The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-04
IN THE YEAR 5000.

IL Is now tAaS aOfEy-SecoHC Jay OF Inc
spring season, in the year 5000 A. D. My
name-C-g34-M. G.-teIIs the reader my
residence. family and the chronological
classification, and when I state. that
have reached the mature age of 10, any
one must realize that have something
worth telling or L would never risk the
penalty imposed by law upon the purpose
less author.
am clerk in the bureau Of carpet
tacks, department. of house furnishing of
D continent (forIuerly North America).
Although my labor is credited to Guthrie
1.-THE governmental center Of d continent),
prefer to reside on G continent formerly
Africa by reason of its superior climatic
advantages, as we'll as the greater select
ness of its single tax areas. I have the
reputation of being honest and industrious,
and, although it takes me nine minutes to
reach my Office from my home via the
Electric Flash system Of governmental
transit, yet am as regular in my hours of
attendance as those living within few
hundred miles,
Having recently finished my proportion
Of individual labor for the common good
during the current year and received gov
eminent tickets for the same, determined
to devote my vacation to making q slow
journey throughout the world.
My first destination I had determined
should be the newest continent of all
continent H formerly Antarticana)-and
the slow passage thither on an airship
freighter was a novel sensation indeed.
Under the most favorable conditions a
speed of over 100 miles an hour was i'm
possible, and the voyage, although enliv-
ened by numerous well told legends of
ships that sailed on the water, seemed in
terminabIe. When we few over the gigan-
tic system of mirrors that by DETECTING
the rays of the sun have made d semitrop-
ical country out Of this erstwhile icebound
coast, the air became rather oppressive,
but in very few minutes we had reached
the elevated landings. Rapidly spreading
my wing planes, 1 jumped outward from
the deck and soon reached the ground in
safety.
The moving sidewalk carried me rapidly
to place of amusement where a man in
formed me that a company would give a
faithful reproduction of the wonderful
American a1legory entitled Uncle Toms
Cabin" He then stated that in the days
of Mark Antony Cor Mark Twain, as he
was sometimes enormously called) and
Mckinley Bill immense audiences gather
ed to witness this pagan spectacle, and
that thousands of negroes were torn to
pieces by savage bloOdhounds for the de-
lectation of the assembled populace. In
accordance with the rudely drawn pictures
to be found in the extant copies of curl
Gus publication called a comic or comic
weekly the part of Little Eva was played
by woman Of advanced years and the
cakes Of ice were represented by specially
| constructed and labeled soapboxes.
On leaving the public theater kept on
the moving sidewalk for a few miles and
then stepped off and walked for fully 20
minutes on the roadway. This unaccus-
toned exertion was rather fatiguing, and
as night was drawing near I made haste to
find place of shelter.
On my right hand noticed what looked
like human habitation, although it was
not constructed of cut glass with inside
shades, as is our universal custom. The
! house, if such it could be called was
! seemingly built of painted wood, with
! square holes in which a few small pieces of
| glass were set. Attracted by the POSSIBLE
! ity of an adventure, which of course is
very rare nowadays, walked at once to
the door and entered. Almost at the thresh-
old I met the owner, and greeting him
cheerfully announced my intention of
making brief stay with him. Much to
my surprise, he seemed to demur, but soon
recovering his self possession ushered me
into room and introduced me to his
daughter. I was rather embarrassed to
perceive that she was dressed in the pic
tured costume of antiquity, but presumed
that it was merely done in sportive mood
Yet, truly, she looked a vision of lowell
ness. There was something almost pic
turesque in the braided hair, full skirt and
jaunty, huge sleeved waist with czarina col
lar, and although for practical purposes our
present universal dress is much better
adapted for both sexes cannot but wish
that, in the bosoms of their families at
least, women might deign to wear the
beautiful costume that historians ascribe
to the Parkhurstian period.
On engaging the young person in con-
! versation l was astounded to find that her
name was Gladys. Who could believe that
this name of the past was worn by ma
/ tive of the thirtieth century?
| But my wonder was further increased
| when, still wearing the ancient garb, she
spread a white cloth upon a table and
| placed thereon several vessels of the china
| ware similar to that now in our school
museums. Instead of receiving their por-
lions of the condensed food in gluten cap
sules from the public food factories, this
family had evidently returned to the old
time custom of preparing their food them
selves in primitive style.
/ Much as 1 marveled at this, 7 took my
| place at the table with the twain and
! joined in their unique repast. Strange as
/ it may sound, the roast slices of meat and
! vegetables boiled in water tasted extreme
! ~ well, but the trouble and time required
/ to prepare and eat them must become ex-
ceedingly monotOnous.
! After the strange meal was over Gladys
father left US, and I engaged the maiden
/ in conversation.
She was entirely dissimilar to all the
women of my acquaintance. Aside from
the wearing of such strange drapery, her
voice was low and even, instead of having
the usual wonanly harshness, and her
gliding walk and composed manner bore
no resemblance to the manners of the
brusque, excitable women who lead the
van of advanced thought in our world
! councils.
When 1 ventured to ask his reasons for
returning to barbarisn in eating and
dressing he turned on me fercely and
said: g Young man, I'm tired of being a