Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-01-18
THE FUTURE OF MAN
POSSIBLE CHANGES THAT MAY COME
IN COURSE OF TINE.
Some Scientific Prophecies ms to the
Ncw Conditions Tint VIII Govern
our Brains, Our bodies and our
Environments.

Here are some of the most remarkable
prophecies ever ventured by men of
science. TO learned savants in our various
scientific institutions | have lately nd
dressed this question: Looking as far
into the future MS your minds eye can
see, what changes are likely to occur to
our brains. bodies and environments"
"Man of the distant future" says Pro
fcssor Otis Mason, twill occupy n belt
near the equator. The earth is cooling,
and as result the Eskimo must leave
the polar regions. Later, the Yankee
must quit New England. All savage pco-
pies will be eliminated from the earth.
The entire human race will be brunette.
The blond people were once brunettes
and became as they are through some
process of interviewing. The convolu-
tons of the brain will be larger and will
admit much greater blood flow to carry
on the commerce Of the mind Man will
he stronger physically. His hands and
feet will be much smaller. Labor saving
machinery will reduce physical labor. but
an increase of athletics will make the
race stronger. Disappearance of small
printing type will leave the eyes much
stronger. The ear can never take the
place of the eye until some other hcav-
my DOlN NuH ne SUBSTITUTED LOT lHt SUN.
The hat will vanish aud the hair will i'm
prove.
"Thc home of this age will be n great
communal dwelling, where all people of
the same knship will live under the
same roof--children, parents, grandpar
cnts, unclcs, aunts and cousins. Rapid
transit will eliminate skyscrapers, and in
creased naturalization Of life will rem
der cooperation more necessary. Scpa-
rate establishments, such as the corner
grocery. will be considered absurdities Of
bygonc days. rs will also the keeping of
servants. Chemically pure drinking wa
ter will free the cells Of the body from
mineral matter and permit man to live
TO the age of Mcthusclah. Compressed
foods will never come into use. If they
should, the stomach would atrophy. The
death Of an infant will be an exception.
whereas today one-half of the human
race never mature. The deadly microbe
will suffer the fate of such dangerous an
imal pests rs have already been made ex-
tinct. People who spread disease will
be considered as enemies to mankind,
punishable by severe penalties. Dress
will be more perfectly adapted to com
fort. health. longevity and beauty"
/ DIR. Theodore y. Gill. the eminent BIZ
oogist of the Smithsonian. said that the
wisdom teeth would disappear, rs would
possibly the vcrmform appendix and the
little toe. "Man himself" said he, lis
n striking evidence OF the fact that he
was not specially created. He is not
only like the ape but bears the impress
of many inferior stocks. The appendix,
for instance, was inherited from ances
tors to whom it was important and came
~. "a.
| forms. somewhat like marsupials. 1t
may disappear to n slight extent. The
gray matter of the brain may increase
somewhat in bulk. but cercbration is not
dependent upon size of brain Some Of
the most intellectual have small brains.
1t is possible that the little toe will dis
appear, but doubtful. 1t has its use in
giving greater basis to the foot doubt
whether there will be an increase in stat
urc. especially since in the future intel
lectuality will become more and more
predominant over brute force. IIygienic
and sanitary progress will have an appre-
ciable effect upon the average length Of
human life. but longevity dependent upon
improved physical conditions cannot be
anticipated | doubt if the hair will de
crease. The more civilized have thick
er growth upon their faces than lower
orders of men. Undoubtedly there will
be many changes which cannot be fore
told"
in the first place, every man will be
white" said Professor w. J. MCGEE, the
noted ethnologist. in reply to the qucs-
ton. His average height and weight
will be decidedly greater His head will
be larger, absolutely and relatively. His
hands and brain will be better co-ordi-
mated. and therefore he will be a better
mechancan. His vision will he stron-
ger, his sense of smell more acute and
his hearing and sense Of taste more deli
cate. On the whole. the man of the fu-
ture will be stronger in relation to stat
, ure and weight. He will live under a
universal. republican government, but it
is doubtful whether any one administra-
tive head will be required. Disputes be
tween individuals, corporations or states
will be settled by courts of various mag
: nitudc. There will be a universal Ian
guage composite of all present
tongues, but, like the English, Ian
guage OF vocables and syntaX. Written
and spoken language will be more sim
liar.
Fish will be relatively more impor'
tant as food. Oceans and lakes will be the
, main sources of food supply. Land will be
almost entirely occupied for dwelling anC
for horticulture and intensive agricul
ture Need OF clothing will diminish
( Control of temperature will be met by
) other than our present retail methods
} There will be no serious exposure to cold
In winter men will travel in well heated
r vehicles. carrying them from one warn
| building to another Ozone will be sole
I at drug stores and will be applied to xii
bacilli as soon as they appear, Th'
earth will be an endless succession o
suburbs Cities will meanwhile grow les
and less dense. The street block or ROW
l. will be no more. The home will be NOR
. individual each family occupying sep
: arate house to suit its peculiar taste
Transportation will be chiefly electric ant
will be much more rapid as n result o
strengthening and multiplication o
, tracks. Aerial navigation will be valu
able only for sports and amusement. |
y will moi be n factor in warfare, becaus
there will be no warfare. Submarin
navigation will be valuable only ms
o means OF escape from storms Vessel
= will be equipped with means Of divin
l. and remaining below the surface unit
t storms blow over. Perfection of teegra
ply will decrease mail business. A
v children will receive the foundations o
$ their education in public schools. On
r. versities and private institutions OF learn
t ing will give only special training. Chi
drcn will have to study less. will lear