A PROPHETIC FORECAST.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4166, 28 November 1884, Page 4

A PROPHETIC FORECAST.

We quote the following glimpse into the future from a pamphlet entitled The Twentieth Century : — " We have not space to do more than give a brief sketch of tho marvels of the coining century, when tho journey to America will take fewer seconds than it now does days; ■when over almost invisible wires stretched from Liverpool to New York, the intelligent emigrant of the future will be carried over the ocean in trains, whose motive power will be supplied by concentrated solar rays; when the agonies of sea-sickness will be unknown, and steam or sailing vessels will only; be seen in museums. "Instead of keeping a horse and carriage, or a bicycle; instead of dusty walks on earth, the weary student, the tired artisan, or the youthful lover of the twentieth century, will take his recreation among the evening stars, or in a balloon trip to New Zealand. Dining in Londou, aud supping with the Maori—returning by aerial-elec-trical railway, or the electro-motor balloon, as chance o/iuclination may direct.

" The elegant furniture of those railway trains and balluous, tte gorgeous costumes of the attendant electricians and air meu, will by eoinparisun make the boasted civilisatisn and refinment of the present century things to be ashamed of. Instead of Mugby Junction sandwiches, all mustard and no ham ; instead of the week-before-last buns, or cofi'ee ignorant of the fragrant berry; delicious, nchcrche, costly meals of sweet and fragrant viands, served in elegantlj shaped dishes of tho most exquinile workmanship, and of r.irc and beautiful metals, washed down by choice and priceless wines served in crystal goblets, of form and pattern beside which the ■most cherished specimen of Venetian art seems crude. "How delightful is such atrip? The moon has risen, the sun appears as though sinking into the waters beneath, the stars ny& begiuning to Bhino like diamonds hi tho heavens above us, and a silence as of death is around. Not a breath disturbs tho

monotony of the strange scene,-but here and there piles of curiously-sbnped flowers, gold and purplc-hued, tinged •• with a glorious rose-color by the rays of the setting, sun, float above and on all sides of us,' while occasionally, as we fly swiftly onwards with a speed that makes us seem stationary, and the sea and horizon to be in motion, a gigantic duplicate of the wondrous machine we sit in is reflected on the tinted clouds.

" Suddenly a degree of bustle is obseeved, and leaning from the side of our balloon; we see a magnificent city apparently coming gradually up to meet us. Beyond the crowd of palaces churches, and houses, lie cultivated lands and lordly mansions, with strange animals grazing round, and enormous trees of unknown growth. Like silver threads are seen the winding rivers amid thickly-wooded bill? and fertile fields. " Add to this that the whole scene is bathed in glowing moonlight, that _ other aerials are passing and re-passing in all directions, some cutting through the air with vast rapidity, , and others- floating along like'an after-dinner eagle taking his pleasure saunter, and we feel that . We may be wafted to another sphere,

And view the boundless territories,

Of sun-kinga formed in other moulds than those Of earthly ken. " We have hardly time to note the solemn grandeur of the scene before the lofty towers become more visible, the gilded domes and quaintly-carved minarets come nearer and nearer to xin.' The sound of voices and chime of bells mingled with ; the lowing of cattle are distinctly audible, and numerous small aerials shoot rapidly upward to meet us." ■ ■■••■

Such will be the highway to America years hence. Meanwhile we have to be contented with the seven days' trip and its accompanying miseries of mat dc mcr, its dangers of shipwreck and fire, and the tedious monotony of gazing at nothing but sea and sky. If the Leeds gentleman can bring his invention to perfection, he will indeed confer a boon upon his fellow creatures. To America and back in one week ! We can imagine how the tired and jaded clerk would look forward to his annual holiday, and the rush there would be for tickets,' the influx of Englishmen to America, and Americans to England.