Page:A thousand years hence. Being personal experiences (IA thousandyearshen00gree).djvu/65

 able enough as far as we have as yet gone, and nobody could ever dream of retreating to the smaller things of the past, yet I do often wonder as to the future, and how the additional crowds are to get on, say in another thousand years.

Well, we have now sallied forth, and we watch our opportunity, from our door-step, to merge into line and pass on, tramp, tramp, with the rank and file of the street. This morning we are rather before the high business hours, when the press of passengers is always greatest. There is an understanding that at those times we are to march at a somewhat quicker step, that being of course the only mode by which all the multitude can get accommodated and passed through, each to his different business or other destination. It is really wonderful how pleasantly and comfortably we get on withal. But, as I said before, how will things be in the future at the present pace of progress? How will we all be getting on a thousand years hence?

On this subject of the life, warmth, and geniality impressed upon us by such well and comfortably filled space, our philosophers had a curious experiment the other day. Securing for their purpose, through the authorities, one of the public market spaces, which was kept quite empty for their use for some brief minutes, they placed an old lady, blindfolded, in the midst of this wide and unaccustomed solitude, in order to mark the sudden effect of the unexpected position. She, worthy, unsuspecting soul,