spects
from that which has been successful in the vending of small articles
such as sweetmeats and cigarettes. The newspapers may be hung on light
bars within the machine, these being supported at the end by a
carefully-adjusted cross piece, which, on the insertion of a penny in
the slot, moves just sufficiently to permit the end of one bar with
its newspaper to drop, and to precipitate the latter on to a table
forming the front of the machine. When the full complement of
newspapers has been exhausted the slot is automatically closed.

Some of the newspapers of the twentieth century will be given away
gratis, and will be, for the most part, owned by the principal
advertisers. This is the direction in which journalistic property is
now tending, and at any juncture steps might be taken, in one or other
of the great centres of newspaper enterprise, which would precipitate
the ultimate movement. Hardly any one who buys a half-penny paper
to-day imagines for a moment that there is any actual profit on the
article.

It is understood on all hands that the advertisers keep the newspapers
going and that the arrangement is mutually beneficial. Not that
either party can dictate to the other in matters outside of its own
province. The effect is simply to permit the great public to purchase
its news practically for the price of the paper and ink on which it is
conveyed; the condition being that the said public will permit its
eyes to be greeted with certain announcements placed in juxtaposition
to the news and comments.

Sooner or later, therefore, the idea will occur to some of the leading
advertisers to form a syndicate and give to the people a small
broadsheet containing briefly the daily narrative. The ponderous
newspapers of the latter end of the nineteenth century--filled full of
enough of linotype matter to occupy more than the whole day of the
subscriber in their perusal--will be to a large extent dispensed with;
and the new art of journalism will consist in saying things as
briefly--not as lengthily--as possible.

CHAPTER XIV.

INVENTION AND COLLECTIVISM.

The ownership of machinery and of all the varied appliances in the
evolution of which inventive genius is exercised is a matter which,
strictly speaking, does not belong to the domain of this work.
Nevertheless, in endeavouring to forecast the progress of invention
during the twentieth century, it is necess