A period covering 50 years is sure to show to the surviving and the
younger generations certain milestones, which indicate a trend of human
thought, or memorize important occurrences. We may look back upon mighty
wars, or religious upheavals or the cruelties committed in both, or
another may recall the peaceful thrifty life with its underlying
romantic thought.
Later generations may possibly call this episode of the last 50 years
the Period of Economic Development. Every epoch has its dominating
spirit; sometimes it is a God of War, sometimes a religious martyr,
sometimes it takes the shape of a great poet and even the thoughts and
lives of the every-day citizen are the replica of the spirit of its
time.
The embodiment of the spirit of the last 50 years is a Hercules. This
famous demi-god executed 12 wondrous deeds, the names of which were
painfully instilled into us at school, but his mighty deeds made no
impression on the history of his time. Our Hercules has successfully
achieved more than twelve wonderful works, nor need we look far afield
to see the lasting imprint of his footsteps; we have always before us
the great works of our time.
We are the lucky ones, who are privileged to step anywhere on our
northern shore into a carriage, far more commodious than the ancient
stage coach, compose ourselves for sleep, and allow ourselves to be
whirled away, in order to find ourselves the following noon, seated at
a comfortable meal on the heights of the Rigi. We have crossed the
Atlantic Ocean in six days, we talk and listen to a friend, and it is
nothing to us that he is a thousand kilometres distant. By pressing a
button, we illuminate our house, by pulling a lever, we light up a
whole town. From the birds we have purloined the art of flying, and
many other wonders have the past fifty years showered upon us, and yet,
all this is not the real monument of our time, but it is
"WORK!"
That systematic work, which is sure of its own goal, is the origin of
all the wonders of the past half century, and which has set its own
seal upon the special character of our own time.
If we consider the life of animals and even plants, we find that all
adapt themselves to the demands of nature. This is the original
primitive condition. But already the bird building its nest for greater
comfort and protection of its young, interferes with nature's original
conditions. No doubt, mankind once lived under primitive adaptation,
and possibly the idealistic thought of paradise may be the echo of
those far away days. When, however, mankind began to people the earth,
necessity drove them to assist nature and thus "WORK" was created. For
a long period this work was infinitesimal, and many races could still
live from nature's storehouse. Their wants were few, so that the
thought of exploiting nature for the benefit of improved conditions,
never entered their heads. For forty years, Moses traversed the desert
with the people of Israel, searching for gifts from Heaven, but they
did not know, that--he who wishes to live upon milk and honey--must
work to obtain them. By degrees, people began to try and win more from
Dame Nature than she was willing to give unaided. They were forced,
thereto, by their ever increasing numbers and by the individual demands
on life. This healthy thought for improvement was frequently
interrupted and, temporally, even entirely suspended, for in the human
mind dwell not only great and lofty thoughts, but envy, strife and
hatred have also a place. The history of mankind bristles with ugly
deeds, wars, enslaving of nations and even extermination. Entire
periods know nothing of peaceful development, but quietly and
persistently "WORK" gained ground and forced itself, despite
resistance, upon mankind. Only the more modern times have shown us the
might and the blessing which lies dormant in "Work". Like an avalanche,
the knowledge swept fifty years ago across the people, that quite
different means were required for mutual benefit and culture, than
those provided by nature itself. That was the triumphal entrance of
"Work" towards a definite goal.
Words fail to adequately describe what the last fifty years have
brought us, in inventions and kindred achievements, and what is the
result of this Herculean work? An expansion undreamt of in the annals
of history. By 50% the population of several countries had increased,
they became too small to feed and clothe their people from their own
resources, but the new spirit, which dominated all, has solved this
problem, and great blessings have been vouchsafed to humanity. The
"hard at work" countries had much better food, clothing, health and
enjoyment, and each individual shared in the vast improvement of the
general conditions of life.
What are the driving forces which put this gigantic machinery into
motion? To enumerate them all would be impossible. The workman, who
wields the hammer, the woman, who keeps home and hearth bright and
cheerful, the patient teacher who moulds the juvenile mind, the
professor, who disperses the deeper knowledge of science, the engineer,
with his intricate machinery, the inventor, with his fertile brain,
and, last not least the merchant, who constantly opens new roads for
the interchange of goods, all--and every one of them are cogs in the
wheels of the engines of progress.
The laws and rules which govern this world of activity cannot be
determined. Each single one of the co-workers has the purpose and goal
of his own endeavour before his eyes, but the human mind is incapable
of guiding or even viewing, the concentrated action of all the forces
at work.
We have given a cursory glance at the general economic development
which started in the slowest possible way, and marched with double
quick speed during the last fifty years, but now we shall turn to our
own particular sphere.
We celebrate, to-day, the fiftieth anniversary of the Establishment of
the Bremen Cotton Exchange, and with this book of sketches and
sidelights on what we have felt and experienced, we wish to contribute
a small offering to this festivity.