| Show II We Hope It Isn't Too Shaking Earth art a in One of the most interesting books published is the World Almanac an annual annual annual an an- nual compendium of facts which contains contains con con- twins an astonishing amount of information information information Y tion in its iu odd pages No newspaper office would be complete without one and libraries schools and many an in individual individual individual in- in regard an almanac as an essential essential essential essen essen- bit of equipment The World Almanac is always in interesting interesting in- in but it is is more so than usual J this year because this 1950 edition includes includes in in- eludes a review of major events of the first half of the century Some of the almanacs almanac's findings and conclusions are worthy of note For ins instance ance the almanac reports 34 republics were established between 1900 and 1950 Kith th eight abolished 21 monarchies monarchies mon mon- It archies abolished with six established to That is a factual summary emphasizing I a significant shift in the political formation formation formation for for- mation of our society although it does not recognize the fact that some of the thes s republics were as absolute and tyrannical tyrannical tyrannical tyran tyran- as any monarchy ever was The almanac reports that American troops in the last half century engaged in two world wars which wars which is news to no noH noone H one one but but it also reports that our troops engaged in 15 punitive actions and occupations which which will 11 be news to almost I everyone Six major movements or developments developments developments develop develop- I ments of the first half of the century century century cen cen- tury are listed as of outstanding cance They are Rise of world coop cooperation coopers coopers- era era- tion to avoid war insure peace the Russian revolution and its iu momentous results rise of the United States as a world power destruction of Germany Hungary Austria-Hungary Sultanate Turkey and the rise of nationalism decline of British imperial power westernization of the far east 1 No doubt there could be dispute over that list There might be deletions and additions according to ones one's analysis of the import of various trends and forces at work in the world But no one will dispute the fact that the first half of this century as recorded by history and reported in the World Almanac was a period of shaking earth-shaking change and de de- The change and development will willand willand willand and should continue in the second half of the century although with all this talk of the H-bomb H we might well hope it is not too earth shaking |
