Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-08-26
A Hundred Years Hence,

n
THIS life OF ours is full-of myster;e. N,
rise In the morning, we go 10 bed Al ni,'.e
we toll and toll, and sleep and slecn 80
then we die The present alone i O.
the past dream, the future all unfatbosas'
BILE On the brink of time stands r,A@
eating his way by moments, plodding =.
conscious of the waste within, the wear So
tear Of that exquisite machine. the huma-
body. Proud of the intellectual and nl,'-
ical achievements Of the past. gloryine;s
the conscious sense of strength in the n5.a
emf. boastful of the finite power wbiol
God has given him, vet oft forgetfnI :.
the source from whence il sprung. me.
lives his little span-grabbing. deIvips
spinning. toiling, like the ant-a laross,,
ant. less wise withal, and grateful AS
stands in his matches symmetry ana
strength. peering through the GodliLs
light OF reason into the unfa,homsHs
abyss Of space, putting a girde round
about the earth, and digging deep int
liz bowels, thinking, dreaming, praviny
cursing, he knows not what momeTr
may bring forth, or when in the deere
Of an all wise Providence his little lanr
shall cease to shine on earth.
Man for the future can bat reason from;b4
past. In hundred years he has seen q
heard of many changes on this wondrou,
globe he calls his home. Great souls hal,
come and gone, great souls VIII CON
again: intellect has quickened the meas
of locomotion, lessened the Adamite cur.
of toll: intellect will do so still SO 5
reasons. and so his logic rests upon ths
past. One hundred years ago the word
travelled in numbering coaches, sailed tie
seas in slow going ships; to-day the iron.
horse goes tearing through the land and
steamers bridge the widest oceans. Month,
have changed 10 weeks and weeks to
hours One hundred years ago the traY
eIer between New York and the Illinoi,
wilds would have made up his mind to
three-weeks' trip, in numbering wagon
sleepy ferries and uncomfortable stage
In the year of grace 1875, two DAYS and
one night passed in ease and comfort see
him safe at his journeys end, When
His Majesty's troops sailed from the shores
of England TO give these Colonists a les
son, they were fortunate If three-weeks'
tossing on the broad Atlantic brought
them within sight of Newfoundland. To-
day an eight-day passage Is q matter Of
course. Without multiplying ilIustrs.
tons. ii Is not in the least degree unnatu.
raj that the man of the hour, peering into
the mists of dim futurity. should see, in
its dark and unfathomable depths, still
greater strides toward that goal which his
Imagination pictures as the ultima thule
of inventive perfection. Electricity has
added its spark to creative Immortality
What may not electricity bring forth:
What motors fill the womb of pregnant
times Do we behold in the fragile air.
ship of to-day the engine that is to wait
our posteriiy, with unthought-of speed,
from continent to continent; Are the
worlds to draw together ere the end. and
men 10 stride the air and guide their barks
through spaces Shall tunnels bridge the
seas and steam go down before a higher
| forceg Who knows what is TO be: Al.
ready whisperings fill the air with Won
drous motors; the busy brains of menW
at work. Across the ocean in fhy
hours, " so reads the latest tale-a life-boas
raised by gas and sailed By steam.
A hundred years hence, Who that is
born to-day shall live 10 see it, and what, if
he does live, shall he see--adaily balloon TO
London, an afternoon trip TO Florida: VIII
the docks now echoing 10 the hiss Of steam
be filed by strange. unearthly shapes, with
wings and fans, and gaudy bags of gas:
VIII freight tralns, drawn by noiseiess pow.
er, pass swiftly meath the sea, and parcels
| dart like lightning round the world!
Stranger things than these have happened
| in hundred year,, and some may live to
see still greater wonders. And YET we
cannot change the face of nature. Man is
the same to-day he was hundred years
ago; more restless, nervous and ambitious,
but unchanged in feeling, passion, thought
He was made in the image and likeness Of
his Maker, and however he may darker
and obliterate that image 80 shall he re-
main, and the sea shall change not, neither
the dry land, at least to outward and IN
lettered sense, and the heavens shall tell
the glory of God until the inevitable hour
when all created things shall pass away
| like scroll, and the soul of man have
learned the truth of everlasting veal or
woe in the never-ending mansions Of
eternity. Ocean,