The Wonderful Century, Its Successes and Its Failures (Classic Reprint)

PRBFAOE. THE pl'eSe~lt work is not in any sense a history, even on the Inost limited scale. It may perhaps be termed an appreciation of the century-of what it has done, and what it has left undone. The attempt has been made to giye short, descriptive sketches of those great nlaterial !lnd intellectual achieyements which especially distinguish the nineteenth century fl'om any and all of its predecessors.. and to 'sho'I" ho,v fundamental is the change they haye effected in our life and civilization. A comparative estimate of the number and ilnportance of these achieyements leads to the conclusion that not only is our c.elltury superior t.o any.that have gone be, fore it, but that it may be bcst compared with the whole pI'cceding historical period. It luust thereforo bo held tq constitute the beginning of 2. new era of humall progress. But this is only one side of the shield. A10ng with these marvellous- Successes-perhaps in consequence of theln-thel'o hayo bee

Table of Contents

CONTENTS; PAnT I-SUCCESSES,; CHAPTER; 1 :'10DES OF TRAVELLING,; II LABOlt-SAVING lIIACIIINEltY,; Ill THE CO)"''VEYA~CE OF TnOUGHT; IV FIRE AND LIGHT,; V NEW ApPLlCATIO~S OF LWnT--PrrOTOOHAPIIY; PAGE; 1; 12; 17; 24; 81; / VI NEW ApPLICATIO~S OF LIHHT-SPECTRu~r ANALYSIS, 42; VII Tm';ORETICAL DISCOYERIES I:S PHYSICS, 51; VIII MINOR ApPLICATIONS OF PHYSICAl PHI~CIPM:'8, 59; IX THlli IMPORTANCE OF DUST-A SounCE OF BEAUTY; A~D ESSENTIAL TO LIFE, 69; X A FEW 01