The Washington herald., 1908-06-09

two years the fire losses OF the United
States have amounted to two and one
half billion dollars The money values
thus wiped out would be enough TO fur
nish 1,25O.000 families with $1,000 homes.
Fireproof buildings will be imperative
necessities as building materials become
scarcer. In the countries Of Europe fur
niture, even in the homes Of the poor
lasts for hundreds az years. Dovetaillng
and the like prevent 1t from ever falling
20 pieces. Who would think OF such
things here? 1t Is cheaper to buy new
paper OF pins than to pick up those scat
tered around. II is cheaper TO use a half
dozen bedsteads that have been glued
together than 20 buy one perfectly made.
1t has been cheaper 10 rebuild a house II
It happened TO burn down than It was to
build good one in the first place. All
Of this argues wonderful prodigallty of
resources. BY the end OF the century
necessity will have caused us to evolve
a plan OF living on the basis Of "once
well done, twice done"
The new century will revolutionize war
fare. and a bold prophet, indeed, Is he
who viii try 10 describe the end-of the
century battle, II perchance brute force
is recognized at all in those days Al
ready the new century, yet In its happy
childhood, has given us the noiseless gun.
II as given us the promise OF airships
which will be effective in time OF war
Every new year brings forth new inven-
tions TO add 20 the hideousness OF the
war monster. and each one OF them be-
speaks such terrible carnage that every
human impulse revolts at the thought.
Each step OF progress in the science OF
war seems TO make the possibilities OF
war more remote.
The health OF humanity will be a mat
ter OF general concern in the days that
are to come. The span OF life will be
heightened. Science will wipe out cpl
denies. Individual understanding Of the
laws OF health will enable US to avoid a
thousand ills. It is not improbable that
necessity will force upon US the Chinese
way OF paying our doctors to keep us
well, instead Of rewardng them for treat
ing US when we are sick. The discovery
OF dirt has been said to be the hygienlc
triumph OF the nineteenth century So
has the practice Of cleanliness been the
triumph OF the twentieth century. Plenty
OF sun. plenty Of pure water, plenty OF
pure food. and Of fresh air for everybody
will be the order OF the years to come.
Trying to keep WELL rather than to cure
disease. viii be the individual policy OF
those days
The application OF the discoveries OF
science to sanitation and hygiene has
already resulted in great Improvement
OF the public health. Our grandfathers
did not dream Of the science Of cleanli-
ness as We know II to-day. The grand
sons Of the more enlightened Americans
Of the first OF the century Will be better
and stronger men In the end Of the CEN
tury When the United States comes tc
the year 1000 with SS5 600. 600 people, It will
be the greatest nation OF history Much
OF the credit for that triumph will be
due 10 tie scientist. who has made pos
sible the intimate daily communication
OF the people all over the broad country
who has made knowledge popular and
cheap, who Is teaching US how to be
clean and healthy. The application OF
science TO daily life means that the peo-
pie OF the end OF the century will be bet
ter men than we are-better physically
better mentally. and better morally
Copyright. 1913. BY Frederic J. Haslin.
/ Tomorrow When America II