The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-09
Notable Events of 1906.
The Old Years Record.

Crl6pl resigned REQ. Id, ana new mln-
istry was formed by Gen. Ricotti. July
IL this ministry resigned, and Rudini
formed another. These various changes
grew out of the war in Abyssinia, which
ultimately resulted in the crushing de-
feat of Italy and the absolute independ-
ence Of the former country. Spain is
still engaged in the fruitless effort to
put down the Cuban insurrection, and
is fighting against hope 30 far as army
and navy are concerned. as we'll as
against bankruptcy. Her military pow
or is unequal to the task and her fnan
ces have collapsed. Added to the Cuban
revolution she has a formidable insur.
rection in the Philippine Islands with
which to contend.
In Russia the royal proclamation for
the coronation of the Gear was issued in
January, and in May the pageant took
place with barbaric splendor. and. un-
fortunately, with terrible loss of life,
growing out Of panic. Although i'm
mediately after his accession he an
nounced that he would uphold the
autocratic policy. nihilism has not mani
tested any unusual activity. In it's
foreign relations Russia has continued
seeking it's aggrandizement by pushing
it's great trans Siberian railroad, having
added to it's Importance by treaty with
China which gives it control over a large
area Of that empire, the remainder of it
to be partioned equally under the con-
troll of Great Britain, Germany, and
France. Russia also has been success
full thus far in keeping the hands of
England off from Turkey in the matter
Of enforcing reforms in Armenia, though
the news at the close of the year indi-
Gates that the pressure has become 80
great Russia must soon apply force to
the refractory Sultan. Meanwhile Tur-
key has been harassed with revolu-
tions in Macedonia and Crete and pros
poets of war with Greece growing out
of Mohammedan outrages and massa-
cres. The Sultan is still promising to
grant reforms, but the horrible work of
massacre continues, and the powers
stand by idly looking on. In the Meth
erlands, Switzerland, Scandinavia, and
Portugal little of an important nature
has occurred.
Asia has been frequently disturbed by
uprisinge. The Formosans have revolted
against Japan. the Coreans against their
King. the Thibetans against China, and
the Mohammedans in China against the
government. The Shah of Persia was
assassinated in May by fanatic. The
Siamese boundary dispute has been
settled between England and France,
and China and japan have negotiated
commercial treaty.
In Africa the principal events of in
terest have been the defeat of the Eng
lish in the Transvaal by the Boers; the
conquest Of Ashantee by the English;
the defeat Of Italy in Abyssinia; the an
nexation Of Bechuanaland to Cape
Colony; the subjugation of Madagascar
by France; the British campaign in
Upper Egypt; and the British protec-
torate established over Zanzibar.
bune.
The progress Of sci.
o 1o"o ~ ence in 1896 will make
ooo' that year memorable
in the annals of civilization. By far the
greatest achievement Of the year in
science was the discovery last January of
the wonderful X ray by Prof. Roentgen,
of Wurzburg university, a discovery
that at once set every scientist in the
world to experimenting in his labor
atory, with results that have increased
almost every month since in interest
and importance. The mysterious X ray
has been applied in variety of ways.
and almost always with surprising re-
suits, indicating that this new discovery
may revolutionize our civilization much
as electricity has done in it's many ap-
plications. By it's aid Investigators are
now hopefully attempting the solution
of problems heretofore deemed almost
impossible, and the world of science
seems standing at the threshold of a
new era.
The old problem of navigating the air,
with its record of luckless experimenters,
from Dedalus down I. the death of
Prof. Lillienthal of Germany, seems
somewhat nearer solution through the
OF Maxim with his motor
ship. Prof. Langley with his aerodrome.
and William A. Eddy. of New Jersey.
who has made the nearest approach to
flying through the air with his kitslike
A mere enumeration Of the other i'm
portant discoveries during the year is
impossible in this hssty glance, but the
great improvements in photography,
the continued advance in the applica.
tions of electricity, the improvements of
the telautograph and the devising of a
multiplex telegraph. together with such
Inventions as the eophone, vitascope.
Lumier's cinematographe, the telectro-
scope, by which sight is telephoned, en-
abling takers at distance to see face
to face. are sufficient of themselves to
make the year notable one in the rec.
ords OF science. Inventions of warlike