St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-03-19
MAN is DoueTINc.


Greatest Inventions Of the Worla
Poohed Mt by the skeptical.
The most cataclysmal of all inven-
tions-that Of gunpowder (which, by
the way, was probably invented twice,
thing, used with an imperfect knowl-
edge of its propelling power)-and the
one which most affected the organiza-
:ion of society by destroying the value
of armor and equalizing the power of
men of different sizes, took a generation
to spread abroad, and when it did spread
hardly affected the relative strength of
the nations.
If such an invention were discovered
now the papers would ring with
prophecies probably ofa German or Brit
ish conquest of the world, which would
not happen a bit the faster for all the
'appreciations." Printing was grand
discovery, and though it did not help
the Chinese much, did help Europeans
great deal. but it did not help them
suddenly, and for the immense major
isy of mankind it might just as well
never have occurred. Steam is grand
discovery, but it has not upset the
world, it has been utilized only by de-
grees, and, like printing. the mass of
mankind know very little about it, one
third of the human race, indeed, de-
nouncing it as something which ''haazes
and maazes the blessed fealds."
The discovery Of the way to harness
lightning, which excites the imagina-
tion even of poets, is one of the greatest
man has ever made, but it has upset
nothing except newspaper arrange
ments, and beyond enabling nations to
talk together as individuals do, it has
produced no consequences. 1t is, We
suppose. possible that somebody may
discover a way Of destroying a fleet
from a balloon, and thus deprive the
richest nation OF its maritime advan-
tages, but a mode Of fcounteracting that
discovery would probably be found at
the same time and the balance of mari |
time power would remain unchanged.
There never can be an elixir Of life.
because all men are sentenced to cap
ital punishment, but q preparation |
which would destroy or neutralize all |
hostile bacteria, germs, spores, or what |
ever they call the injurious atoms, is,
at all events, conceivable, but it would |
be years before it greatly influenced the |
permanent health even Of races bright |
enough to believe in the physicians |
opinions. Remember the savage oppo-
sition to vaccination in the teeth of evil |
!ence really as strong as that which /
any arithmetical PROPOSE
tion.
From all that. what deduction? SIM
ply this: That the readiness to take
alarm, which is one handspring of mod
.rn credulity, is not justified either by
experience or theory, and that men
should receive all announcements of
discovery or invention with
, willingness to inquire, and . quiet
that if false they do not mat
er and il true they will affect things
cry slowly, and will develop counter
ailing and restraining influences. Ac-
ording to science a meteorite big
nough 10 shatter the world might
trike it, and bring even labor troubles
II the German emperor's experiments
o an end, but the universe is governed
y powers before which even science il
cry ignorant, and judging from all ex-
'erience the meteorite will either be
battered in time or just miss US in its
curse through space.-London Spec