Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-27
Chances oil Tie Contra CENTURY.

In view of what the 10th century has
seen accomplished. the wonderful ad-
vancemcnt made and the miraculous
changes wrought, where shall we stop
when VIC talk of what the Goth cen
fury will do for the human race? The
Imagination reels at the probabilities
and the possibilities presented. Con-
trast the social conditions of 100 years
ago with those of today; compare the
limited means of transportation and
communication then existing with
those that have made the world so
much smaller: contemplate the stu
pcndous stride forward which the
world has taken in all lines of human
activity. commercial, industrial, scien-
tific. religious, military, humanitarian
educational, and the -rest-think of
these things and then do not laugh at
tho visions of any prophet who dis
courses on the wonders of the coming
century.
1t is not unlikely that the general
mode of living in 1000 will be as differ
ent from that of 1900 as that of 1900 is
from that of 1900. Our ways will very
likely seem old fashioned and utterly
intolerable when a century has passed.
Twentieth century progress in sc1en-
tific lines, will solve the problems of
aerial and submarine navigation; VIII
double speed and minimize danger on
railroads and oceans; will destroy the
smoke dust and noise nusanceS III the
great cities; will perfect wireless teleg-
raphy: will make the engines of war
so fearfully destructive and irresistible
that wars will be unknown; will give
the medical and surgical professions
powers now undreamed of; will give
us new kinds of fuel probably cleo
tricity: will bring us into communica-
ton with our. sister planets; will make
plain the mysteries of the earth's past
which are now called inscrutable: and
will. in short. accomplish much now
deemed impossible along known lines
and work miracles along lines yet UNI
tried. -e
When the dying days of the goth CEN
fury have come they will see less of
religious bigotry in the world They
will see fewer monarchs upon their
thrones They will see no struggle be-
tween capital and labor. They will see
no mourning over abandoned farms, no
tenement house problem. no challenge
of a negro's right to vote, no attack
upon the nations financial honor.
They will see the blessings of educa-
ton more widely diffused, art more
generally appreciated, and the story of
the Cross told and believed where
countless millions now know it not.
And yet the millennium will not be
here at the end of another century.
There will be new problems left to
solve and more advancement yet to
make The world will be better but
will not be perfect. our great grand
children will look forward to the 2lst
century with much the same feelings
that we have toward the goth. For the
worlds story has countless chapters.
and the centuries and cycles will be
many before the fun purpose of crca-
ton is completed. Many things there
are that will not change amid all the
transformations of the coming century.
Among them, the old story of love vii!
still be as new as it ever has been.
The words mother" and home" will
still be the dearest in our changing
language. The Bible will still be the
Book of Books. And our republic,
whose foundation is liberty, whose
superstructure peace" will still stand
glorious and ma jestic mistaken by
ha CT nf