CENTURY OF PROGRESS IN ENGLAND.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1120, 23 August 1882, Page 2

CENTURY OF PROGRESS IN ENGLAND.

_ « . The last hundred years have seen in England the most sudden change in our material and external' life that is, perhaps, recorded in our history. It is curious how n_any things date from 1770 to 1870. The use of steam in manufactures and locomotion by sea and land, the enormous growth of population, the chhnge from a rural to a town life, the portentous growth of the Empire, the vast expansion of sea power, of commerce, of manufactures, of wealth,' of intercommunication, of the post ; then the use of gas, electricity, telegraphs, telephones, steam presses, sewing machines, air engines,

and all the rest. Evrly in th- last century, England was one of the lesser kingdoms of Kurope, but onethird in size and nnmbers of France and Germany.* Now it is in size twenty times — as big as either. London then was only one of a dozen cities in Europe, hardly of the area of Manchester or Leeds!. It is now the biggest and most populous city in recorded history, nearly equal, we suppose, in size and population to all tho capitals of Europe put together. One hundred years ago to have lit this theatre as it is now lighted, would have cost, we suppose, £50 and the labor of two or three men for au hour fo light and snuff and extinguish the candles. It is now done for a shilling by a man in three minutes. A hundred years ago to have taken us all to our homes tonight would have cost, we suppose, on an average 5s a head and two hours' weary jolting. We trust we may all get home to-night for 4d or gd a head at the most in half an hour. If you wanted an answer from a friend in Dublin or Edinburgh it would hay© cost you by post (one hundred years ago) about 2s in money and a fortnight in time. You now get an answer" in thirty minutes for twopence, or a penny if you .ire as brief as the Prime Minister. A hundred years ago, if you wanted to go there, it Avould have taken you a week, and you would have to make your will. You can now go in a day, and come back the next day. — Fortnightly Review.