The Newtown bee., 1897-02-26

How many things it takes to furnish a modern home! How varied and complex the divisions of laborl What vast changes in the theories and methods of business What strides in the attainment of knowl- edge and wealth. While the millions still toll and strive for the bare necessities of life, what throDg are eagerly intent on the enjoyment of luxuries!
 "The more they get they seek increase,
 Complaints and cravings never cease."
 When we stop to think of the
 GREAT AND VARIED CHANGES
 which have come in the industrial and commercial world, within the last 50 years, is it any wonder, after all, that the relations of life are disturbed? The con- ditions of life have been almost com pletely changed in a single generation. The traditions and methods of our fath- CTS have nearly passed away; and the practices of our grandfathers are now al most unknown to us. Fifty years ago, New England country life was strictly provincial. The people travelled but lit- tie. Each community very largely sup- piled it's own frugal wants. Commerce was very limited. A few West India goods were purchased in exchange for the products of the farm. Domestic ex- change was not extensive and foreign commerce of small moment. Our fath- CTS did nearly all their farm work by hand. Our mothers still knew how to spin and weave. It is not long since Jules Verne wrote: "Round the World in Eighty Days" It seemed then like a myth or a romance. But already the time for such trip has been reduced more than one half, and 1t IS said that when the great Siberian Railway is open ed this round world may be girdled in B days. It used co take months for the fastest merchantmen to make the voyage to Europe-it is now matter of & few days.
 Indeed, it is only short time ago that the nations of the earth were strangers and enemies. We are now in friendly commercial intercourse with all peoples and the products of every cline are brought, literally, to our very doors. We are DO longer provincial, nor even nation. al in our relations, but cosmopolitan. We have to adjust ourselves to these world. wide relations. We have to compete with the Old World and to protect our. selves against the hungry swarms oi aliens. We aim at higher state of civi. lization. We must learn to guard well our precious heritage of freedom and privilege or they will be stolen from us by the greed of gain and the lawless lust of power. Now, of course
 SCIENCE IS NOT THE ONLY FACTOR
 in the evolution of the world; religion is the chief thing in the life of man; but the application of science to the affairs of this present world is second only in im- portance. In the first place men have invented machinery by means of which | to develop the natural resources of the earth. Machinery has multiplied indus tries and made new occupations and caused many divisions of labor. It has also disturbed the natural relations of wages. Men for the time being are dis placed by machines; but the demand for machinery also creates new trades and calls for more workmen, while the in creased production of the things the peo- pie need makes them cheaper and more available. Manufacturing has made new wants, new markets and new de. mands for higher education and better living. And so, in the long run all these things work together for good. The more good things people want the better; because it Is our wants that keep everybody busy and happy doing something. But greed of grain: leads to overproduction, stagnation and depres-