1000 YEARS HENCE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 20

1000 YEARS HENCE

WORLD OF THE PTJTUEE

SCIENTIST'S DREAM

In 1000 years' time some very definite and vital changes will have taken place. Mankind has occupied this earth for so short a period that it is difficult to convince him that his ideas of permanence are foolish from the geological standpoint. For the same reason it is not easy to, establish the relativity of bur existence qr to forecast a probable event unless it'can be done by means of a comparison with the past. to note any gradual change or tendency by producing the curve of progress which represents'this alteration in the world's aspects, is a perfectly reasonable procedure, and has, indeed, been employed by science upon many occasions, writes Professor A. M. Low in the Adelaide '' Observer." ,' Human beings expect more speed and more comfort every day. By bearing this in mind it is not so very difficult a matter to determine some of the more intriguing conditions under which our children's children many time removed will live. Conceive how mankind is improving in speed of action,> and above all in speed of thought. The business man of to-day wastes hours of his life in sleeping, eating, and dressing. Certainly in 1000 years, although this is almost microscopic from the physiological standpoint, his characteristics will have totally altered. , It is. possible that eyes, teeth, and hair will have diminished in value and importance. I cannot conceive that it will be considered reasonable to attire oneself in a mass of insanitary, garments which cannot be sterilised when a-one-piece suiting made permeable to ultra-violet light and to health-giving rays with which our homes will be cleansed, would save time, save money, and giye greater eventual comfort. The business man would not be content with a cold house, for in those far-off days we shall have electricity, not only cheaper in its production, but more effective in its employment. We- would, not be content as we are to-day with H per cent, as the efficiency of electric light. The world Will bo so small, for ifr will be nothing to travel at 400, 500, and perhaps 600 miles an hour in perpetual sunlight, until we can bring India as near to England as Scotland is to-day. I always feel that old ladies of' that period, if any will allow themselves to be called old, in times when the internal secreting glands will have been understood, will mistake Ffan.ee for Ireland in their journeys rather than Tooting for Clapham Common. Our ancestors used to point with pride at cattle trucks which: represented their ideal of comfort on the railway, and to-day, we complain if .the soup ■is -cold on a non-stop train from London, to Edinburgh. Certainly in 1000 years' time a man will never be out of touch with his home or business, he will be able at the command of a button to communicate with any of his far-flung branches, and he will take as much interest in the happenings of America'and Australia as to-day he does in the events in a neighbour's house. During the last. few years medical science has seen many changes, but it seems obvious that if. tO-Say we talk lightly of increasing the 'span of life or of transplanting a human ear from one person to another, the time will come when this process will be extended, and it may be that the prolongation of existence will be compuJsoj-T •?«ni^ ?? that ttevtSen-oW ma n : will finish his existence-with very few of his bodily components which we're nis own at birth. Science has discovered how skins, may be grown, how a chicken's heart may be kept beating, for,years. Are we to imagine 1000 years' discoveries in surgery will not more than equal those of .the past few centuries? - • . It is. not improbable that new rays will be discovered which will cure common ills. How couia it be possible for the busy person, thinking m fifths of seconds'in 1000 years' time, to waste hours in a train or weeks asleep in bed? It may be possible to avoid luch stomach slavery as takes place to-day. We may take our meals in a f 6w moments, and inject life, rest, and even' education by electrical methods which to-day seem but the wildest circcini. In less than five centuries it is probable women will have outgrown the physical disabilities which have prevented .their coping with men upon equal grounds. Education will certainr^ispHv ? r°cess ' and " will not surprise the wireless announcer of 2929 4428 mark.tliat^Mrs. Jones (No. p 4r?meOn^nist rer ter) . The State will take a stronger hand m education, in marriage permits and ! n I should expect to hear that children" are being looked after by he State that mothfrs will be aMe to choose the colour of theii babies' hair and their sex; while the nurse of the period will gently recommend the injection of a little poetry in order to counteract the last arrival's violet antipathy to whatever abomination of combined music, noise, and light shall have replaced the jazz band of idIT IiJS?If :S CltieS) Streets warmed and lighted, with aeroplane landings on the roof would not surprise me at all I shall expect the man in 1000 years to mmsm