The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-06-13
A PRIZE ESSAY
For the Best Essay Written on the Seven
Wonders of the Nineteenth Century.

Some time ago that popular illus
tfated weekly, Once a Week, Of New
York offered prize Of s1OO for the
best essay on 'The Seven Wonders Of
the Nineteenth Century
A special committee was appointed
consisting Of Amos J. Cummings,
Thomas A. Edison, Hon. G. W. Ross,
Thomas S. James, the Very Rev.
Thomas NJ. Byrne and Sir James A.
Grant, K. G. ", to which were re-
ferred the hundreds Of essays re-
ceived.
A recent issue of Once q Week pub
lished half page illustration of the
distinguished committee of judges
and with it the announcement that by
unanimous agreemeneA the committe
has awarded the prizeYo Mr.. Gordon
Hiles, Georgia boy Z I'D the son Of
Mr.. Thompson Hiles, o1e of the lead
ing business men of Rome.
The distinction is rare one, and
the Constitution reproduces herewith
for the benefit of the public the prize
essay, which won in competition
with the world and prize for which
was awarded by committee of men
whose ability is recognized every
where. The essay is as follows:
The Seven Wonders OF tho Nineteenth Cen
tury.
Strange are the forms that hurry
hither and thither through the shades
of this senescent century. Knowl-
edge sits enthroned and greatly has it
grown since the last aeon's end.
Death and birth meet on the highways
and pass with averted looks. Crime
and skepticism, mightier than before,
walk with man like the Moslem Moak-
kibat. Speculation stands where the
crowds are thickest and whispers into
every ear it's tempting venture r.
There are kings as Of old, but their
thrones are less lofty-the most splen-
did court is the court Of czar cash.
Plutus has descended from Olympus
and taken his place among the sons of
men. Money rules. The dollar shines
with the bigness Of the MONDAY sun.
The days are filled with the clink of
coins as they climb into mountains Of
wealth. Ill-fed poverty, grimed with
the smoke and cinders of foundry and
forge, looks with no idle eye at the
bespangled coach-and-four whirling by
with its plutocratic passengers. These
notice not but locked somewhere in
futurity is day when the poor shall
win their rights. Invention proudly
points where labor is lightest and
accepts the honor which its handi-
work merits. Vox populi has a less
uncertain ring. Liberty is no longer
an empty name. Statecraft hob:nobs
with Democracy. The world still re-
wolves, but it bears happier burden.
The E'wrinkled 'front.' of war is
smoothed and peace smiles supremely.
Day and night have never failed;
time moves on, and the king OF time
is the king of all.
In intelligently discussing 1.-The
Seven Wonders of the Nineteenth
Century," we must invoke the faculty
Of looking backward. Public interest
is the "open sesame to the rendeE-
vous of wonder. When we have
found the seven subjects which have
called forth the, widest comment we
have also found the seven wonders.
What then are "Thc Seven Wonders
of the Nineteenth Century ?"
/. Napoleon.
2. Bismarck.
8. Electricity.
4. Journalism.
5. Gladstone.
6. The Brooklyn bridge.
Z. The world fair.
These are in themselves the great
originals of thought and action-the
landmarks of worldwide interest-the
true wonders which the nineteenth
century has held to view. We will
endeavor to draw their bold outlines
with the pencil of unembellished fact.
The early days Of the century were
filled with one name-Napoleon Bona
parte. The world was, indeed, a stage
upon which this "man of destiny
was playing the star part, and great
part it was.
In 1900 we find him at Paris, facing
his martial fame with bulwarks Of
self-conceived law and self asserted
executive prowcss. He had crossed
the Alps; he had garlanded the pyra-
mids with trophies of uneclipsed VIC
tory, and now he felt burning within
him the daring desires of the son of