ONE HUNDRED YEARS HENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 19

ONE HUNDRED YEARS HENCE

Prizes recently were offered by .the "Manchester Guardian" for a synopsis of the official programme of some cen- . tehary celebrations , organised in 2036 by'ihe British Government. tin the whcl^ i.he entries were re-assuring,-said the ;u'dge. The celebrations; all seemed to be taking place in an age of peace and (presumably) progress. But a closer analysis •of the programmes showed that in very few cases had this peace been at all easily won. Prolonged wars, prolonged National "Governments, even prolonged statesmen (for Mr. Lloyd George was an attraction on one of the broadcasting programmes) ' lie between us and the Government a hundred years hence. Only a few competitors had the courage to expect a miracle before the end of the year which is to result in an all-round sobering of dictators and will start a period of good will which is to be so popular that even after a hundred ye.ars Englishmen have not. tired of rejoicing at it. One of the most miraculous of. the miracles was confidently announced from London:

On ,October 16 occurs the centenary of the publication of Mr. Gubbins's winning entry in a "Manchester Guardian" competition, Public Indignation, justly roused by this feeble and egotistical effort's ■ success, .brought. self--aggrandisement Into such derision and disrepute as eventually to lead to, the downfall of all dictators.

But, apart from miracles, of that sort, there seem to be three ways of achieving peace. One is a totalitarian world on Fascist lines, another is international Socialism, and the third is complete ("Shape of Things to Come") destruction; The Fascist celebrations, though numerically fewer than the other two sorts/were on the grandiose level we have learned to expect. They commemorated, 'among other events, the death of,' the League of ■-. Nations, Mr. Chamberlains.-first, re-armament Budget, Rudyard Kipling, v and the consolidation1 of: Fascism in Abyssinia and Spain ("victory directly assisted by the British Government, weakened though it was by Red sympathies").

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The scenes which, unless some of the longevity discoveries assumed in certain entries ar.e realised, we ourselves shall never live to see include: Mussoliniday, 10 a.m.: Broadcast by Hie Lender and announcement of amnesty for. 2,!100,000 political prisoners (minor offenders Compulsory Rocket .Race to Moon-by Britain's Ten racifisls. National Television Theatres: "Gimga Din." (OfTieinl attendance, compulsory..)! . But a Sheffield entry pithily summed up the whole idea:' ■ .- . . >-. Speeches. ■■■.■■-, Military processions for several days similar to those of last century except that no stands are necessary, all the population being in the processions. ♦ More speeches. The celebration of a Socialist world, though no less enthusiastic, were less spectacular—perhaps troops, at any. rate in large'masses,; Avill by then-have been liquidated. . : ; The first prize went to:— in connection with the fias-ediilniioo" Population Centenary, local authorities shouldmako their own arrangements regarding tableaux, exhibitions, etc., showing the advance from the early mask to the new antidotal method bj internal application.'- A" comedy depicting he. former fear of raids will be televised, for Invalids and others forced to stay indoors. The efficacy Illustration of the recently distributed antidote, however, .will include everybody. A form. . ■ .. The second prize to:— Celebrntlbns commemorating the birth of the ■vitnloßist Auimo, discoverer of perpetual re■""immortailty attained? Anlmo leads mass pat™mt in Hyde.VSuperbium. (Universally "Life In 1930: Stercotones showing."old" men and women, primitive aeros, children "miderfed." citizens "unemployed," "diseased, etc. (Universally rndioyised*) .. : . Anti sleep drill: One hour's -compulsory Anlmd Ke-Vita Culture. '(Direction universally radio-; V Pioneer Kejuveniles:-; Ethel, Mannin, f1 ™'"- tlcist. radiates on "Woman's. ..Revolt Against Freedom." Oswald Mosley, recluse, on My Conversion . from Buddhism to.. Mohammedani ism " George B. Shaw, egologist. on , Frol>lems of My Adolescence." (Universally radio--1 vised.;