The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-31
Daily Ea9Ie
NJ. N. MURDOCH. Editor.
THE BEST OF 1897.

But one more day of 1897 remains TO
be lived through. In many respects it
has been an eventful year, not for any
single overshadowing calamity or pre-
eminent triumph. But much has been
accomplished and many things added to
those which go TO make up the sum of
human progress and of happiness. In
the realms of science, invention, art, in
duStry stateScraft and other sources of
blessings much has been learned and
acquired. The Chicago Times-Heraid
the other day had number of eminent
men interviewed as TO what in their
opinion had been the greatest achieve
ment Of the year now so nearly ended.
Each man, it seems, confined himself
to the world in which he is active and
particularly interested. The result Of
these inrerviesw were as follows:
ReligiOn-Rev. Bishop Henry c. Pot
ter gave as his opinion that the great
conference of bishops held in Lambeth
was the foremost religious event of the
passing year, in that it was step for
ward toward church unity, not of cere-
monial. but of purpose. Lyman Abbott
held that the church congress Of last
March in London, when representatives
of 100000 people assembled and har-
moniously discussed church unity, was
the great religious event Of the year.
iIlofs+ a. "a t.lU %
as his opinion that in his field of work
the mere proposition to establish ma
tional university at Washington, under
the control of the government, was the
greatest and best event of the year 10
the educators of the United States.
Art-Charles Henry Hart expressed
the opinion that the completion and ,
opening of the Congressional library at
Washington avs the crowning event Of
1851.
Literature-S. S. Mcclure regarded |
the most important literary event of the |
year the publication of Rudyard Kip |
ling's "RecessiOnal."
Science-Thomas A. Edison saw moth |
ing of really great Importance, all the |
discoveries and inventions of the year !
having been on strictly technical lines
of 1896. The discovery of a new gas in
addition TO argOn and helium, he held |
TO be of some Importance.
Architecture - Daniel II. Burnham
gave as his opinion that the appoint
ment of Lyman Gage as secretary of
the treasury was an event contributing
more 90 architecture than any other oc-
cr1rrence. in that Mr.. Gage fearlessly
placed over the bureau of supervising
architecture a capable Official and is
pledged TO open the government work
TO the skilled architects of the country.
Astronomy-Prof. s. w. Burnham
placed the erection of the Yerkes tele
scope first and foremost of all events in
the astronomical world for the year.
Labor-M. ]. Carroll gave as the
greatest achievement of labor the real
ization of the benefits of eight-hOur Ia
Dor days.
Industry-S V. Burr had no doubt but
that Thomas A. EdiSOn's ore concen-
trating plant at Edison, \. j., was the
greatest industrial event of the year.
Railroads - Rosewll Miller averred
that the realized benefits of the com
pound engins was the greatest achieve
ment in the railroad sphere in 1897.
Drama-Lyman B. Glover placed the
fact of our leading actors having dem
onstaated that we need no longer look
to Europe for the best art as the years
greatest event in dramatic circles.
Society-Mrs. John Sherwood placed
the Bradley Martin costume ball in
New York last February as the most
discussed. most written about and most
absurd affair of the season.
General -Chauncey NJ. Depew placed
the return of material prosperity TO the
seventy odd millions of people who Oc-
cupy this small slice of the earth as the
greatest event Of the year. He came TO
this conclusion after a discussion of the
discovery of gold in the Klondike. the
consolidation of New York with the en-
vironing bOroughs and the great spec
tacular queens jubilee.