Show The Last Lau Laugh Something less Jess than n a hundred years ago the city fathers of a sma small town in New England state were debating over the advisability advisability advis advis- ability of changing from whale oil to the newly discovered kerosene kerosene kero- kero r sene for street lamps The town was stirred by the controversy until finally finay a citizen i doubtless of the reactionary school contributed this bit of verse 1 as 41 It lilt would not cause us great d i If some presumptuous ass r- r S Should snatch the lightning from the skies i g Or light our streets with gas The author has been forgotten But he unknowingly proved himself a n true prophet What was conceived in ire and sent on its way as a bit of withering satire became an actuality probably within the authors author's lifetime Those who are skeptical of our modern industrial age and its future may find themselves in the same position as this village wit Progress waits for no man and has a talent for turning jokes joke back upon their creators o S |