Bremen Cotton Exchange, 1872/1922Cramer, Andreas Wilhelm
History
Bremen Cotton Exchange, 1872/1922
Cramer, Andreas Wilhelm
Bremen (Germany). Baumwollbörse; Cotton trade
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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