The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-01-07
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.


1.-THE dawn of a new era in the annals
of time-the twentieth century. In
one more year we will stand on the
threshold Of another century, with IFS
wonderful. and now unknosn, reall-
ties, and will look back with some
thing AKIN 10 veneratiOn at the CEN
fury which 10 now fast ebbing away.
The nineteenth century has been the
most wonderful of all 10 the history
OF the world. In education, in
science. art, invention, religion,
morals, and in the betterment OF the
human family, it has outstripped all
its predecessors. 1t has done more
for humanity than perhaps all the
other centuries combined. When we
look back over the pages of history
aud read there the struggle OF a
thousand years the worlds inbabl-
tants have undergone in the. gradual
unfolding Of human possibilities, aud
note the slow, but steady, evolution
OF human character, we are struck
with the time it has taken the human
race to attain its present state OF per-
lection. But perhaps we should not
arrogate to the nineteenth century all
the glory of an age of civilization. for
every one of the dark ages, as well as
those that are bright, have done their
part 10 bringing man to his present
state. zone eternal purpose" runs
through the ages, and that purpose,
known only to the Great God above
US, is steadily being accomplished
through His earthly agency-man.
II the millennium is yet thousand
or more years off, think what this
world will be thousand years from
now.
In only one respect is the nine
teenth century behind its predeces-
sors, and that is in literature. While
We can boast of Byron, a Scott, a
Burns, Longfellow or Tenayson,
we have yet to produce, in this lat
ter day, Shakespeare, Homer, a
Dante, or Milton. But in every
other calling and 'avocation of life,
in this great, busy, breathing world
around US, the present century
eelipses all others. Human life has
had greater safeguards thrown around
it; freedom Of the press is guaranteed
to every civilized nation; freedom of
speech, freedom of rellgion-the
greatest blessing and the greatest
triumph the world has ever attained
constitutions safeguards to prop
erty rights and personal liberties
all these have been given TO man by
his fellow man during this century.
The world is now progressing, we
think, very fast. The scales that be-
clouded the eye for centuries have
dropped off and the mind rises above
the mist of superstition and ignof-
ance that inveloped it and looks out
upon the broad page Of nature and
reads there the lesson that q Great
Being teaches TO the sons of men.
In the gradual emancipation OF
thought the mind has become clearer
and clearer, until to-day man stands
on the pinnacle Of intellectual de-
: velopment and grapples with the
great problems Of eternity. The
elements are made to obey his will !;
the lightning is made to do his bid
ding the secret storehouses OF mother
earth have been opened and her in
exhaustible treasures she pours into
the lap Of her children. Alchemy has
evolved from mere confusion of
mystical practices, and the world
finds relief from its countless ills in
the manifold discoveries of chemistry.
"The occult srt"is no longer hid
, den art, screened by veil OF super
stitious mummery, but an open, uni
versal art, known to all the world,
dissipating its blessings with free
hand wherever the banner of civili-
cation has unfurlcd its folds.
In the nineteenth century, as in
the others past, the world has been
drenched in blood, set not to such an
extent as formerly. Warefare OF the
present day is conducted on a more
elevated scale. Men are not butch
cred like sheep as in the centuries
gone, and man has for man more
brotherly feeling all of which is due