned days of sails and steam, when a vessel -left port and passed out of sight, she instantly became a whole -world in herself. Communication had been severed with the outer -world. The condition of a sailing vessel during a calm was a -picture of helplessness. Steamships were more self-reliant--they -at least controlled their own course. But both classes of ships, -whether propelled by sail or steam, once out of sight of land, were -temporarily shut out from the busy world. - -During these enforced absences upon an ocean voyage, great events -frequently happened of which passengers, officers and crews were -necessarily ignorant of. At the [Shut Out of the World.] termination -of a long or short voyage, the first news could only be obtained from -the pilot-boat which met the approaching vessel far out at sea. War -might be on the eve of declaration as the vessel left port, battles -might be fought, the enemy might be vanquished and even peace declared -and a knowledge of all these events would only reach the tardy mariner -upon the arrival of the vessel at her port of destination. - -Such a condition of affairs, often the cause of the deepest anxieties -on the part of ocean travelers, might answer well enough for the -days of the Crusaders, when kings of Great Britain went to Palestine -to battle for the Cross, and never again heard from home in three -or four years' time. When Napoleon, that meteor of the nineteenth -century, left the shores of la belle France for the rocky desolation -of St. Helena, it was over a year before he received any news from -Paris. The same conditions ruled in 1899. Steam had rendered ocean -voyages shorter and more punctual. But the main difficulty still -existed. Passengers on our ocean-liners during a voyage knew as -little of occurrences at home as those who traveled in the days -of the Vikings and Crusaders. In this respect (as in many others), -the world in 1899 was no better off than in the days when the Roman -legions landed on the shores of Britain. The nineteenth century and -the centuries before Christ were upon equal footing in this respect. - -Many splendidly equipped steamships, with colors flying and bands -playing left port in the old days of sails and steam, with multitudes -waving their adieux and heartily wishing them God-speed and were never -again heard from. No communication was possible in those days between -land and vessels at sea. Sometimes they were [Into the Jaws of Death.] -doomed in the cold embrace of an iceberg; an occasional collision sent -hundreds of souls to their final account; fire, always dreaded on the -ocean, caused many to suffer the horrors of thirst and starvation; the -ocean claimed its victims in many dreadful forms and no tidings ever -reached home of the fate of loved ones, because communication between -ship and shore in the "good old days" of 1899, was impossible. This -supreme difficulty had not yet been overcome in 1899, and the defect -was universally regarded as being a most deplorable one. The only -communication ever maintained between vessels in mid-ocean and the -main shore in the nineteenth century was done by cable-ships, while -actually engaged in laying an ocean cable. The Great Eastern was -the first steamship to lay claim to this distinction, when in 1867, -her officers fished up and brought to the surface the broken Atlantic -cable and the great news was flashed from ship to shore. - -Vessels in these days of the nineteenth century only too often -left port never again [A Very Backward Age.] to be seen by mortal -man. Loved ones plunged into a watery grave, locked in each other's -embrace, and none survived to tell the fearful tale. Communication -with shore was unknown in the vaunted civilization of the nineteenth -century. The fate of the Naronic, of the White Star line, looms up in -evidence. Not a whisper was again heard of her after she left port. The -City of Glasgow in 1854 sank in Neptune's pastures. Four hundred and -eighty souls went down in that brave ship. No hint, however slight, -was ever heard of her. The Ocean Monarch, the Pacific of the Collins -line, and the ill-fated City of Boston, all suffered fates that none -but the day of judgment can reveal. - -This confession of weakness, this serious drawback of the nineteenth -century, which added to the terrors of those "who go down into the -great deep," was fortunately not shared by the advanced sciences -and arts of the twentieth century. Wireless telegraphy contributed -almost as much to the comfort of ocean and aerial navigation as -electricity. Telegraph poles that rendered hideous some of our most -beautiful avenues and the antiquated ocean cables were entirely -relegated into oblivion. The former went into the scrap heap, while -the latter found their way into Davy Jones' locker. - -Long before 1999 wireless telegraphy was employed on all vessels -on ocean, river and lake. Instant communication was at all times -maintained between ship and shore. [It Opened a New Era.] War vessels -at foreign stations made their daily reports in 1999 to the Navy -Department in the State of Mexico. All other navies of the world -enjoyed the same facilities. Relatives telegraphed to their families -and friends from vessels in mid-ocean. It was quite common to receive -a brief message from an Atlantic liner two thousand miles east of -Sandy Hook, as follows: - - - - On board Electrical Ship Manhattan. } - Latitude 50 N., long. 30 W. } - - - Dear Henry:--Got over being seasick. Baby and nurse doing - nicely. Had strawberries and cream for dinner. Dodged an iceberg - and struck a whale, yesterday. Love to all. Will wireless from - Paris. - - Ethel. - - - -Overdue vessels in 1999 gave no anxiety in that era of progress. If -a shaft broke the home office was at once notified that the vessel -would be several days behind her schedule time in arriving at her -destination. If caught in a fog or obliged to move at half speed, -the information was immediately lodged on shore. In fact it even -became possible to navigate vessels from the shore. - -In 1982 the strange experiment was made of navigating a large ocean -electric ship [Sailed his Ship from Land.] from Manhattan (old N. Y.), -to Queenstown. The name of the vessel was the City of Sidney. After -the pilot had dropped off at the Hook, Captain Sherman, of the Electric -Belt Line of vessels, remained in his private office in the forty-third -story of Anti-Trust building on 59th street, Manhattan, and issued -his commands by wireless telegraph to the first officer of the City of -Sidney. Reports reached the captain every six hours, giving the exact -latitude and longitude and the ship's course was directed from the -captain's private office on 59th street in the city of Manhattan. In -other words it was the city of Manhattan that kept the City of Sidney -on the move, so to speak. The ship's course, conduct of the crew, the -health of the passengers, the reports of passing electrical vessels, -the velocity of wind and other details of navigation, were communicated -to Captain Sherman, whose orders were given and obeyed as readily -as though issued from the bridge or deck of the City of Sidney. When -that vessel arrived off Queenstown to land the U. S. of the A. mails, -Capt. Sherman in 59th street ordered half speed and finally stopped -the electric engines. Of course, while navigating his immense vessel -across the ocean and remaining seated in his office at home, Captain -Sherman could not assume his place in the saloon at the head of the -table. Wireless telegraphy could not, with all its ingenuity, satisfy -one's appetite at the sumptuous dinners served on board the City of -Sidney. But this demonstrated to the world in 1982 that with wireless -telegraphy commanders could remain in their office on shore and sail -their ships to foreign ports in perfect safety. This was done in 1982 -just as easily as the old style train dispatcher controlled far away -trains in 1899 while seated in his own office. - -The Marconi system of wireless telegraphy, when perfected in 1920, -employed the Hertzian magnetic waves, which are identical with the -waves of light. Whenever an electric spark is made to leap from one -electrode to another, one of these waves is created. The Marconi -instruments for sending and receiving are tuned to each other and -are then invulnerable to the attack of waves of different lengths. - -These rays of electricity are reflected and directed in a given -direction like rays of [A Marvelous Invention.] light. An electric -circuit with a key, gives the basis of the Marconi system. This -circuit runs through a spark coil with an oscillator to produce -continuous electric sparking so long as the circuit is kept closed -by the key--and from this the sparking wires run out of doors to the -pole from which the messages are sent. - -One end of the wire is placed in the earth and the other is elevated in -the air. The height to which it is carried determines the distance to -which the messages may be sent. The operator presses his key as in -ordinary telegraphing, making his alphabet in dots and dashes. As -the waves shoot out and reach the distant station, the filings -in the tube cohere and the current passing through them draws up -the armature of the relay magnet. This closes the circuit of the -recording instrument. It is broken constantly by the tapper and -instantly re-established by receiving waves. - -The towers employed in 1920 for the transmission of wireless messages -were very high. The manifest advantages of the system were apparent -and long before 1930 wireless telegraphy came into general use. The -new system proved the death-knell of telegraph poles, as well as -ocean cables. Old telegraph stock faded in value like the morning -mist. The supreme importance of communicating with vessels while at -sea alone guaranteed the success of the wireless system. - -Wireless telegraphy proved to be one of the crowning scientific -achievements of the twentieth century, but the ambition of scientists -[Chatting with the Boys in Mars.] in 1969 knew no bounds. In that -year they were busy sending messages to Mars, utilizing starbeams for -that purpose. For thirty long years they repeated the same messages or -signals to Mars every night. In 1999 the canalers up in that bright -Yankee planet had not yet responded but hope was still entertained -that some sign of recognition might yet be secured from the Martians. - -Telescopes in 1999 had been vastly improved. The network of canals in -Mars became far more distinct to the human eye. The moon, our nearest -neighbor, looked as though only one mile away. Neptune, the giant of -the heavens, grew on more intimate terms with our mother Earth, but -on Mars was centered the greatest attention. Fervent were the hopes -that Martians would acknowledge the ceaseless signals sent from earth. - -The growth of the electrical machine industry in 1999 was enormous. The -United States of the Americas led the world in their manufacture. The -dawn of this vast industry was already manifest, even in 1899. The -capital invested in electrical industries in that year was as follows: - - - Invested Capital. - - 928 electric railways, aggregating 14,850 miles, $883,000,000 - 2,838 electric light central stations, 335,486,518 - 25,000 private electric lighting plants, 87,500,000 - Power transmission (750,000 motors in use), 150,000,000 - Electrical apparatus in mining, 125,000,000 - Telegraph, telephone, &c. 600,000,000 - -------------- - Total, $2,180,986,518 - - -In 1999 nearly a third of the entire capital of the vast American -Republic was invested in electrical interests of some form or -other. The export trade of American machines became stupendous. The -world demanded only the American make; no substitutes would answer. - -American pluck and brains proved the lever that Archimedes, the Greek -mathematician, so long sighed for. American brains moved the world. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -Cremation Becomes a Law. - - No more grave robberies in the twentieth century. The old - style of burial becomes a back number. Popular errors about - Cremation removed. Undertakers at a discount. Costly funerals - discouraged. Funeral etiquette in 1999. No person buried alive in - the twentieth century. Sacred memories of the dead still jealously - treasured. "Rented graves" and other burial abominations of the - nineteenth century are forever banished. - - -The great innovation of the twentieth century which long rankled within -the human breast, but finally uprooted and conquered prejudice, was -cremation. The [No More "Earth to Earth."] old traditions and forms of -Christian burial were difficult to eradicate, but reason and a general -sense of public safety finally broke down the barriers and traditions -of ages. Cremation for many years shocked public sensibilities. The -terrors of the hidden grave, nameless and horrible, were eliminated -by the new and only safe process of disposing of the dead. In the -contention which prevailed during the first half of the twentieth -century, many were reluctant to accept cremation as the true mode of -burial. By degrees, however, public opinion settled down and adjusting -itself to the new conditions, accepted the quicker and safer methods -of burial. - -Cremation in 1999 became the only legalized form of burial. Every -cemetery was [Cremation Became a Law.] provided with a crematory -long before 1950. Electricity was employed in reducing the body to -ashes. Grave robberies that so often disgraced the nineteenth century, -became impossible. A rich man was at least sure of a safe burial of -his ashes after cremation, while the poor man's body, which formerly -was thrust into a Potter's field, was safe at last from medical -students and professional body-snatchers, who often robbed graves to -[Rich and Poor on Equal Footing.] secure a skeleton. Millionaires in -the twentieth century enjoyed after death the same degree of safety -vouchsafed to the poor man. Their dust was on equal footing. - -The old graves were left undisturbed in 1999. Graves in that year, -in the manner of their occupants, gradually passed into decay. In -the centre of every cemetery was constructed a fine mausoleum, a -pantheon in which the ashes of the dead were carefully deposited in -vaults or family receptacles. Cremation having become in 1999 the only -mode of burial authorized by law, [The State pays for All Burials.] -these mausoleums were built at the expense of the town. Each vault was -owned by a family in perpetuity. Those who were too poor to purchase -a vault had their ashes placed in a common burial plot in the ground. - -These large mausoleums were built of white marble in a style of -architecture appropriate to the solemnity of their purpose. The -interior was well-lighted and ventilated and on the door of each -vault was carved the family name. All mausoleums were built about on -the same plan. From the centre of the structure arose a high dome -of beautifully chiseled white marble, while light poured from the -top into the circular floor of the structure. The vaults used as -receptacles for the ashes were stationed about in a large circle, -in several tiers, one above another. The ashes of the cremated body -were deposited in a small metallic box, 9 x18 inches, and four inches -deep. On the cover was engraved the name, age, date of death and -cremation of the deceased. Each family vault was capable of holding -thirty metallic cases, or burials. - -It was universally conceded that cremation was the only safe and proper -mode of [It Looked Heathenish to Them.] disposing of the dead. In -1999 people wondered how the ancient form of burial had so long -been practiced by civilized nations. When in 1999 cremation became -the only legal form of burial, they looked with feelings of horror -upon the ancient form of interment. How people could lay away their -loved ones in the cold ground to remain for years the companion of the -worm, could not be understood in the days of cremation. All arguments -brought against burials in the ground were unanswerable. It was an -offense against the laws of humanity, and the practice was maintained -even as late as 1965, but public opinion became firm against it. The -revolt against burials spread rapidly, once inaugurated. - -In 1965 a family that consented to the burial of their dead was -regarded not only [Guarding the Bodies of Rich Men.] as a back number -but with feelings of aversion. The question arose in the minds of -many if they really could love the memory of their departed one and -place the body where it was liable to be stolen or desecrated; where -it became the food of vermin. People in 1899 often had to even place -strong guards over the tombs of rich relatives for fear that vandals -might steal the body and retain it for ransom. Long after death bodies -of men had been drawn from their tomb and hanged by a mob. When in -1899 Lord Kitchner, the Sidar of the British forces in Egypt, subdued -and captured Khartoum, [Nineteenth Century Practices.] he permitted -his men to violate the tomb of the Mahdi. The body of the Prophet was -torn from its resting place and its head was decapitated. And this, -note well, was done by British soldiers in 1899, to avenge the cruel -death of Gen. Gordon. - -In 1999 desecrations, robberies and violations of graves became -impossible. The world was no longer shocked by such atrocities. Hyenas, -both biped and quadruped, were thrown out of business. Cremation, -the purest and swiftest mode of reducing the body to dust and ashes, -was universally declared to be immeasurably better than the ancient -mode of burial. The dead were not permitted to pollute the ground and -to infuse germs of diseases, deadly microbes, into living springs of -water. It matters [Everything For and Nothing Against It.] little, -in 1999, whether the cemetery were situate on top of a hill, in a -valley or in the midst of a crowded city. The ashes they contained -could pollute neither water, earth nor air. A mausoleum or cemetery in -1999 was often built in the most crowded or most fashionable section of -a city. Cremation was acknowledged to be a clean, wholesome method of -burying the dead. Boys in 1999 were not under the painful necessity -while walking past a cemetery at night to whistle to keep up their -courage. - -In 1899 the popular idea about cremation was erroneous and was largely -the cause of prejudice against this method of disposing of the dead. A -vast number of people believed in that year that bodies which were -cremated were literally roasted or reduced to ashes over a fierce -fire. When people, however, began to learn the truth of the matter, -that cremated bodies were placed in the retort of a crematory and -were reduced to ashes by an exceedingly high temperature and not -touched in any manner by fire, then prejudice let down the bars and -cremations soon became common. - -As a result of cremation and the law of 1999 which compelled -its adoption as the only legal method of burial, undertakers -[Undertakers Wear Long Faces.] were deprived of large revenues -they often derived from the sale of caskets. Caskets were no longer -in demand because, as a wag in 1985 observed: "There is nobody to -bury." A seven foot casket of the 1899 pattern, however gorgeous, -would have been absurdly too large and meaningless to enshrine the -ashes of a departed relative. Such contrivances were good enough in -the backward age of the nineteenth century. Burials in 1899 were made -under ground, while in 1999 they were all made above ground. In 1899, -immediately after death in a family one of the first duties was to -purchase a casket and arrange with an undertaker for the funeral. In -their unhappy frame of mind, with hearts bowed in grief, undertakers -often made terms their own way with mourners. Few mourners are in a -state of mind to drive a bargain in such moments, and they too often -yield to the blandishments of the suave casket-broker accepting any -terms he may offer. Cremation did away with this, and unscrupulous -undertakers had to come off their perch. - -Hearses were not abolished in the days of cremation. The style of -the hearse entirely changed. In the place of the pompous affair of -1899, bedecked in its towering plumes, rich in silver appointments, -massive [The Twentieth Century Hearse.] structures covered with plate -glass, driven by an awe-inspiring individual perched on a high seat, -the hearse of 1999 was a far less pretentious affair. It weighed no -more than a light, racing sulky. It had four wheels. In the centre -of the vehicle, which, of course, was propelled by electricity, -was constructed a small platform about three feet square, the sides -of which were elaborately trimmed in gold and silver ornaments. The -platform was covered by an open canopy supported by four elaborate -silver pillars. The metallic case containing the ashes of the -deceased seldom exceeded 9 x 18 inches, 4 inches deep, and weighed -about four pounds. These metallic cases were of exquisite designs, -usually in highly burnished silver or gold. Those which contained -the ashes of the wealthier classes were often covered with precious -stones and brilliant gems, presenting a most artistic and attractive -appearance. These burial cases looked like jewel-boxes of an elaborate -pattern. In looking at them death was robbed of its terrors. A -beautiful jewel-case, 9 x 18 inches, containing the ashes of some -loved one did not strike one's imagination with the horror of a long -burial casket with its inanimate tenant. - -There was everything about cremation to appeal to loftier ideals. The -light, portable character of the little cremation cases became more -popular than the heavy casket. The heart-rending accidents that too -often occurred under the old system of burials, became impossible -in the brighter and better days of cremation. In 1899 it sometimes -happened that in lowering a body into the grave the bottom of the -casket gave way. The rest can better be imagined than described. It -sometimes happened that [Sample Horrors of 1899.] while a funeral -procession was on its way to the cemetery, the hearse team got -frightened. In the thrilling runaway that followed the casket fell -out of the hearse and breaking open the corpse rolled out on the -ground. The horror-stricken relatives and friends would remember the -sad scene through life, mentioning it only in whispers. - -These horrors of the old-style, so-called Christian burials, were -rendered impossible in the cremation regime. Not that alone, but -cremation removed from earth the most horrible experience that can be -endured by mortal man and that is premature burial. The practice of -burying bodies is a relic of barbarism. Its horrors and possibilities -are without limit. No civilized community should tolerate it. Custom -and tradition are the forces that maintain it. It does not possess a -single point in its favor, while, on the other hand, there are scores -of sound arguments against it. - -No person who ever spent a minute in the fierce temperature of -a crematory ever [Can't Bury them Alive.] lived to tell the -tale. The ancient method of burial is not so certain--many cases -have come to light where people, supposed to be dead, revived -after interment. Imagine the horror of the situation. Can any human -experience be more dreadful than this one? Many cases have come to -light in the nineteenth century proving beyond a shadow of doubt that -unfortunate men and women had been buried alive. In graves opened many -weeks after burial the scratched face, torn hair and imprint of terror -upon the features told only too plainly what had happened and of the -final anguish of the unfortunate one. Such horrors were not possible -in the cremation process. If there is anything the world appreciates -it's a "sure thing"--and that salient feature of cremation did not -escape its attention. - -On the day following the death of a person, after the remains had -been viewed for the last time by relatives and friends, the body was -taken by night to the crematory where it was immediately reduced to -ashes. These were carefully deposited in a small metallic burial -case and returned to the [No Hurry for the Funeral.] mortuary -residence. The date of the funeral was agreed upon and notices were -sent out to the public. Sometimes it was deemed desirable to hold the -funeral one or two months after death. In cremation funerals everything -passed off in the most leisurely manner possible, accompanied with -the highest effects of art. A funeral could be held a week, a month -or a year after death. There was ample time to make arrangements, -or to postpone a funeral on account of the weather. On the day of -interment when the ashes were to be deposited in the family vault in -the mausoleum, at the appointed hour, friends and relatives gathered -at the mortuary residence. The small metallic casket containing the -ashes of the deceased was usually placed in the centre of the room, -resting upon a light bamboo stand, covered with black velvet. The stand -was usually surrounded with choice flowers and floral designs. The -tiniest caskets used in the old burial days were double in size of -the beautiful silver and gold cases sometimes holding the ashes of -a person who might have weighed, during life, over three hundred -pounds. The absence of the large casket used in old burial days and -the substitution in its place of a small jewel-size case containing -the ashes was an agreeable innovation. Otherwise, all funeral -services in 1999 were substantially the same as in 1899. Although -the surroundings were far more pleasant, the grief of the stricken -ones was none the less profound. When funerals in 1999 were held in -a church, the exercises were about the same as in the days of the -old burial system. Instead of six bearers, only one became necessary. - -There was a marked contrast between the funeral processions of 1899 and -those [Funeral Procession in 1999.] of 1999. The great, cumbersome -hearse had disappeared, and in the line of carriages that followed -the small, light electric hearse, no horses were to be seen. All -mourners' carriages were propelled by electricity. The automobile -containing the minister, led the procession, then followed the hearse -and carriages of the mourners. In 1999, when a funeral passed by, -people on the streets at the time were always careful to remove their -hats as a mark of respect to the ashes of the deceased. This was a -concession to common decency almost wholly unknown in the days of -burials. People living in 1899 should not be too severely criticised -in their lack of respect for the dead in the matter of uncovering -as a funeral procession passed by. The entire system was a relic of -barbarism and people were hardly to blame for denying this mark of -respect to such an objectionable mode of burial. - -It was at first thought that cremation would destroy the sacred -memories and observances [Memorial Day in 1999.] of Memorial or -Decoration Day. In a few years, however, it was discovered that these -fears were unfounded. People in 1999 were loyal to the sacred memory -of departed ones, and on Memorial days the interior of the mausoleums -and doors of the vaults were garlanded with flowers, presenting a most -beautiful appearance. The old graves of the nineteenth and preceding -centuries were still cared for by loving hands. - -These were decorated as in the good old days of 1899 and were not -in anywise neglected. Many families in the twentieth century took -up the remains of their ancestors and caused them to be cremated in -order that their ashes might rest in the same vault. It was conceded -that the ashes could never perish in a vault and another supreme -advantage in favor of the cremation system arose from the fact that -they required no care. - -The abominations of the old fashioned burials were apparently without -limit. Under that barbaric system of the 19th century, it might truly -be said that after death a man had no where to lay his head. [Ejected -for Non-Payment of Rent.] One would think that after death a person -had severed his connection with the living world. Such was not the -case. It often happened that men were taken out of their graves for -non-payment of rent. That is, the lease or care of the ground not -having been satisfied or paid, the ground or cemetery lot reverts -to the Association, who dislodge the body of the tenant and offer -the cemetery lot for sale to other parties. In the 19th century, -especially in European cities, it was a common practice to lease a -grave for five years, at the expiration of which period the grave -was opened and the skeletons deposited in underground catacombs or -left to the tender mercies of medical students. The barbarity of such -practices, sanctioned by the civilization of the 19th century, need -not be dwelt upon. Cremation removed the stigma of such unholiness -from civilized nations. The ashes of the dead required no material -space and were easily disposed of. No grave rentals or purchases were -required in their case. - -Last but not the least of the advantages of cremation was the -death blow it gave to [Spoils the Ghost Business.] the ghost -industry. Superstition tottered when in 1999 graveyards had been -abolished by law, as well as custom. The stately, white marble -mausoleum which held the ashes of departed ones did not possess the -gruesome appearance of the old fashioned cemeteries of 1899, with -mounds and graves scattered in every direction, some of them in a -condition of shameful neglect. There was something about a graveyard -which was naturally repellent to the living. The ones who scoffed -the loudest at ghosts, and were really very brave at noon time, were -never favorably impressed with the idea of spending a few hours alone -at night in a cemetery. When graveyards were abolished and bodies -were promptly reduced to ashes after death, superstition began to -weaken. Many people who would have been terrified at the suggestion -of keeping a dead body in a house any unusual length of time, did -not hesitate in many instances, to keep the ashes of several cremated -members of the family for years, in their parlor. Cremation removed -the sting of death, robbing it of its terrors. It was a blessing to -the world and was thereafter ever sustained by enlightened ages. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -Newspapers in 1999. - - They are still progressive and enterprising as ever and constitute - one of the bulwarks of American liberties. The Pneumatic tube - postal service and swift delivery of mails. Four daily deliveries - of mail between Manhattan and San Francisco. A Submarine Railway - Accident. A Marine Spider Crippled. Returns to Babyhood. Buying - up Titles. - - -It is the proud boast of America that as a nation it possesses a -larger per centage of people who can read and write than any other -nation on the habitable globe. Our excellent system of free schools -and the avalanche of newspapers that find their way into every home, at -a mere nominal cost, have vouchsafed a general diffusion of knowledge -throughout our great Republic, filling every branch of art, industry, -and every profession with men and women of brains and intelligence. - -The force and power of the newspapers in America in 1899, the perfect -liberty of [Safeguards of Liberty.] the press, were regarded in -that year as guarantees of public safety, mighty levers in forming -public opinion. In 1999 the newspapers of the period had lost none -of the prestige and influence they enjoyed in the old days of sail -boats and steam engines. They were still handled in many instances -with consummate skill and wielded a power that built, as well as -shattered, governments. - -In current topics and in the chronicles of events, there existed -a marked difference between the newspapers of 1899 and those of -1999. New elements and conditions had come into play which were -unknown in the period of the nineteenth century, and as a natural -result the newspaper of the twentieth century contained some curious -and interesting articles. - -In 1899 the daily that got out a morning and evening edition was -regarded as an up to date affair in every sense of the term, but -in 1999 the newspaper world moved much faster. In a large daily -office four complete editions were issued every day or once every -six hours. The news poured into these daily offices with marvelous -speed. Wireless telegraphy and aerial navigation annihilated space. On -the other hand, newspaper and letter mails in 1999 were conveyed -through much swifter channels. - -The postal pneumatic tube system constructed by the American government -was [Very Rapid Mail Deliveries.] a marvel of the twentieth -century. There extended from Washington, (Mexico), a network of -underground and overground pneumatic tubes reaching throughout the -Americas, penetrating all the Northern, Central and Southern States, -from the State of Alaska to the State of Argentina. Mail deliveries -made through these pneumatic tubes were exceedingly rapid. No -electrical transit or any method of aerial navigation could equal the -rapid delivery of the pneumatic tubes. The mail pouches were forced -through these large tubes and delivered at all the principal cities -in a very short space of time. Mails from Manhattan to Washington, the -seat of the national government in the State of Mexico, traversed the -distance in less than two hours. From Mexico to the State of Argentina, -as well as the Southwestern American States of Peru and Chile, -the mail transit in 1999 required but a few hours in delivery,--in -1899 it was a question of weeks. Even aerial navigation in 1999 was -found too slow to convey and deliver the mails. The pneumatic tube -system was even swifter, and with such facilities at hand it is not -surprising that people in San Francisco received four daily editions -of the Manhattan journals, although the distance between Sandy Hook -and the Golden Gate is a matter of 3,600 miles. - -The subjoined clippings from the Electrical Times, of Thursday, -August 20, 1999, [The Editorial Blades of 1999.] will give the -reader a general idea of the newspapers style and matter of that -period. It will be observed that the noble race of beings known as -editors and newspaper reporters was by no means extinct in 1999. The -subtle art of telling wonderful stories and the science of making -American newspapers the foremost in the world, had been inherited by -the children of 1999 from their lively ancestors of 1899. - -In 1899 Yankee genius and enterprise was conspicuous in the newspaper -line. It led the world. The latest and the best always found their -way into American print. - - - - FAILED TO BEAT THE RECORD. - - How the Glimmerglass Failed to Cross the Atlantic in Two Days. - - - Liverpool, Eng., Aug. 20, 1999.--The new electrical ship - Glimmerglass arrived here at 12:30, having made the ocean trip from - Manhattan (formerly known as New York) in two days, eight hours - and thirty-seven minutes, within twenty minutes of the swiftest - time ever made by a wholly equipped electrical vessel. But for - a storm of twenty hours out, the record would have undoubtedly - been beaten. Owing to a break in the wind-counteracting engines, - the storm in the locality of the ship could not be stilled and - for over an hour the passage was very rough. The counteractors - were finally put in motion and the Glimmerglass regained several - lost hours, but the odds were too greatly against it. An attempt - will be made to break the return record. - - - - SUB-MARINE RAILWAY ACCIDENT! - - Wreck of a Train in the English Channel Tube-way. - - - London, England, Aug. 20, 1999.--Passengers on the Dover & Calais - Sub-Marine Electric railway train No. 44, arrived at Dover in a - state of decided fright this morning. The sub-marine system runs - directly under the English channel, the trains on the line of this - company running through huge cylinders. At a point midway in the - channel one of the inverted rails, owing probably to defective - mechanism, had snapped in twain and the train, which was going - at a high rate of speed, flew from the track. - - Two carriages were overturned and the engineer was killed by - being thrown violently from the cab. The passengers were forced - to remain in the tube for an hour. Several in the overturned - carriages were injured but none seriously. - - - - MARINE SPIDER CRIPPLED. - - Four of Her Legs Broken En Route to South Carolina. - - - Charleston, S. C., Aug. 20, 1999.--The marine spider, Nautilus, - arrived here in bad shape from Brazil to-day, one of her fore - legs having been broken. The Nautilus is one of the fleet of the - South American Importing and Exporting Company, and was built - at Charleston two years ago. The boats in this fleet were built - on the principle of an insect, it being an established fact that - a body can be carried over water much more rapidly than through - it. The spiders were fashioned after the manner of a centipede, - the feet being bell shaped and connected with a superstructural - deck by ankle-jointed pipes, through which, when necessary, a - pressure of air could be forced down upon the enclosed surface - of the water. The locomotion is like that of a pacing horse and - great speed can be maintained. The marine spider had for its - inventive source a treatise on its possibilities written by John - Jacob Astor as early as 1894. - - - - AMERICOMANIACS. - - They Cause Much Distress in the Loyal British Heart. - - - London, Aug. 20, 1899.--Americomania is to far prevalent in - this city that the deepest resentment is aroused in every loyal - British heart. Since the widespread abolishment of titles and the - very general purchase of historic castles and country seats by - wealthy Americans, the foreign element has been a serious menace - to English society, which has been for fifty years controlled by - the descendants of United States heiresses who married titles. - - London swells are adopting the early western custom of wearing - their trousers in their boots as a distinctive touch to their - morning costumes and the sombrero is also being sold by leading - hatters. Young debutantes are cultivating the unaffected manners - of American girls, and many ambitious mothers are going so far - as to send their daughters to Manhattan, Denver and San Francisco - boarding schools. - - - - MESSAGE FROM MARS. - - Alarm Lest the Americans Shall Gain a Foothold There. - - - Galveston, Texas. Dec. 21.--The meteoric message which has been - expected from the planet Mars for several days, and which the - astronomers located on Pikes Peak, Colorado, left Mars over two - years ago, dropped in the bay off here to-day, striking the water - with a sizzling sound. It was still quite hot when picked up and - the metallic covering had to be broken up with an oceanic pile - driver. The message was written on asbestos paper in non-fading - ink, and a crude translation of it conveys the information - that the high ruler of the combined continents of Mars died of - gastronomic fright two years ago last November while watching an - American Thanksgiving day celebration. He predicted before his - death, that if the Americans ever got a foothold on this planet, - they would ruin the incomparable digestion of every resident by - the introduction of cranberry sauce, mince pie and plum pudding. - - - - AIR SHIP MISSING. - - The Star Chaser is Ten Days Overdue at Tokio. - - - Tokio, Japan, Aug. 20, 1999.--Transoceanic air ship Star Chaser - has been overdue at this port for ten days. It is feared that - the ship has been caught in an upper ether current and carried - many miles above her course. - - As she has not dropped to earth anywhere, there is a strong - probability that she has risen beyond the influence of the earth's - gravitation and been drawn into the orbit of some neighboring - planet. Anxious friends of the passengers are besieging this - office for tidings of the Star Chaser. - - - - RETURNS TO BABYHOOD. - - Tragic Transition of an Aged Spinster to a Drooling Infant. - - - Miss Imogene Elyria of No. 678,431,222 Four Hundred and Sixty-first - street, took an overdose of Florida Age Regenerator this morning, - and was instantly reduced to a squalling infant. Miss Elyria was - a maiden lady 45 years of age, and a few days ago she sent to - Florida for a bottle of the regenerator to take for her complexion - and to reduce her age a few years. - - She did not, unfortunately, follow the proper directions, and - one of her sisters, entering her bedroom this morning, found her - reduced to the age of 1 year and crying for her breakfast. She - will be taken to the Oregon age-producing springs, where, it is - hoped, the unfortunate lady may at least recover enough of her - lost years to make her a blushing debutante. - - A tragic feature of the affair is the fact that Miss Elyria was - engaged to a wealthy widower, who is heart-broken at the terrible - contretemps. - - - - BUYING UP TITLES. - - Extravagant Sums Paid to the Old English Nobility. - - - London, Aug. 20, 1999.--The English government to-day purchased the - title of Lord Algernon Percy Augustus Dunraven for a mere song, - the consideration being L10,000. This removes one of the oldest - titles existing in modern times and only about twenty remain in - England. Since the law passed by Parliament providing for the - purchase of old titles held by the descendants of the members of - the peerage, as it existed under a monarchy, over L800,000,000 - have been spent in buying up these remnants of a semi-civilized - form of government. The highest price ever paid was that for the - abolishment of the name borne by the duke of Argyle, L1,000,000. - - Sir Tom Lipton, who will be henceforth known by the republican name - of Thomas Timothy Tubbs, has been reduced to poverty by reckless - expenditures entailed in his enthusiasm for air-yachting, and - it is said that he has spent L40,000 in trying to increase the - speed of his defective atmospheric racer, the Shamrock. - - - - IT STILL INTOXICATES. - - Colonel Washburn of Kentucky Prefers Death to Non-Alcoholic Liquor. - - - Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 20, 1999.--"Foh one I shall not vote to - destroy my Gawd given ancestral privilege to consume liquor, - sah. They may call us uncivilized barbarians, if they will, sah; - they may call down upon our degenerate heads the unbottled wrath - of the universe, but, as for me, sah, give me good old Kentucky - bourbon, or give me death!" - - With these words Colonel Henry Clay Washburn concluded his - speech in the upper house of the legislature to-day on the bill - to suppress the alcoholic liquor traffic in Kentucky. For years - the annual legislative battle has centered on this issue. - - Gradually state after state has abolished, what many considered - an evil, and in most localities the effects of alcoholic drinks - were destroyed by the chemical discovery which, when applied, made - them non-intoxicating. But the Blue Grass state has remained firm - as a rock, although in modern art and science it has no superior - in advancement in the union. The bill under consideration to-day - was defeated by an overwhelming vote. - - - -The following advertisements, taken from Sidney Record, October 15, -1999, will interest our readers: - - - - CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS. - - ================================================================== - INDESTRUCTIBLE FOOD--Our odorless rubber oysters are all the rage; - cheap and durable; especially adapted to use in restaurants and - at church fairs; will always wear; we refer by permission to - the Ladies' Aid Society of the Church of the United Brotherhood, - which purchased sixteen gallons of our oysters five years ago, - and is using them still; will remain in a stew five hours without - corroding. 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Manufactured by the Anti-Divorce Mercantile Company. - ================================================================== - - - -It is not to be supposed that farming, the greatest of all American -industries, had not [Farm Hands at a Discount.] made any progress -during the twentieth century. Probably in no other field of labor was -electricity employed to better advantage. Farm hands in the nineteenth -century were as unreliable in some cases as balky horses. The farm -owner's distress and nightmare in 1899 was the farm laborer. But -in 1999 the "farm hand" was practically done away with. Horses and -farm laborers were no longer employed in the cultivation of the -land. Electricity was on tap in every part of the farm. Even the -milking and stable cleaning was done by mechanical means. In 1899 a -farmer who hired all his work done and lived along comfortably on -the proceeds [The Dignity of Labor.] of the property, was called -by the absurd title of a "gentleman farmer." The farmer who rolls -up his sleeves and toils is none the less a gentleman. A gentleman -is not always the one who spends a life of leisure and lives on the -toil of others. The hard working farmer in many cases proves to be -the real gentleman; he dignifies labor and commands the respect of -his neighbors. - -In 1999 all agriculturalists were "gentleman farmers." Their great -slaves were the electrical machines. They never groaned, complained -or knocked off work in the busy season to go on an excursion. The -electrical farming implements could work all day without sitting under -a shade tree, with a jug of cider and a corn-cob pipe. They labored -patiently and faithfully and performed their tasks with great accuracy. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -Twentieth Century Inventions. - - The Wonderful Automatic Valet,--a faithful servant and - silent friend. A Balloon-car Accident,--twelve thrown out and - killed. Excursion to the Moon. Woman Worship in France. Ready - Digested Dinners. Highly nutritious pellets for noon lunch. Ice - cream pills become popular; also delicious fruit pellets. - - -If some wide-awake American genius in 1999 had invented an electrical -breathing machine his invention would have been well patronized. By -the use of electrical appliances, manual labor had been reduced to -a minimum. The electric automobiles, aerodromes, aerocycles, electric -bicycles and hundreds of mechanical appliances used as labor saving -machinery, really invited laziness. If a breathing apparatus had been -invented in 1999 its sales would have been phenomenal. - -In support of this statement we reproduce, herewith, an article taken -from the Scientific American, under date of May 28, 1999, as follows: - - - - THE UNIQUE MECHANICAL FIGURE THAT DOES EVERYTHING BUT FEED - ITS OWNER. - - - Some years ago the need of a machine which would dress persons on - arising from bed, make their toilet and prepare them for breakfast, - or a stroll on the street, was generally felt. - - Several attempts were made to supply this want, but nothing - was perfected until M. Pantalon announced the completion of - his automatic valet. This machine was shaped very much like an - ordinary man, except that it was built on an absolutely square - plan. There were two upholstered legs, on which reposed a heavy, - square chest, and above the chest was the head, also square and - resembling a block. - - - Mechanism of the Valet. - - The machinery was directly in the center of the body-chest, - controlling the movement of the legs and arms, the latter being - round, four jointed and twenty-seven inches long. Instead of a - face, the head bore a dial, on which the hour was depicted. The - whole valet was wound up by a small crank in the back. If a man - wished to be aroused, at, let it be said, 8 o'clock in the morning, - he adjusted the alarm button on a small dial on the face of the - large clock at that hour. - - Promptly at 8 o'clock the alarm in the head of the valet exploded, - waking the sleeper. The first movement on the part of the valet - after the alarm had sounded was to move quickly but noiselessly in - the direction of the bath-room, where, by automatic stoppers, the - water is set running, stopping instantly on the tub being filled. - - - An Automatic Bath. - - After turning on the water the valet moved back to the bed, threw - the covers aside, and with one of its automatic arms gently lifted - the man from his resting place, conveyed him to the bath-room, - laid his night robes aside and immersed him. The bath completed, - the valet drew from its chest-cupboard two fresh-towels, with - which it briskly rubbed the bather, and then again lifting him up - carried him back into the bedroom, where it proceeded to dress him - in clothes which had been laid in a certain place the night before. - - From its automatic chest the valet took comb, brush and whisk - broom, and in less time than would be ordinarily consumed in - telling about it, the toilet was completed. A feature of the - invention, as perfected by Pantalon, was the arrangement on the - time dial by which the speed of the valet could be regulated, - and a man could be dressed quickly or slowly, as he preferred. For - busy men, M. Pantalon has invented valets that do the business in - less than three minutes, including bath. The chief value of these - valets is that, not being human, they cannot gossip, and every man - may become a hero to his valet, provided the valet is automatic. - - - -In 1999 the mania for saving time and obtaining rapid results -simply knew no bounds. It is a wonder that the inventive genius of -the Yankees was not applied to the perfection of some machine that -would compel the universe to rotate more rapidly upon its axis. So -great was the rush of human affairs that people found little time -[Nutritious Pellets for Lunch.] to eat. The feverish, mad rush of -the age was intense. No better proof of this can be found than in the -success of a peculiar enterprise, which in 1899 would have proved -a flat failure. In the good old days of 1899 people at least took -time to eat, but in 1999 a big company was capitalized to manufacture -and sell Ready Digested Dinners. In order to save time, people often -dined on a pill,--a small pellet which contained highly nutritious -food. They had little inclination to stretch their legs under a table -for an hour at a time while masticating an eight-course dinner. - -The busy man in 1999 took a soup-pill or a concentrated meat-pill for -his noon day lunch. He dispatched these while working at his desk. His -fair typewriter enjoyed her office lunch in the same manner. Ice-cream -pills were very popular,--all flavors, also the fruit pellets. These -the blonde and brunette typewriters of 1999 preferred to the bouillon -or consomme pellets. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -The Fine Arts in 1999. - - The art of Color-photography perfected in 1920. The world's - great artists witness the death-knell of art. The doom of cheap - chromos. Nature paints her own matchless pictures. The sculptor's - art remains supreme in 1999. No machine can ever chisel a Venus - de Milo. No substitute found for the human voice. - - -Painting, in 1999, had become a lost art, doomed, alas, never to -revive. The glorious canvases of the old masters were still highly -treasured. There still existed artists who threw their entire souls -into beautiful paintings, superb creations of their artistic minds, -true in every detail to nature. Although painting as a high art -still existed in 1999, yet, as a profession and a means of obtaining -a livelihood, it died very much after the manner of wood engraving, -when the half tone process was perfected and had come into general use. - -In the year 1912, after many struggles and disappointments, -Prof. Deweyton, of the Montpelier, (Vt.) University, perfected the -process of color-photography. This coveted secret, at last, had been -wrested from nature. For centuries her beauties had been admired -but never had she consented to transfer her own original colors on -photographic plates and canvas. - -When the art of color photography was perfected, the world then had -little use for [The Passing of the Artist.] easels, palettes and -painters. Nature became the Artist of the world and none dared to -dispute her sway. At first it was with a feeling of sadness that -the world parted with the art profession and its devotees, men and -women who had imparted to canvas the world's historic scenes, the -portraits of the world's great men, enchanting, noble women. The -works of these great artists had delighted the children of men for -many centuries. Raphael, Titian, Michael Angelo, Correggio, Guido, -and other famous artists, had bequeathed their glorious treasures -of art to a grateful world, and even color photographic pictures -done by nature's own hand cannot rob these eminent artists of an -iota of their fame. It was sad to think that after the discovery of -color-photography great artists would lose their prestige, for none -can rival nature in her own art. - -This new process of Nature painting rendered to the world an invaluable -service by [The Chromo Affliction Subsides.] driving out of the -market a flood of cheap pictures and chromos of the most inferior -class; pictures that had crept into many homes simply because they -were cheap. These afflictions, too often paraded with flash moulding -on the walls of our homes, were driven out by color-photography. In -1950 the old-style chromos were rare; they quickly disappeared from -the habitations of men. - -Through the specially constructed cameras of Prof. Deweyton, life -size pictures [Glorious Sunset Views.] were secured, large landscape -scenes, magnificent marine views, were reproduced with the exact -colors of nature. Superb sunset views, in a matchless wealth of color, -a revelry of gold and crimson, were transferred to canvas by natural -process in 1920. This process became the great art triumph of the -twentieth century. No human hand had ever attempted with any hope -of success to reproduce on canvas the bewitching and mystic effects -of the gloaming. Nature with her master hand, dared to reproduce, on -canvas, this most difficult of all artistic studies. Michael Angelo, -the supreme chief of all living or dead artists, never attempted to -reproduce on canvas Vesuvius in active eruption. No human power could -do the faintest justice to such a scene and no master of the art ever -cared to risk his reputation in the attempt. But in color-photographs -Nature reproduced the exact colors of the seething flames as they -belched forth from the quivering crater. In 1930 a magnificent picture -of Vesuvius, AEtna or Stramboli in active eruption could be purchased -for the pitiable sum of $50. So perfectly natural were the volcanic -flames that the effect was startling. The lava [Could Almost Smell -the Sulphur.] running down the mountain side apparently threatened -to set fire to the very walls of the room. A picture of this kind, -a feeble representation painted by some eminent artist, would cost -over $10,000. - -The process of color-photography proved invaluable in reproducing -human features and expression. Nothing could exceed the perfection the -art attained in 1935. Photographic studios were crowded with work. No -skill of man had ever transferred to canvas the maiden's blush, that -emblem of purity, a shade Divine which mantles the brow of innocence -only. The cameras of 1935 proved equal to that delicate task. The maid -caught blushing in color photography blushed on, alas, forever. In -detecting criminals, the new art proved invaluable. The Rogues' -Gallery was soon filled with studies in life and deviltry, so natural -that one's first impulse was to reach out for a pair of handcuffs. - -Although painting, in 1999, and long before that date, had received -a severe blow, the sculptor's art remained unchanged. The sculptor -was still supreme in his domain. No machine had yet been found that -could take a block of pure Parian marble and carve out a Venus de -Milo. Nature had invaded the artist's studio and robbed him of an -honored profession, but nature, great and mighty as she certainly -is, had not yet, in 1999, found a way to fashion a block of cold -marble into a thing of beauty, an exact image of life. Statuary was -still regarded in the twentieth century as the acme of true art. The -sculptor had not yet been dethroned; it is doubtful if he ever will -be. The new and most ingenious machines of the twentieth century met -their Manila on statuary. No machine can ever [Limits to Inventive -Genius.] be built that will reason or think. It requires thought, -judgment and artistic taste to create a statue. As the artist beholds -a perfect model, he becomes thrilled with the love of his art. His -heart and hands are guided by fires of ambition and his work excites -admiration. The human brain is often duplicated by machinery, but the -equal of the human heart, with its subtle emotions, must ever remain -a Sealed Book to cold, unfeeling mechanism. - -The same might be said of the human voice. In 1999, that peerless gift -of God to man, that wonderful channel through which all emotions -are expressed, had not been uprooted by mechanism. The Pattis, -Nordicas and Melbas of the twentieth century were still held in high -esteem, commanding princely stipends. The domain of all mechanical -music, however, had been invaded to a large extent. Pianos, organs, -orchestral and metallic instruments, which had attained a high degree -of perfection in the nineteenth century, were generally discarded -in the twentieth century. The tendency of the age favored mechanical -music. The automatic musical instruments, which in 1889 had already -attained a certain degree of perfection, were greatly improved. In the -navy cornet bands were discarded and were substituted by large musical -machines that played operas, marches, quicksteps, waltzes and patriotic -airs with wonderful accuracy, with a volume of sound surpassing the -best efforts of efficient brass bands. In the army, the brass band -always held its own. The men who composed the band could march and -fight, while no automatic substitute could be made to do this. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -Improvements of The Age. - - The advantages of Electrical conveyances. No fire departments - required and Insurance companies lose their grip. Tobacco chewing - and spitting prohibited in public places. Cigarettes are condemned - by law. Moderation in the use of wines. Great advancement in - medical science. A purified stage. Religious toleration becomes - more universal. Jews give Jerusalem the "marble heart." - - -The changes in our social system that signalized the period of 1999 -were marked and contrasted very favorably with the conditions extant -in 1899. - -Street noises that rendered city and often village life unendurable, -in 1899 were entirely [Uproar of Vehicles Abolished.] abolished in -1999. The clattering of horses' hoofs became unknown in city life. Milk -wagons, enormous furniture vans, the brewery wagon with its pyramid of -beer kegs, rattling express carts, mail delivery wagons and thundering -omnibuses no longer tortured the human ear in 1999. Automobiles had -sent the clattering hoofs to Tophet and electricity, with pneumatic -tires, was exclusively used in transportation. - -It was a curious sight in 1999 to observe the life and animation of -rapidly moving, yet noiseless, vehicles in city streets. Shouting, -whistling and all loud noises were strictly prohibited on all public -avenues. The jingling of bells, the yells of street Arabs, the thunder -of wagon wheels over pavements and the pandemonium that reigned on -all streets in 1899 became memories of a strange past. - -The black pall of smoke that hovered over manufacturing cities -and darkened the [Havanas Cent Apiece.] lives of all men, had -disappeared. Electricity drove smoke back into Hades and kept it -there. Manhattan, (formerly New York) the largest and grandest city -in the world in 1999, was no longer troubled in this manner. The only -smoke that was ever seen in city or country life curled up from Havana -cigars, of the best grades raised on American plantations in Cuba and -retailed in Manhattan for one cent apiece. Pipes were occasionally -used but had lost much of their former popularity. Workmen and the -poorest classes could enjoy a fragrant Havana for one cent and pipes -were no longer used on the mere pretence of economy. - -In the 20th century the tobacco chewer's life was not an enjoyable -one. In many States of the Americas, in 1999, notably Brazil, East -Canada and Argentina, it became a penal offense to chew tobacco -in public. In 1999 tobacco chewing was everywhere regarded in the -United States of the Americas in the same light as opium smoking. It -was considered a filthy practice, one that must not be tolerated -in public. It was regarded as a danger to public health for men -to spit chewing tobacco on the street walks. Ladies in 1999 made -up their minds that they had got through stepping on tobacco quids -on the streets. Indeed, spitting had been prohibited in all public -places. The habit was filthy and dangerous, causing the spread of -disease germs. In 1980 it frequently happened that the city police -raided chewing tobacco joints and hauled the offenders before court -for fine. - -But, perhaps the worst form of smoking was the diabolical cigarette. In -1899 it [Arrested for Smoking Cigarettes.] was already sapping the -youth of America, filling our hospitals with the sick and our State -asylums with imbeciles. Great fears were already entertained in 1899 -as to the outcome, but public opinion did not realize the danger to -the national safety until 1912. In 1921 Congress passed a law making -the sale, importation or manufacture of cigarettes a felony. Every -inducement was extended by National and State Legislatures to encourage -the growth of the purest Havana and Manila tobaccos. The object was -to place a good, harmless cigar within the reach of everyone and to -discourage the chewing and cigarette practices. - -In 1999 moderation in the use of wines and beverages became almost -universal. Even in the State of Mexico and other tropical States -of the Americas, drunkenness became almost unknown. In fact, it was -regarded as a deep disgrace and a penal offense to be caught drunk -in public. A drunken man was regarded in 1999 as a moral leper and -was isolated from his fellow creatures for a period of one year and -forever after was debarred from holding any public office. The law -was sternly administered in every case which carried conviction. - -The vicious laws of 1899 which allowed the government to collect an -enormous [Drunkenness Very Rare.] revenue on spirituous liquors and -permitted manufacturers to poison their victims with noxious liquids -were greatly ameliorated. The National government took up the work -of purification in the matter of manufacturing all liquors. A much -purer and safer article, much less liable to injure one's health -and to intoxicate, was placed on the market. It was recognized that -the government could not regulate the appetites of people, but it -determined to regulate the purity of the liquors they drank. This -wise course produced a decided change for the better. Drunkenness was -reduced to a minimum and homes were made happier. Although men still -"drank" in 1999, none but an abject sot ever lost his mental balance -and disturbed public peace. - -In 1999 vast strides of progress had been made in medicine and surgery, -and disease had been eliminated to a very large extent from our social -system. Science attained a complete mastery over the hitherto unknown -[Triumph of Mind Over Matter.] field of organisms. Man's mastery over -these agents marked the greatest stride ever made in the conquest of -mind over matter. All classes of bacteria were held under perfect -control. In 1999 contagious and infectious diseases occurred only -in sporadic form. The chief ills of life were those attendant upon -old age. - -Specific organisms, namely those of construction and destruction, -were created at will in that year, and were made to work with certain -and perfect results. In this manner disease was easily combated. - -Fire departments in the city lost much of their old-time importance. In -1999 only ten fire stations were required in the great metropolis of -Manhattan. In 1899 the population of New York was 3,500,000 and the -number of its brave firemen ran up in the ten thousands. In 1999 the -population of Manhattan was nearly 25,000,000 souls, and its fire -department required only three thousand firemen to operate it. The -reason for this is very simple. In 1899 fire was used everywhere; -while in 1999 very few houses had any use for that element. Electricity -had completely abolished fire as a domestic agent or motive power. In -1999 people never ceased to marvel how their predecessors got along -with so much fire, in one form or other, burning in their houses. - -The sufferings of the poor in crowded city tenements during the fierce -heats of summer, with a coal stove in their room, [Very Little Fire -Used.] were recalled. The frightful heat took away all energy and -appetite. Then the burning kerosene lamps were called to mind. Furnaces -with roaring fires of coal, wood and oil, gas jets, matches, all -helped to increase the percentage of danger. Fire departments were -in great demand in the good old days of 1899, and insurance companies -amassed fortunes by the side of which Monte Cristo was a mere Lazarus. - -In those days fire not only constantly threatened the destruction -of property, but many thousands of valuable lives were destroyed -every year by that element. In 1899 women still clung to their long, -dangerous and unhealthy skirts, long dresses that impeded their -movements and exposed them to constant danger from fire. Fearful -tales on land and sea were told of horrible sacrifices by fire. In -1999 all this was banished, never to return. Fires were extinguished -everywhere. A safer and better element had taken its place. The -Pharsees of India were, perhaps, the only people in 1999 who still -"worshipped" fire. - -Theatres in 1999 were extensively patronized, but so rigid were the -laws against immoral displays that none ventured to violate. The -cause of morality generally had made strides of progress in the -20th century. The world grew brighter and better and became more -humane. Vice and immorality were suppressed, not so much by operation -and fear of the law but by Christianizing methods. As the world grew -older it became more manifest that crime and immorality must make -way for purity and honesty. Theatrical performances in 1999 were more -chaste, more attractive and entertaining. The exhibitions of nudity, -so [No Seeley Dinners in 1999.] common in 1899, became unknown to -the stage in 1999. Electricity was very successfully employed in all -scenic stage effects. Some spectacular performances were beautiful -visions of fairyland. Public entertainments carefully suppressed -all that appealed to the baser passions. In 1899 our churches and -theatres were still apart, but in 1999 so marked was the purity of -the stage and so lofty its ideals, that church members were not afraid -to acknowledge that they attended the theatres. - -Churches, on the other hand, became more Christianized in 1999. The -envy, wrath and jealousy which existed between the denominations -and religions lost much of their acrimony in the 20th century. The -hatred and contempt that the Mohammedan [An Era of Fraternal Love.] -entertained for the Christian, had greatly softened. The Roman -Catholic, the Greek and Protestant Churches, followers of the same -Saviour, regarded each other with more fraternal feelings and became -more tolerant. As education became more generally diffused, humanity -broadened the heart. Children in 1999 could not comprehend the infamy -of a nation that could perpetrate the horrors of the Inquisition under -a pretext of serving the cause of a gentle Christ. Their minds could -not understand how in the 17th century both Protestants and Catholics -burned, pillaged and destroyed one another's property; burned men, -women and children at the stake and committed nameless horrors, -all under a sacrilegious pretext of serving a Divine Master. These -persecutions and the unfriendly feelings between opposing religions -almost disappeared toward the close of the 20th century. The acrimony -of the past was buried to a very large extent. - -In 1899 the leading religions of the world, in point of numbers, -were Buddhism, and the followers of Confucius, who in that year -numbered 485,000,000 followers. Next in force of numbers at the -close of the nineteenth century ranked the Christians, who numbered -454,729,151. The Mohammedans numbered in 1899 about 170,000,000, -Brahmanists 139,000,000, and Pagans or Heathens 220,000,000. - -Christians were by far the most enlightened, most powerful -and progressive religious [Christianity the Light of the World.] -element at the close of the nineteenth century and were firm believers -in the cause of education. Through their influence in the twentieth -century education became widely diffused. Turkey felt the force of -the movement, and the dense ignorance of its population became more -enlightened and less cruel. In 1999 the Christians of Armenia were -no longer held in bondage. The horrible massacres of 1894 which so -deeply stirred the hearts of all nations were memories of the past. The -Sublime Porte had ordered that education be made compulsory between -the ages of ten and fifteen years. Through English influence the cause -of education was also generally diffused throughout Africa. Where -education gained a foothold superstition was uprooted. - -Christianity made rapid advance in the world in 1999, and Christians -outnumbered all other religious beliefs. The sublime gospel of the -Cross dominated the human family in that year, inspiring more love -and gentleness among men. The vital force of Christianity, perhaps -little understood in the nineteenth century, became a mighty lever for -good in the following century. At the close of the twentieth century -indications pointed to a general christianizing of all peoples of -the globe. The three leading powers of the world, the United States -of the Americas, Great Britain and Russia, and in fact the whole -of Europe, except Spain, which country was obliterated in 1930, -as already described, exerted a mighty moral force upon the other -nations. Even Japan was rapidly coming under the banner of the Cross. - -In 1940 the ancient city of Jerusalem was delivered over into the -keeping of a Christian power. All the territory about that ancient -city, including the seaport of Jaffa, Bethlehem, the Mt. of Olives, -and other localities made sacred by the Mantle of our glorious Saviour -while on earth, were transferred by the Ottoman government into the -safe keeping of the German people. - -The Jews never returned to Jerusalem to rule again in that -city. Centuries of persecution had driven them into every corner of -the globe and under the protection of every flag. They had no use -for Jerusalem in the twentieth century and nothing was farther from -their minds than the re-establishment of the Jewish hierarchy. Their -business had long been established all over the world and under no -consideration could they be induced to return to the land of their -forefathers, merely on a point of sentiment. Should the Messiah ever -again return to earth, they argued, it mattered little whether they -were huddled together in Jerusalem or scattered over the globe. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -Arbitration. - - It was not a complete but only a partial success. Certain - international questions cannot be adjusted by arbitration. The - losses of the American Civil War. Europe's terrible war record - during the nineteenth century. The Great American Republic in - 1999 has no use for arbitration. - - -In the twentieth century many bloody wars were averted by the peaceful -offices of arbitration. The Great Dream of Universal peace, however, -had not been fully realized in 1999. In the political life of all -nations controversies arise that cannot be left for adjudication -to arbitration. Were it not so all disputations might be entrusted -to the decision of the arbiter and the world would gain immensely by -the abolition of the savage methods of war. A majority of the disputes -between nations can be settled by arbitration, but not all. No tribunal -of arbitration could have decided the issue in 1898 between America and -Spain. It was a question of tyranny. Spain was determined [Questions -That Cannot Be Arbitrated.] to maintain a hell at our very doors in -Cuba. That nation could not conquer Cuba and had proved, after over -four hundred years, her utter inability to govern that island. In the -face of wanton persecution, tyranny and merciless outrage perpetrated -by Spain, would America have been justified in leaving its contention -to arbitration? Certainly not. - -When, in 1870, Count Beneditti, openly insulted the King of Prussia -at Ems and aroused the indignation of all German subjects, what -could Prussia do, leave the matter to arbitration? Impossible. After -Napoleon escaped from the island of Elba and returned to France in -1815, ought the other nations of Europe which he had overrun with fire -and sword, to have consented to arbitration as a means of quieting -Europe? Certainly not. When in 1860 the Southern States of America -seceded from the Union, declared their right of self government and -privilege of perpetuating slavery, what tribunal of arbitration could -have decided the issue between the North and South? None. - -Human passions and ambitions did not change in the twentieth -century. International [It Commanded Universal Respect.] quarrels -arose in the nineteenth century which could not be submitted to -arbitration and war became the final resort. At the same time the -world's call for arbitration, and the efforts made to enthrone Peace -instead of War, never ceased to occupy the minds of twentieth century -statesmen. The history of the world for centuries had been written -in blood. The enormous standing armies of Europe were fast sapping -the vitality and energy of those nations. Something had to be done -to avert catastrophe and financial ruin and the Czar's call for a -Peace Congress at the Hague, justly commanded the respect of the world. - -War is a dreadful stain upon humanity. It is cruel, barbarous. The -twentieth century was not equal to the task of entirely substituting -peace for war, but made great progress in that direction. - -In the nineteenth century the North spent $4,800,000,000 during the -American [Cost of the American Civil War.] Civil War, and the South -spent $2,300,000,000. The number of casualties in the volunteer and -regular armies of the United States during this war were as follows: -Killed in battle, 67,056; died of wounds, 43,012; died of disease, -199,720; died from other causes, 40,154; total number of deaths, -349,944. The number of soldiers in the Confederate service, who died -of wounds or disease, was about 133,800. - -The world's plea for arbitration in the nineteenth and twentieth -centuries was indeed a forceful one and the Peace Conference at -the Hague in 1899 deserved absolute success. It has been estimated -that 40,000,000 human beings perish in war every century. Since -the Trojan war (about 3,000 years ago), it is estimated that -1,000,200,000 men have perished (up to the close of the nineteenth -century) in battle. The population of the world in 1899 was placed at -1,500,000,000. If all who had been killed in battle since the Trojan -war could be ranged on a field and the entire population of the world -also enumerated, the numbers of the killed would nearly equal those -of the living. - -In the 19th century in no direction was so much human energy wasted -as in preparation for war or in the process of actual warfare. It -was stupendous folly and a crime, a blot upon civilization. With such -terrible figures before them the advocates of universal peace might -well take heart at the sight of a Peace Conference, gathered in 1899 -to adopt measures to reduce European armaments. During the last half -of the 19th century the following great wars were waged: - - - War. Cost. Losses. - - Italian (1859) $300,000,000 45,000 - Austro-Prussian (1866) 330,000,000 45,000 - Crimean, 1,700,000,000 150,000 - Russio-Turkish, 1,000,000,000 225,000 - Franco-Prussian, 2,500,000,000 210,000 - Zulu and Afghan, 300,000,000 40,000 - American civil war, 7,100,000,000 800,000 - --------------- --------- - Totals, $13,230,000,000 1,515,000 - - -These figures are frightful but they represent only a fraction of the -losses of life and treasure through war, during the last half of the -19th century. The above figures do not include scores of other wars -that occurred during that period. The Chino-Japanese war did not -reduce the population of the Celestials to any appreciable extent -but in loss of treasure it proved a costly struggle. The war between -Spain [A Story only Half Told.] and America, commencing April 21st, -and ending October 26, 1898, must also be reckoned in this list. The -ceaseless tribal wars of Asia and Africa, also the French colonial -wars in Madagascar, Tonquin, Siam, and the endless struggles between -savage races of Borneo, Sumatra, the Zulus and head-hunters of the -Philippine islands must all be included in the list of mortality from -warfare during the last half of the 19th century. - -The plea for arbitration and the cessation of war was a noble effort -and a just tribute to the civilization of the closing days of the -nineteenth century. America lent her voice in the cause of Peace at -the Hague Conference. In the interests of humanity this was the proper -course to follow. America at this conference represented 75,000,000 -of the most intelligent, brave and industrious people on earth, -whose army was a mere corporal's guard. - -In the twentieth century, however, the great United States of the -Americas, with [America a law Unto Herself.] its magnificent sweep -of territory extending from Alaska to Patagonia, and its national -capital built on the site of the city of Mexico, had little use for -arbitration. In 1999 the vast American Republic had become a world in -itself. It had long passed the period when it had become necessary to -consult other nations on international questions and abide by their -wishes. America in 1999 was a law unto herself, and had very little -use for arbitration in the disposition of her international affairs. - -Arbitration answers very well providing that the arbiters are just -and impartial and prove themselves able to arrive at a decision in -perfect justice and equity. But America in the twentieth century, -on account of her enormous expansion and world-wide commerce, had -excited the jealousy as well as cupidity of every other civilized -nation, with the one exception of Great Britain. In any court of -international arbitration in which America might appear either as a -plaintiff or as a defendant, the chances were largely in favor of a -decision being rendered against her. - -America was denied justice in these international courts of -arbitration. Left to the [Europe Becomes Jealous of America.] -decision of European arbiters her case was invariably lost. Even in -1898 Europe's jealousy was ill-concealed. Germany and France would -have been glad indeed to have assisted Spain in taming the Yankee -and the rest of Europe, England excepted, would have applauded their -interference. Because of England's firm stand Germany and France -decided that prudence was the better part of valor, and those two -nations declined to have their navies blown out of salt water by the -combined navies of England and America. - -If, as above evidenced, Europe regarded America in 1898 with feelings -of envy and malice, imagine then the European condition of mind towards -the great American Republic in 1999 when it contained a population of -over 500,000,000 citizens, inclusive of a territory that represented -nearly one-fourth of the habitable globe. - -European nations in the twentieth century (always excepting Great -Britain) would have been very glad, at any time, to attack and humble -America, but so great was the power of our noble Republic in that -era that even the combined assaults of the world could not have -accomplished this feat. - -As a natural consequence of this unfriendly feeling on the part -of Europe, which grew in strength as time rolled on, America in -the twentieth century withdrew from the International Court of -Arbitration. America became big enough, strong and willing enough to -take care of herself. In other words, throughout the twentieth century, -Uncle Sam ran his own ranch and had things pretty much his own way. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -Improved Social Conditions. - - Kissing prohibited in the twentieth century. The curbing of the - tongue. The National punishment for wife beaters. The passing of - the tramp. New methods of salutation. Vegetarians remain true to - principle. Horse flesh as an article of food. Schools for training - housekeepers. American hotels in 1999 still lead the world. - - -Kissing as a fine art was on the wane in the twentieth century. In -the nineteenth century the Japanese had long banished that custom as -one dangerous to health and as a medium for communicating infectious -diseases. In that remarkable and highly progressive country no kisses, -or salutation with the lips, are exchanged between husband and wife, -parent and son, brother and sister. - -The custom, without doubt, is an unwholesome one, yet one in vogue -for so [Kissing Strictly Prohibited.] many centuries, even in the -days of the Romans, that it became a second nature. In the nineteenth -century one might as well attempt to scale Mt. Rainier with a ladder -as to endeavor to convince the mother of a new born babe that kissing -is a dangerous habit. The lover in his rapturous mode expresses in -a kiss the acme of his devotion. It seems cruel to destroy idols -before whom we have bowed down and offered incense during a whole -lifetime. Custom, tradition and education are hard task-masters. They -cling to us through life like limpets to a rock. - -Kissing, however, never came under ban of the law in the twentieth -century, but the practice was discontinued on purely hygienic -grounds. The mode of salutation in 1999 that was regarded as being the -most tender expression of love, consisted of a gentle patting of the -cheek. The advanced reason of the age broke the barriers of custom -in this case; lips were seldom allowed to touch lips. A pressure -of the hand became ample compensation for the most ardent lovers, -while the matchless language of the eyes left no room for doubt in -a lover's breast that his love was reciprocated. - -In the twentieth century men began to acknowledge the absolute folly -of the [The Cursing Habit.] cursing habit. If any excuse could ever -be offered in palliation of this vicious habit it might be made in -the case of a man whose mind was disturbed by angry passions. In an -outburst of passion a slight pretext might be offered for the vigorous -use of unwritten Anglo-Saxon. But the twentieth century very properly -turned its face against the practice of verbal profanation. This -reprehensible habit was made punishable, in every instance, by a -heavy fine and imprisonment. - -In the nineteenth century laws against profanity already existed, -but they were a dead-letter on all of our statute books. In those days -men might quarrel in public or in private; they might hurl epithets at -one another by the hour or by the day, so long as neither one of the -belligerents raised a hand against the other, society and law took no -cognizance of the unhappy occurrence. Men might exchange the vilest -expressions and fill the air with their sulphurous maledictions; -they might insult the public ear with a riot of profanation, no breach -of the peace occurred in the eye of the law until blows were given -or exchanged. - -In the twentieth century it was finally discovered that the tongue -was often a more offensive disturber of the peace than a blow of -the fist. It was then recognized that vile expressions, particularly -those which attacked innocent members of a family, were more cruel -and cutting than blows delivered by hand or weapon. Society and law -in the twentieth century determined to uproot and severely punish -the offending of a vile tongue. - -Wife-beaters in 1999 were speedily brought to time. These -degraded specimens of humanity finally received their just dues -on conviction. The lash which the State of Delaware wields to such -excellent advantage in many criminal cases was generally regarded as -inadequate punishment for such brutes. It was felt that wife-beaters -should be made conspicuous examples before the community. - -Every town in the Americas, from Alaska to Patagonia, was provided -with a large [Punishment of Wife Beaters.] derrick, erected upon a -solid stone foundation on the edge of some body of water. On the day -and hour appointed for the execution of the sentence, the culprit was -taken from the town jail or lock-up by the sheriff of the county. A -large concourse of citizens usually gathered in the locality of the -derrick to witness the "water cure." Arriving there, the sheriff -adjusted two belts around the prisoner, one under his arms and the -[A First-class Water Cure.] other about his loins. The belts were -connected by a broad strap over the back, in the center of which was -firmly fastened a large hook. This hook was fastened to the chain or -rope of the derrick. Upon a given signal the prisoner was hoisted to -the top of the arm of the derrick, which was then swung over the sheet -of water. The windlass of the derrick was let loose and the prisoner -plunged, usually a distance of twenty feet, into the water. He was -then hoisted up again, and the dose repeated three more times. When -the punishment was over the prisoner was properly cared for by the -sheriff and his posse. He was conveyed in some vehicle back to the -jail, where his ducking suit was removed. Attendants were on hand, -who rubbed him dry and helped him put on his own clothes. He was -then given refreshment and a cup of strong coffee and admonished to -go forth and do better. - -In the by-gone days of the eighteenth century, highwaymen, Dick -Turpins, Jack [Highwaymen and Pirates.] Shepherds and the robber -element, held high carnival, flourishing in their plenitude and -zenith. The old stage coach days greatly favored the success of -their profession. The appearance of steam ruined their avocation. The -same fate befell the pirates of the high seas, marine highwaymen who -thrived and carried on their nefarious trade in the days of sailing -ships. When steam came into general use it became impossible for them -to ply their trade. A steam pirate ship could not very well carry on -operations. Frequent coaling and repairs to machinery soon revealed -their identity. - -The highwayman and his confrere, the pirate, were children of the 18th -century. The conditions of that period favored their existence. They -who would pursue the highwayman must have the swifter horse, otherwise -pursuit became futile. The sailing man-of-war that would overtake -the pirate must have a swifter keel or lose the race. But when came -the days of steam these marauders by land and sea were driven from -their lairs. - -These were products of the 18th century, but it was in the 19th century -that the tramp, a degenerate son of the bold thieves above mentioned, -first saw the light [The Great American Tramp.] of day. The tramp of -the 19th century, (an exclusive exotic of that era,) was a compound -mixture of loafer and robber. He led a life of leisure. The law of that -period rather encouraged his existence than otherwise. After roaming -over the country during the open summer weather, as the first flakes -of snow fell, the tramp, with the utmost ease, contrived to secure a -six months' sentence in some county jail. Once safely ensconced under -the sheriff's wing for the winter months, he congratulated himself -as a most favored [A Tramp's Paradise in 1899.] mortal. He was sure, -above all things, of not having any work to do. That supreme misfortune -having been averted, the tramp was at peace with the world. Work and -soap were his deadly enemies; could the jail save him from these, -come what might, his serenity of mind remained undisturbed. He had -a warm bed, three regular warm meals daily, with the privilege of -playing cards, smoking and reading as suited best his fancy. What -better could any tramp ask for? The county jail was to him a haven -of rest,--a paradise. - -This delightful condition of affairs, however, rapidly changed in -the 20th century. Society grew tired of turning county jails into -tramp colleges, from which, after a very pleasant winter's rest, -the tramp graduated in the spring and was again let loose upon the -community. Tramps were compelled to work or starve in our county -jails long before 1910. They were given plenty of stone to crush -under suitable sheds, and the product of their labor contributed -to better roads. After a few years, the new law had its effect. The -tramp rapidly disappeared and monuments of stone were raised in every -county jail to the memory of an extinct species. - -The twentieth century method of exchanging salutations in public places -was in marked contrast with the custom that obtained in the nineteenth -century. During the latter period on meeting friends or acquaintances -in public places, it was a custom established from time immemorial, -when ladies and gentlemen met, for the gentleman to uncover by raising -his hat. [New Style of Salutation.] This was a graceful as well as -a distinct act of courtesy. The lady, however, in nine cases out of -ten, acknowledged the salutation, by merely looking in the direction -of the one who had just saluted her. The lady occasionally added -a smile in cases that were warranted by ties of friendship. These -courtesies were graceful but in the twentieth century the ladies -were the first to acknowledge that their method of salutation was -ambiguous and indefinite. It was not as pronounced and distinctive as -the salutation accorded them by the sterner sex. Suspicion crept into -the public mind that there was room for improvement in the exchange -of salutation on both sides. - -About the period of 1925 a radical change was effected. Upon meeting -in public places, it was no longer customary for the gentleman to -uncover, or for the lady to cast a glance in acknowledgment of his -salutation. The mode was simplified. Ladies and gentlemen saluted -one another in precisely the same manner. Each one, upon approach, -raised their right hand in military salute, touching the hat, and by -a quick movement, letting the hand drop to the side. This new custom -placed both sexes upon equal and exact terms. - -Whenever, in the twentieth century, a gentleman addressed a lady, after -the usual military salutation, it was his duty to uncover and hold his -hat in his right hand, regardless of the weather. Failure to do this -would result in non-recognition on the part of the lady. The respect -due to the fair sex perceptibly increased in the twentieth century -and so must it ever increase as the world's civilization advances. - -Man may be classed as being a carniverous animal. Vegetarians hold a -different theory. They banish from their tables the flesh of beasts -or birds that have been killed, eschewing meats of all kinds. It is -the privilege of the vegetarian to live up to the dietary standard -which he has adopted. Two-thirds of the human family take issue with -the vegetarian on this subject. The vast majority are in favor of -meats of all kinds as an article of food. In the nineteenth, and, -in fact, in all the preceding centuries, the delicacies of the table -most highly esteemed were those in which rare viands of every variety -were included. - -A model nineteenth century table reveled in such dishes as turbot a -la cardinal, mutton [A Standard of Food.] chops, pork cutlets, lamb, -spring chicken, selle-de mouton, ham, tongue, roast partridge, roast -duck with sage dressing, turkey and cranberry sauce, braized mutton, -deviled crabs, meat fritters, sausage, cold boiled ham. These savory -meat dishes invariably played leading roles at the tables of rich and -poor. Vegetables and desserts were regarded as adjuncts to the feast. - -Vegetarians regard such food as alien to the human system and -unnecessary to its sustenance. Added to this the vegetarians entertain -a sentimental view of the meat-food question. They claim that man has -no right to kill beast, fish, bird or fowl, to secure food supplies, -and that all flesh food should be eliminated from the human system. A -vegetarian's table was garnished with delightful dishes, such as sliced -oranges, buttered toast, baked quinces, quaking omelet, shredded wheat -biscuits, dates with quaker oats, fried hominy, stewed prunes, macaroni -and cheese, stewed fig with whipped cream, French-fried potatoes, -oyster plant and rice muffins. These dishes are clean and wholesome, -although decidedly tame from certain points of view. - -Vegetarians in 1999 were more emphatic in their views than their -brethren of 1899. [Vegetarians Refuse to Wear Shoes.] They still -enjoyed peanut sandwiches, fried egg-plant steak, health crackers, -nut biscuits, spiced beans and other delicacies dear to the hearts -of those who have foresworn eating the flesh of "suffering, sentient -things." In 1999 vegetarians refused to wear leather shoes. It came -hard at first but shoes had to be sacrificed to principle. They refused -to eat meat because it necessitated the killing of beast or fowl. On -this account also they refused to wear shoes of leather because the -beef must be killed in order to procure the leather. For the same -reason vegetarians in 1999 refused to wear silk of any kind because -its manufacture cost the lives of the dear little worms. They also -refused, for the same reason, to carry alligator skin pocket books. It -was so wrong to kill the poor alligators. Vegetarians claim that flesh -is from ten to twenty times more expensive than fruits or cereals, -and that it is unphilosophical and unbusinesslike to pay the larger -sum for inferior food. Neither justice nor benevolence can sanction -the revolting cruelties that are daily perpetrated in order to pamper -perverted and unnatural appetites. Vegetarians in 1999 were horrified -at the practices of the nineteenth century, when butchers would take -innocent little lambs, the most harmless and pitiful creatures, and -cut their throats in the slaughter house. The seas of blood that flowed -through Chicago slaughter pens had no attractions for vegetarians. - -In 1999 the world was by no means converted to any single theory or -idea on the food question. A delicious cold ham sandwich or slice -of turkey with truffles still delighted the palates of millions -in that year. The savory hot bird, washed down with a cold bottle, -still held captive many epicureans in the closing days of the twentieth -century. The birds of the air and beasts of the field still contributed -to the world's gastronomic pleasures. In 1999 the vegetarian remained -faithful to his creed. Plum pudding, peaches in wine, haricots vert, -and other delicacies held the place of honor at their tables. - -But in 1999 the world became more liberal in its views on the meat-food -question. In the nineteenth century no argument could shake the -prejudice existing against the consumption of horseflesh. Anyone in -1899 who could champion the use of [The Prejudice against Horseflesh.] -horseflesh and advocate its sale in open market on the same counter -as hogs and poultry, would be regarded in the light of a barbarian -or a person of unwholesome practice. - -Such is the utter blindness of custom and prejudice that in 1899 -the daintiest maiden, who might faint at the sight of a mouse, would -occasionally smell the stench of a pig-sty, yet, without the least -compunction, would sit at table and enjoy a pork chop, pork stew, -pork roast, in fact pork in any form. At the mere mention of a horse -roast or horse stew, the same delicate young lady would manifest -her disdain, and if such dishes were set before her, her indignation -might turn into riot. This was in 1899. - -In 1999 people acquired more "horse sense." Education, in time, broke -down [Cleaner Than Hogs or Chickens.] the barriers of pure prejudice -and senseless custom. In that year it became recognized and fully -acknowledged that the cleanest member of the animal kingdom, the horse, -was fit food for human beings who had the strength of stomach to eat -the hog, one of the filthiest, filth-devouring animals known to man, -an animal whose flesh was regarded with horror by many branches of the -human family, animals into which our Savior did not hesitate to cast -devils. In 1999 it was the universal belief that people who could -stomach pork and take their chances in contracting trichinae, could -well afford to digest the clean, wholesome flesh of horses. No animal -has any cleaner habits, or more wholesome food than the horse. Such is -custom, habit and prejudice. If our ancestors had taught us from the -days of the Caesars to eat horse flesh and to shun pork and poultry, -it is more than probable that a man caught eating the latter would -have been driven from any community as a disgrace to his kind. - -Prejudice and custom are hard task masters. In 1925 it became -a custom to eat [Eating Raw Fish.] raw fish. The fish in such -cases were carefully cleaned before serving. The head, entrails and -other parts were removed and the raw flesh was served with salt and -pepper. Even this simple process required an education. Many with -capricious stomachs revolted at the treatment. They could not digest -raw fish that had been killed and nicely cleaned before eating, but -they would readily eat any quantity of raw oysters from the shell, -also clams, and eat them while the bivalves were still alive. - -The "servant question" reached a very satisfactory solution long -before 1999. As early as 1907, State Normal schools to teach -the culinary art and to educate servants were instituted. In the -nineteenth century the servant class in America was the hoodoo of -the housekeeper and homemaker. Thousands of young women in 1899, -without the slightest knowledge or qualifications as housekeepers, -entered into matrimony. Unable to cook a loaf of bread or make a simple -biscuit, hardly knowing the [Some Very "Lame" Cooks.] difference -between hot and cold water, these zealous but inexperienced wives -suddenly discovered themselves in charge of a household and all its -responsibilities. In this unhappy condition they relied upon hired -help to do the work. In many instances the servant knew as little -about cooking as her newly wedded mistress. It was a case of "the -blind leading the blind," and much unhappiness resulted. - -Early in the 20th century public exigencies demanded a radical -change. The servant question advanced to the front. The dignity of her -position was raised in the social scale. The backward civilization of -1899 treated the servant as a drudge or menial. Long hours of service, -from early morn till late at night, were imposed upon her, while -her wages were slender. In the country her life was more endurable -because she was often treated as a member of the family. In cities, -however, her lot was an unhappy one. The servant plodded along in her -solitary work, often busy and at work fifteen hours every day. Even -in free-born, liberty-loving America the servant in 1899 was made to -regard herself as an inferior being. - -It was in this chaotic condition of affairs that schools for the -instruction of housekeepers were opened and assisted by large annuities -from the State. Before 1950 every town in the several States throughout -the Americas boasted of its State Cooking [State Schools for Cooking.] -School. These schools became very popular in the Central American -States such as Mexico, San Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, as well -as in the southern States of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador -and others of that group of the American Union. As a result of this -wise policy the fame and laurels of French cookery were transferred -to our American culinary artists. Not even the famed cooks of China -could equal the skill of the instructed and trained American cooks. No -servant could get a situation as cook in 1999 unless they could produce -a diploma from a State School of Cookery. They demanded more pay and -were allowed to work only eight hours per day. As a result of having -skilled housekeepers, homes were rendered better and happier. - -In 1999 America still remained the land of model hotels. In the 19th -century the fame of Americans for maintaining the best conducted -and most palatial hostelries was already world-wide. Our city -palace-hotels had no rivals in the world worthy of the name. In -the twentieth century their enviable fame in this line continued to -increase. Chicago and Manhattan still maintained their ancient rivalry -in the hotel business. Many of the palace hotels of 1999 had walls -built with opaque, rock face glass in the most attractive styles of -architecture. From a distance they resembled fairy palaces. Marble and -brick were occasionally employed in construction but glass came into -high favor as being imperishable as well as highly ornamental. The -old saying that "those who live in glass houses should not throw -stones," answered very well in the 19th century, when glass houses, -such as conservatories, were exceedingly fragile structures. In the -20th century no structures could be more durable than these hotels with -glass walls, built with blocks of great thickness and in every color of -the prism. They were fire-proof for the simple reason that no one had -any use for fire in any hotel or public building in 1999. Electricity -was employed to the exclusion of all other agencies for heating and -lighting, as well as for motive power. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -The Negro Question Settled. - - Negroes in 1999 are transferred to their new reservation and - permanent home in the State of Venezuela. The animosities between - whites and blacks still existed in 1925. The negro a very costly - importation. Never ought to have left Africa. In 1960 government - lands are bought for the black race and their home in Venezuela - becomes a prosperous and a happy one. The satisfactory solution - of a vexed problem. - - -In 1999 the negro problem no longer troubled the North American -States. The absorption of the Central and South American Republics into -the great American Union, had at last vouchsafed the earnestly prayed -for outlet for the troublesome Ethiopians. The man who was guilty of -making the first importation of negroes into the American Republic -can never hope to rest comfortably in the great hereafter. The negro -during the last half of the nineteenth century proved a black cloud -in social and political America. A stupendous war was waged in his -behalf. Years after the close of the war he still remained a source of -bitter hatred and constant bloodshed. South of Mason and Dixon's line -the war of the [Literally a "Burning Question."] races raged furiously -for nearly sixty years after the close of the Civil War in 1865. The -whites despised, while the blacks detested. In 1899 Negroism was in -fact, as well as in metaphor, a burning question. In 1925 mention -was still frequently made of the burning of the negro Sam Hose, near -Palmetto, in Georgia. Whenever the slightest pretext offered itself, -negroes were lynched or burned alive at the stake. On the other hand -these cruelties upon their race were naturally resented by the blacks, -who lost no opportunity to make reprisals. - -The negro proved a very costly luxury, a profound study in black, -during the last half of the nineteenth century. Mainly on his account -a Titanic struggle was waged in the sixties, a continent was torn -asunder, 800,000 men killed and a debt of $7,100,000,000 saddled -on America, and in the opening days of the twentieth century, the -negro was still a thorn in the nation's side. [A Study in Black.] -The negro found his way into America only after the mild race -of Indians discovered by Columbus had been exterminated under the -lash and torch of the Spaniard. When the harmless and gentle race -of beings who inhabited the isles of the Caribbean sea had vanished -before Spanish tyranny, then all eyes turned to Africa as the base of -supplies for menials, hewers of wood and drawers of water. The docile -nature of the negro rendered him available for purposes of serfdom. He -proved submissive and obedient, which are qualities of excellence in -the relations existing between master and slave. The negro, without -doubt, is gifted with a high order of intelligence and is capable -of appreciating all the advantages of a superior education. It is -doubtful, however, if the race will ever become prominent in the field -of art and sciences. With his amiable and submissive tendencies the -negro is menial in his qualifications. For long centuries past he -has been "a servant of servants" in his native land and his position -[Not Very Fierce, Only Humble.] still remains unchanged. Had he the -fierce and indomitable love of freedom which characterizes the North -American Indian, the chains of slavery never would have blotted the -fair name of America. His introduction into this hemisphere has proved -a colossal blunder, a misfortune alike to both races. - -History will applaud the wisdom of American statesmanship that -emancipated the slave. No matter what may be his shortcomings--or -how inferior his position in the scale of civilization, slavery of -the negro cannot for one moment be tolerated under the great American -flag, the emblem of freedom for all peoples of this earth. The flag, -however, cannot guarantee his social status. From this point of view, -the fact cannot be denied that the presence of the negro in North -America is undesirable. In communities where his vote preponderates -there will always be friction with the whites. Whites will never -submit to the dictation of the black element. The swarthy son of Ham -was never permitted in the twentieth century to dominate. The high -white forehead cannot be ruled by the low black one. Not in centuries -could this be accomplished, in fact, never. - -The unquenchable hatred existing in the South found expression in -frequent lynchings of negroes, burnings and other barbarities. These -acts of violence were deplorable, and even in 1950 the burning of -Sam Hose in 1899 at Newman, Georgia, was constantly referred to. In -justice, however, to the South, it must be said, that these lynchings -were perpetrated as measures of self-defense. - -The races could not assimilate. Miscegenation was regarded in the -twentieth century, as well as in the nineteenth, as an unpardonable -crime. - -In 1925 the racial war between whites and blacks continued unabated, -and would [Peace in Sight.] have still been in force in 1999 if the -only one possible relief had not come at last to the rescue. In the -year last mentioned the bulk of the black population disappeared -from the North American States. The accession of the Central and -South American Republics into the great American Union afforded -the only possible solution to the vexed problem. In 1960, just one -hundred years after the Sumpter episode, another important movement -was inaugurated in behalf of the blacks. People commenced to realize -that the negro was an utterly alien race; that when they landed here -America gained nothing, while Africa must have lost heavily through -their transfer into the new world. The proposition to transfer the -negro population to the Central and Southern American States was -agitated in that year. The transfer of Washington as the seat of -our national government from the District of Columbia to the City of -Mexico had the effect of drawing a strong tide of American emigration -into the State of Mexico, and into the Southern States of Brazil and -Venezuela as well. In 1999 Americans spoke of Colombia and Bolivar -merely as Southern States of the Union. The vast and fertile lands -in those States did not escape the attention of settlers. The idea -of transferring the entire negro population from the Northern States -of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana, Virginia and the -Carolinas to the Southern States of Brazil and Venezuela was regarded -as being a good one. The proposed measure proved a very popular one, -particularly among the Gulf States. They were ready to make any -sacrifice to be rid of their black neighbors. - -In 1975 a bill passed through Congress appropriating a sum of -$58,000,000 for the purchase of three northern provinces in the -State of Venezuela, namely, Zarmora, [No Snowstorms out That Way.] -Bermudez and Miranda, bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and -on the south by the Orinoco River. It was generally conceded that -the negro would feel more at home in a tropical climate. The three -provinces named lie between the eighth and tenth degrees of north -latitude, and there was no possible danger that these emigrants would -ever get caught in a snowstorm on the plains of Venezuela. The northern -States of the Union were determined to get rid of the entire race, -if money ever could effect that purpose. - -The negroes readily assented to the proposition and were heartily in -favor of [Were Pleased with the Change.] leaving a section of the -American Republic which has been the scene of so much suffering to -them, as well as their ancestors. They were elated over the prospect of -emigrating to the State of Venezuela, where such a fine reservation had -been purchased for them by enactment of Congress. They realized that in -the State of Venezuela they would no longer be harassed by their white -neighbors and the old slave-owning element, and upon the vast pastoral -plains of the Zarmora and Miranda provinces they would till their -own soil, own the land and enjoy each other's exclusive society. Even -Boston, in 1975, applauded the movement as being a philanthropic one, -calculated to increase the well being of the negro. The brainy men -of Boston argued that reservations had been frequently purchased for -the use of Indians, and there was no good reason why one should not -be purchased for the use of the American negro. - -In this manner the vexed negro question was finally settled. The States -south of Mason and Dixon's line became more contented. The negro -reservation in Venezuela thrived well. The broad pastoral plains, -well watered by branches of the Orinoco, abounding in rich tropical -grasses, were admirably adapted to the raising of cattle, sheep and -goats. Horses were raised in 1975 for food supplies alone. The negro -farmer invested in sugar cane, cotton, indigo and banana farms. The -tropical forests yielded much wealth, such as India rubber, tonka -beans, copaiba and vanilla, while the mineral products of Venezuela -proved rich and varied. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -Conclusion. - - -In setting forth at length the glorious achievements of the twentieth -century, the Author has no desire to rob our now closing nineteenth -century of one iota of its brilliantly earned laurels. The achievements -of the nineteenth century will grow to the last syllable of recorded -time. Their imprint upon the history of man is indelible and shall -be linked in the chains of eternity. - -In the field of scientific discovery the nineteenth century has no peer -in all the preceding ages. It stands forth a giant whose achievements -in the cause of science, liberty, education and humanity outweigh -the combined products of all eras from the birth of Christ. - -Newton's discovery of gravitation must ever memorize the seventeenth -century in the annals of men, but the genius of the nineteenth century -has produced its equal in the correlation and conservation of forces, -the widest generalization that the human mind has yet attained. - -The telescope of the eighteenth century is overbalanced by the -spectroscope of the nineteenth, telling us of the composition, rate -of speed of myriads of suns. The electric telegraph, the telephone, -the phonograph, wireless telegraphy, and the Roeentgen rays are all -children of the nineteenth century. - -The vast doctrine of organic evolution, the periodic law of chemistry, -the molecular theory of gases, Kelvin's vortex theory of matter, are -all priceless jewels in the crown of the nineteenth century. To these -we must add in the nineteenth century phalanx the magnificent discovery -of anaesthetics and antiseptic surgery, the wonderful mobilization of -man through the medium of steam and electricity by land and sea. - -Let us give to the nineteenth century the full measure of its -magnificent conquests in the arts and sciences. But, to-day, we -stand at the threshold of the twentieth century, in which, with its -legacy of nineteenth century genius, still greater and more sweeping -results will be attained. Vast fields of scientific research remain -unexplored. Proud science must to-day bend her knee and confess -ignorance in many problems of the most simple character. The absolute -command of Mind over Matter calls for herculean strides of progress -before its sway be undisputed. - -The twentieth century, however, will pre-eminently outrank all -preceding eras in the measure of liberty accorded to the peoples of -the universe, and, in the foremost rank, as a pillar of fire by night -and a cloud by day, the leadership of great, broad America will be -followed by the nations of the world. - -The Supreme Ruler of the universe, who holds this globe in the hollow -of His Hand, has marked out the line this nation must follow and our -duty must be done. - -America is destined to become the Light of the World. - -With her grand Constitution for guide and compass, her boundaries will -extend until her banner of true freedom and liberty shall spread its -folds and protect every nation in the Western Hemisphere, gathering -them into one flock and one mighty Republic. - -In the year of grace, 1999, the light of God's sun will reveal to the -admiring gaze of the World, the noblest creation of Man,--a United -America, the law giver unto the nations of the earth, a mighty power -that shall dictate peace and banish war and make True Freedom ring -throughout the world. - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Looking Forward, by Arthur Bird - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOOKING FORWARD *** - -***** This file should be named 50148.txt or 50148.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/1/4/50148/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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