THOMAS J. LINDSEY, Editorial Staff Philadelphia “Evening Bulletin.” “THE ART PRESERVATIVE.”

GEORGE A. PACKARD, Metallurgist and Mining Engineer. PROGRESS IN MINES AND MINING.

JOHN V. SEARS, Art Critic Philadelphia “Evening Telegraph.” ART PROGRESS OF THE CENTURY.

J. MADISON TAYLOR, M. D., AND JOHN H. GIBBON, M. D., _Surgeons Out-Patients Departments of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospitals_. THE CENTURY’S ADVANCE IN SURGERY.

FRANK C. HAMMOND, M. D., Instructor in Gynæcology, Jefferson Medical College. PROGRESS OF MEDICINE.

E. E. RUSSELL TRATMAN, C. E., Assistant Editor of “Engineering News,” Chicago, Ill. EVOLUTION OF THE RAILROAD.

LUTHER E. HEWITT, L. B., Librarian of Philadelphia Law Association. ADVANCE IN LAW AND JUSTICE.

MICHAEL J. BROWN, Secretary of Building Association League of Pennsylvania. PROGRESS OF BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.

REV. A. LEFFINGWELL, Rector Trinity Church, Toledo, O. EPOCH MAKERS OF THE CENTURY.

ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS

WONDERS OF ELECTRICITY

I. AT THE DAWN OF THE CENTURY:—Earliest Observations on Electricity —Study of Amber—Earliest Electric Machines—Conduction of Electricity—The Leyden Jar—Franklin’s Discoveries. II. NEW NINETEENTH CENTURY ELECTRICITY:—Galvanism—The Voltaic Pile —Davy’s Arc-light—The Electro-magnet—Faraday’s Discoveries —The Induction Coil—Fields of Force. III. THE TELEGRAPH:— First Successful Telegraphy—The Morse System—Improvements in Telegraphy—Ocean Telegraphy. IV. HELLO! HELLO!—Invention of the Telephone—Principle of the Telephone—Transmitter and Receiver—Uses of the Telephone—The Phonograph, Gramophone, and Graphophone. V. DYNAMO AND MOTOR:—The First Motor—Perfection of the Dynamo—How it generates Electricity—Principle and Uses of the Motor. VI. “AND THERE WAS LIGHT:”—Various Lights of the Past—Era of Electric Lighting—Arc and Incandescent Lamps —Principles of Each—Value of Electric Light. VII. ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION:—Passing of the Horse and Traction Car—Introduction of the Trolley—Features of the Electric Railway—The Storage Battery and Horseless Carriage. VIII. THE X RAY:—Discovery of —What the X Ray is—Photographing by Means of the X Ray. IX. OTHER ELECTRICAL WONDERS:—Electric Clocks—Electrotyping and Electroplating, etc. X. ELECTRICAL LANGUAGE 19–54

THE CENTURY’S NAVAL PROGRESS

I. INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER:—Sea Powers throughout the World— Enumeration of Great Naval Wars. II. THE CENTURY’S GROWTH IN NAVAL STRENGTH:—American Navies at Different Eras—European Fleets —South American and Chinese Navies. III. THE BATTLESHIP PAST AND PRESENT:—The Old Fighting Frigate—Evolution of the Modern Man-of-War—Comparison of Frigate with Ironclad. IV. PROGRESS OF NAVAL ENGINEERING:—Nelson’s Vision—The 14,500 Miles Steaming of the Oregon—Revolution in Mechanism and Material—Types of Great Battleships—Introduction and Advantages of Steam—Invention of the Screw Propeller—Improvement in Boilers and Engines— The Revolving Turret—Cruiser and Torpedo Craft—Phenomenal Speed. V. THE GROWTH OF ORDNANCE:—Description of Various Guns and Projectiles—Power of Modern Explosives. VI. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARMOR:—Its Necessity in Naval Warfare—How it is made, tested, and put on. VII. THE RAM AND TORPEDO:—Evolution of the Ram— Introduction of the Torpedo—Various Kinds of Torpedoes. VIII. THE UNITED STATES FLEET:—Whence it sprang and how it has grown—Its Ships, Officers, and Men—Official Naval Ranks—The Naval Academy —Passage of the United States to a World Power 55–86

ASTRONOMY DURING THE CENTURY

I. ASTRONOMY A CENTURY AGO:—Discovery of Uranus. II. HOW “BODE’S LAW” PROMOTED RESEARCH:—Further Discovery of Planets—Celestial Photography. III. HOW NEPTUNE WAS FOUND:—Le Verrier, “First Astronomer of the Age.” IV. METEORITES:—Meteoric Showers— Various Large Meteorites. V. DO METEORS OFTEN STRIKE THE EARTH: —The “Fire-ball” of 1860. VI. ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES: —Their Equipment and Work—Number of Observatories. VII. IMPROVED INSTRUMENTS:—Their Effect on the Science. VIII. THE SPECTROSCOPE:—Its Triumphs—Elements discovered. IX. WORK IN A LARGE OBSERVATORY:—Discovery of Comets and Nebulæ. X. WASHINGTON NATIONAL OBSERVATORY:—Its Instruments. XI. STAR MAPS AND CATALOGUES:—Number of Stars—The Planisphere. XII. ASTRONOMICAL BOOKS AND WRITERS:—Number of Students of Astronomy. XIII. PRACTICAL USES OF ASTRONOMY:—Its Help in Navigation—Uses in Geodesy. XIV. NOTABLE ASTRONOMICAL EPOCHS:—Clock Regulation —Invention of Chronograph and Spectroscope—Great Telescopes. XV. DISCARDED THEORIES:—Are Planets inhabited—The Orrery. XVI. FUTURE ASTRONOMICAL PROBLEMS:—How long will the Sun endure? 87–104

STORY OF PLANT AND FLOWER

Early History of Botany—The Father of Modern Botany—Botany at the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century—Natural System of Classification—Advance in Study of Plant Behavior—Illustrations from the Peanut and Grape-vine—Plant Motions as regards Forms— Origin and Development of Plant Life—The Doctrine of Evolution —Nutrition of Plants—Fertilization of Flowers—Insectivorous and Cruel Plants—Vegetable Physiology—Advance in Relation to Cryptogamic Plants—Geographical Botany—Herbariums and Botanical Gardens 105–114

PROGRESS OF WOMEN WITHIN THE CENTURY

Woman’s Misconception of her Rights—Former Oppression—Cosmic and Moral Processes—What Christianity has done for Women—Hardship of the Pauline Grip—The True Mission of Woman—Improvement in her Education—Female Occupations—Competition with Men—Woman in the Literary Field—In Philanthropy and Morals—Women’s Clubs —Woman in Politics—The constantly Broadening Field of Woman’s Influence 115–124

THE CENTURY’S TEXTILE PROGRESS

Antiquity of Textile Industry—The Distaff, Spindle, and Loom among Chinese, Egyptians, and Greeks—Introduction of the Spinning-wheel —Loom of the Eighteenth Century—The Fly-shuttle—Textiles at the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century—Invention of the Spinning Jenny—Arkwright’s Drawing-rollers—Whitney’s Cotton-gin—Its Influence—Invention of the Spinning-mule—The Spinning-frame —Rapid Improvements in Spinning Machinery—Evolution of the Spindle—Increase of Speed—Introduction of the Carding-machine —Carding-combs—Advent of Power-looms—Description of their Machinery and Products—The Jacquard Loom—Of Pile Fabrics—The Bigelow Loom—How Tufted Pile Fabrics are made—Weaving of Fancy Cloths—Various Forms of Looms—Hair-cloth Looms—Weaving of Tubular Fabrics—Infinitude of Uses to which the Loom can be put— The Coming Automatic Loom—Advent of the Knitting-machine—Its Wonderful Perfection and Products—The Century’s Patents of Textile Machinery—Beauty of Textile Art—Its Influence on Taste and Comfort 125–146

THE CENTURY’S RELIGIOUS PROGRESS

Religious Status in Eighteenth Century, in England, France, and on the Continent—Condition in the United States—The Reign of Skepticism—Doctrinal Divisions in the Churches—The Nineteenth Century Revival—Variety and Growth of Religions in the United States—Freedom of the Church—Kinship of Denominations— Increase in Material and Spiritual Forces—Church Edifices and Capacities—Religious Population—Number of Communicants —Distribution of Communicants—Ministers and Organizations —Missionary Enterprises—Service of Religion in Education, Philanthropy, and Reform—Gifts to Educational Institutions —Growth of Charitable Institutions—Religion and Republican Institutions 147–158

GREAT GROWTH OF LIBRARIES

Antiquity of Libraries—Evidences of Civilized Progress—Character of Ancient Writings—Books of Clay—Mesopotamian Literature —Egyptian Hieroglyphics—Papyrus Manuscripts—Sacred Books of Thoth—Greek Libraries—Their Number and Extent—Roman Libraries—Imperial Library of Constantinople—Effects of Christianity upon Literature—Church Book-making and Collecting— All Books written or copied by Priests—Fate of Monastic Libraries —Early Libraries in France—Royal Libraries in Europe—The French National Library—Introduction of Copyright—Growth and Extent of European Libraries—Their Location and Management—The British Museum—Libraries of Great Britain—Canadian Libraries —English Colonial Libraries—Libraries of the Latin Republics —Phenomenal Growth of Libraries in the United States—Wide Ramification of the System—The Oldest United States Library— Colonial Libraries—Libraries of 1800—Number founded during the Century—State Libraries—School-district Libraries—Library Systems—The Library of Congress—Its Vast Extent and New Repository—Copyright System—United States Free Libraries— Noted Libraries of the Country—Libraries of over 100,000 Volumes —Munificence of Library Founders—Noted Givers to Libraries— Progress in Library Management 159–170

PROGRESS OF THE CENTURY IN ARCHITECTURE

English Architecture at the Beginning of the Century—The Queen Anne Style—French Architecture and Architects—Architectural Styles in Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and throughout Europe—Canadian Styles and Notable Buildings—Early Architecture in the United States—Old New England and Southern Homes—The Colonial Styles—The White House and United States Capitol— Progress in Public Building Architecture—Notable Changes after the War of 1812—The Gothic Cottage and Italian Villa—The First School of Architecture—Comparison of Styles in Different Cities—Introduction of Iron—Styles for Hotels and Summer Resorts—Effect of Chicago and Boston Fires on Architecture— How the Centennial Exposition changed Styles—Church and Library Architecture—The Congressional Library and Other Notable Specimens of American Architecture—Advent of the Sky-scraper—General Review of Architectural Effects—Monumental Works the Poetry of Architecture 171–190