Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-19

fly through the air. but had no eXpecta-
tion Of being propelled by steam. In
that year, after his Goth ascension. died
Francois Blanchard, first aeronaut to
cross the English Channel. In the farm
sheds of the world there was, perhaps.
not single plow with iron or steel
mouldboard. The harvest hands in the
wheatiields OF all countries from Poland
to the Alleghanies cut their grain with
sickles. The most rapid transit on the
earth or sea was the sailing vessel, and
that might be surpassed in speed by
race horses
Mans knowledge Of nature was only
rudimentary. Uranus was then the
outside member of the solar system.
The first four asteroids had been dis
covered I'm the ten preceding years Sir
Iiumphry Davy was Just recovering from
the nervous fever with which Ne was
prostrated on his discovery of sodium and
potassium. The greatest telescope Of
the world was the 20-foot reflector OF the
elder Herschel. Young Fraunhofer In
the institute of Munich. was experiment.
Ing with his lenses and prisms. trying TO
analyzc the solar spectrum.
The social and domestic life OF man
kind was equally far away. In Great
Britain the system of servtude was still
protected. Only a year before, the slave
trade in the United States had been
openly practiced by the merchants Of
Boston. under the Constitution. In the
home life Of England. the right Of hus-
bands 10 whip their wives as freely as
they might whip their slaves was de
Hied by few scOffers, who had no In
fluence.
IN POLITICS.
In the political state or the world his
NJ n
had appointed Napoleon 10 lead a revo-
lutionary storming party against the
ancient order in Europe. The EurOpeai
countries were crouchine down close tc
the walls. hoping that the storm might
mass. and that they might again emerge
10 Sit on thrones and hunt in parks. ana
gather beauty Of doubtful reputation
into courts where fashion reigned ant
virtue was not even remembered.
In our own country the third Virginian
President had in the preceding spring
come TO the chief maglstracy Of the young
reDublic. Our brief Federal ascendenc,
had Welded to a moderate democracy i'm
personated IN Madison and his secretary
of state. Hamilton was FIVE years dead
Henry Clay was leader OF the house. The
elder Adams was contributing TO the
Boston Patriot letters I'm defence of his
policy while President. Children born
on the day of the death OF Washington
were completing their tenth year. Pitt
and Fox were three years dead. On the
9Th of July Napoleon fought his great
battle of Wagram and on the 10th OF De-
cember ne divorced Josephine.
IL was under these conditions and these
stars that William T.. Gladstone was
born. His life line has been drawn length
wise through the century but other great
lines are there also. Gladstone did not
cor,e or 20 alone. The year 1863 was as
conspicous for it's human products as had
Deen that forteth preceding year whIca
brought into being the two world con-
luerors. Humboldt and Bonap9rte. The
planetary tug was powerful in 1909. On
the 18th Of February In this year and
OH the same day came into
the world Charles Robert Darwin in Eng
land. and Abraham Lincoln in America.
In this year also was born Alfred Tenny-
son. chief singer Of the Victorian era.