Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-05-09

! COMPLETELY revolutionize industry.
The great impetus given to civilization
I Is shown by the marvellous increase of
/ libraries schools, colleges, books and in
ventions, the greater interest in spiritual
affairs and political reforms. Education,
the symmetrical training of mind and
body, has, during the present century,
had growth which is truly phenomenal
| All the more progressive of the civilized
nations have systems of public schools
with free text books. No better example
OF the improvement and benefit OF edu-
cation can be found than our own great
republic, which is already the most indie
/ pendent, and is fast becoming the most
enlightened country on the face of the
globe.
In pre-revolutionary times there were
nine colleges in America. At present we
have four hundred and hfty. with libra
ries containing three million seven hum
dred thousand volumes. In 1890 the
number OF enrolled students in the pub
lie schools exceeded twelve millions.
For the promotion OF the industrial
arts, state colleges, Offering free tuition,
! exist in ferty-two states. In journalism
our progress has been especially marked.
| In the early days OF the revolution there
were thirty-seven newspapers in the
| colonies There are now published in the
United States nineteen thousand four
hundred, with yearly issues exceeding
four billions.
But il all advancement in the nine
tenth century was to be lost to he world
and its literature alone left, still it would
stand unrivalled among all the periods in
| history. New nations, and nations which
had hitherto lain dormant for ages, are
now contributing gems of literature to
the immense collection of the world,
while the older nations OF Europe are
constantly adding to their list of immor-
tai names.
Every branch of literature has alike re-
ceived its share OF attention. Science
and philosophy are indebted to Cervier,
Hum boldt and Agassiz poetry to Goethe,
Coleridge, Pushkin, Tennyson and Long
fellow. The thought OF the age has
been profoundly Influenced by the lit
erary productions of such men as Car
lyle and Emerson; and fiction has been
elevated to a dignity never before
reached, by the efforts OF Hugo, Tolstoi,
Hawt horne and Dickens.
Closely allied to literature in its elevat-
ing tendencies, stands art. The power
of music, painting and sculpture to sway
mems minds and to cultivate refinement
is well known The fine arts have also
their roll OF fame; and at the head stand
the renowned names OF Beethoven, Iur-
ner, Thorwaldsen and Dore.
In nothing is the development OF the
mighty powers OF the intellect more
clearly marked, than in the improvement
of industrial science and invention. The
progress OF civilization-w hich means
chiefly the promotion OF industry and
the welfare of the people by invention
has obtained the greatest efforts OF the
greatest minds OF the day. When one
pauses to reflect on the mighty results OF
invention on the industrial and COM
mercial progress OF the world during the
nineteenth century, il seems almost in
credible. Instead OF travelling in the
stage coach at the rate OF eight miles an
. hour, one can now travel in a palace car
, at he rate of sixty miles. Instead OF its
requiring twenty-t five days to cross the
, Atlantic as it did in he last century, the
, passage can now be performed in seven
DAYS, and that, too, surrounded by every
. convenience and luxury. By the aid OF
the long distance telephone one can talk
to his friends a thousand miles away; oil
: by means of the submarine cable, can
send a dispatch across the Atlantic in
less time than it takes to write it.
These are only few OF the great in
=, ventions which have made this century
of Stevenson, Edison, Field, Morse
Ericsson and others down to the remotesl
, generations.
Prof. Ely says: at is probable that a.
we, after more than two thousand years
look back upon the time OF Pericles with
wonder and astonishment, as an epoch
great in art and literature, posterity tive
, thousand years hence will regard our era
as forming an admirable, unparalleled
epoch in the history OF industrial inven-
tions."
Political history has kept step with
classical and mechanical. France, Mex
leo and he South American states have
overthrown monarchial government, and
are now independent republics. Austria
and Japan have become limited, instead
OF despotic Kingdoms. England and the
United States have abolished slavery
throughout all their territory Germany
and Italy have freed themselves from
Austrian dominion, and Greece, Rouma-
mia, Servia and Montenegro from the
Turkish Reforms are continually taking
place in politics; and in craftsmanship
and oratory, Webster, Blaine, Gladstone
Bismarck, Theirs and kossuth have re-
ceived the admiration and respect OF tive
hemispheres.