These 100 y/o visions of England are very funny and occasionally totally bang on
8.
Three Channel Tunnels, a female majority in parliament, and the abolition of the House of Lords! Well, at least we got the ‘air traveling machines’ and made it to the moon quicker than this Victorian predicted… pic.twitter.com/vvyLgE30Gw
— Dr Bob Nicholson (@DigiVictorian) December 27, 2018
9.
“…underground tubes will be made through which things will be propelled at enormous speed.” pic.twitter.com/XYbPjmupTb
— Dr Bob Nicholson (@DigiVictorian) December 27, 2018
10.
“Trips to Melbourne by balloon express” and the prospect of working-class people at Cambridge! pic.twitter.com/Umtj82YIEM
— Dr Bob Nicholson (@DigiVictorian) December 27, 2018
11.
Quite a few entries predicted that phonographic recordings would replace handwritten/typed letters. pic.twitter.com/w3wf8TklTJ
— Dr Bob Nicholson (@DigiVictorian) December 27, 2018
12.
At last, we reach the winner of the competition! Mr. Marcus G. Morrison of London, who somehow managed to fit all of these predictions onto one postcard. pic.twitter.com/mHust2SquB
— Dr Bob Nicholson (@DigiVictorian) December 27, 2018
And there was more where that came from.
Here’s another article from Answers magazine (1889) that confidently predicted that writing would soon be rendered obsolete by the phonograph. They’d be surprised to discover just how much 21st-century culture still relies on written texts… pic.twitter.com/kmBHDY1Ny1
— Dr Bob Nicholson (@DigiVictorian) December 28, 2018
According to this article from The London Journal (1897), “in future ages of the world all human beings will be devoid of hair and teeth.” pic.twitter.com/tQX3APVw5i
— Dr Bob Nicholson (@DigiVictorian) December 28, 2018
And we think this is our favourite response.
“One hundred (and thirty) years from now, historians will discuss this very magazine using a global, wireless network accessed instantly with a handheld device resembling a telegraph.”
— Orman (@LizardOrman) December 27, 2018
“Other uses of this network include sharing the latest gossip of the theatre, and pictures of cats.”
— Orman (@LizardOrman) December 27, 2018
… mainly pictures of cats
— DaveThingy (@DaveThingy) December 27, 2018
