Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-08-07
LITTLE HOPE AHEAD-IS THE RACE N
BECOME EXTINCT?
In conclusion he says:

BECOME EXTINCT
In conclusion he says:
The human race is now on trial for
its life! One hundred and three years
ago last April James Watt, a poor
Scotch mechanic, while taking his walk
on Sunday afternoon on Glasgow Greer
conceived the idea which made steam
mans submissive and untiring slave.
Steam enables the fifteen millions OF
adults in Great Britain and Ireland 70
produce more commodities than the
whole population of the earth could
produce without its assistance. Steam.
plus the virgin soi1 Of two new cOnEi-
struction within the reach of hundreds
of millions Of human beings whose an
Gestors were almost as safe in their ig-
nOrance and poverty as the beasts they
attended,. At the same time, the steata.
engine is an infuFiRte propagat0r and
myriad creatures OF its prodaeine--
creatures OF eager desires, thin brains,
excessive vanity and small self-con-
trol-seem formed TO bend the neck
to the destructive tyranny OF fashion,
and yield helpIessly 20 the more
destructive tyranny of habit
The. steam engine gives them q great
variety Of means of 1tirpatton-
air-tight houses, labor-saving machines
luxurious food, stimulating drinks,
highly wrought novels, and many 9TH
ers, Let all women for the next Celtu-
ry but wear such restraining clothes as
are now usual, and it IS doubtful IL the
race could ever recover from the effects:
it is doubtful il f6here eYer could be q full
Orbed, bouncing badly. Wherever we
look, we see the human race dWindling.
The English aTistocracy used to Be
thought an exception, but Miss Might
ingale says not. She tells as that the
great houses of England, like the small
houses of America, contain great grand
possessing constitutions with
out a haW, grandmothers but slightly
impaired, mothers who are often ailing
and never strong, daughters who are
invaids. And the steam en-
CINE has placed efficient means of self i
destruction within the reach of tEe
the stable, the farm and the
shop; and those means of self-destruc-
Jon are universally used.
Perhaps man has nearly run his
course IN this world, and is about to
disappear, like the mammoth, and give |
place to some nobler kind of creature,
who viii manage the estate better than /
.he present occupant. Certainly we can /
not boast of having done very well with /
e, nor could we complain if we should /
receive notice to leave. Perhaps james 1
Watt came into the world to eXtinguish /
lis species. If so, it is well. Let us go |
ln, eating, drinking, smoking, over |
working, idling, men killing them /
,elves to buy clothes for theft wives, |
wives killing themselves by wearing /
hem, children petted and caIldied into |
and dfphtheria In that /
;ase, of course, there viii be no coming i
nan, and we need not take the trouble /
% inquire what he will do.
'tBut probably the instinct OF self /
viii assert itself In time,
md an antidote to the steam engine /
will be found before it has impaired the /
whole race beyond recovery. To have /
discovered truth with regard to the ef-
ects of alcohol upon the system was mol
light triumph of self preserving prinei- /
lies. tits probable that the truly help 4
al men of the next hundred years will |
'ccupy themselves very much with the
,hYsical welfare Of the race, WithouE
yhich no other welfare is possible. y