Cornhill Magazine,  3 (1861), 755–60.

Roundabout Papers.—No. XIII. On a Hundred Years Hence

[William M Thackeray]

Genre:

Regular Feature, Editorial, Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Scientism, Microscopy, Wonder, Entomology, Mathematics, Zoological Gardens


    After complaining of the prevalence in society of petty personal gossip spread by mendacious 'anecdote-mongers', the narrator proposes that instead 'We will range the fields of science, dear madam, and communicate to each other the pleasing results of our studies. We will, if you please, examine the infinitesimal wonders of nature through the microscope. We will cultivate entomology. We will sit with our arms round each other's waists on the pons asinorum, and see the stream of mathematics flow beneath. [...] We will go to the Zoological Gardens and talk freely about the gorilla and his kindred, but not talk about people who can talk in their turn'. Concludes, however, that 'People will go on talking about their neighbours, and won't have their mouths stopped by cards, or ever so much microscopes and aquariums'. (760)


Reprinted:

Thackeray 1863


© Science in the Nineteenth-Century Periodical Project, Universities of Leeds and Sheffield, 2005 - 2020

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