The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-02-12
MAN is DOUBLING.
Greatest Inventions of the World
PoOhed at by the Skeptical.


PoOhed mt by the Skeptical.
The most cataclysmal of all inven-
tions-that of gunpowder (Which, by
the way, was probably invented twice,
for Greek fire must have been the same
thing, used with an imperfect knowl-
edge of its propelling power)-and the
one which most affected the organiza-
ton of society by destroying the value
of armor and equalizing the power Of
men of different sizes, took generation
to spread abroad, and when itdid spread
hardly affected the relative strength Of
the nations.
If such an invention were discovered
now the papers would ring with
prophecies probably ola German or Brit
ish conquest of the world, which would
not happen bit the faster for all the
appropriations" 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
ity 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-
ton 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 10
talk together as individuals do, it has
produced no consequences. 1t is, we
suppose, possible that somebody may
discover way of destroying fleet
from n balloon, and thus deprive the
richest nation of its maritime ~advan-
tages, but mode of counteracting 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 preparation
which would destroy or neutralize all
hostile bacteria, germs, spores, orwhat-
ever they call the injurious atoms, is.
at all events, conceivable, but ii 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
dence really as strong as that which
demonstrates any arithmetical PROPOSE
ton.
From all that, what deduction? Sim
ply this: That the readiness to take
alarm. which is one handspring of mod
ern credulity, is not justified either by
experience or theory, and that men
should receive all announcements Of
cataclysmal discovery or inventionwith
willingness TO inquire, and a quiet
conviction that if false they do not mat
ter and If true they will affect things
very slowly, and will develop counter
vailing and restraining influences. Ac-
cording to science meteorite big
enough TO shatter the world might
strike it,. and bring even labor troubles
or the German emperor's experiments
to an end, but the universe is governed
by powers before which even science is
very ignorant, and judging from all ex-
perience the meteorite will either be
shattered in time or just miss us in it's
course through space.-London Spec
fntnr