The nineteenth century saw the development of natural science to such a gigantic extent that the people could only exclaim—‘It is like reading a fairy tale of double-distilled enchantment; Aladdin’s lamp is as nothing compared with it!’ Great as was the civilisation of the ancients their genius had never attained to such heights as were reached by the scientists of that epoch. Electricity was impounded into the service of man, and put to every possible purpose. Experiment and research continued to be the order of the day; and the great glow of enthusiasm that fired the votaries of science never abated until all that was possible to be learnt concerning the adaptations of electric energy were known far and wide. Before the dawn of the twentieth century every country on the face of the earth was bound together by a network of electrical energy. Scientific knowledge had therefore made such vast progress all over the world, and the uses to which electric force could be applied had become so widely known that nations found they must settle their differences by some method other than warfare. By the use of electric lightning, as it was named, to distinguish it from cloud lightning, whole armies could be annihilated by a couple of electricians. And as skilful workmen of this class were in full force in every country, and at the word of command were ready to apply this deadly instrument of destruction with instantaneous effect, the powers of warfare were pretty equally balanced. In course of time, on this account, standing armies were abolished, for obviously, they were absolutely useless for the defence of a nation, and in their stead a supreme Court of Justice was set up, entitled THE WORLD’S TRIBUNAL. This was composed of delegates, or representatives from every nation, each being entitled to send two persons who were usually chosen from the ministry. It is needless to explain that such a position of responsibility was given only to men of excellent wisdom and proved ability, who had already won the confidence of their country. As a rule, the decisions of this unique Court were abided by, but if a judgment gave general dissatisfaction, then a return to an extremely primitive method of warfare was permitted, under certain modified conditions. A company of picked men, famous in athletic exercises were selected by the countries in dispute and pitted against each other, armed with electrically-charged lances, very short, and silvered over to give them a more imposing appearance. The object of each combatant was not to take life, or give serious injury to his adversary, but simply to temporarily paralyse his right arm, the combat being conducted according to certain stringent regulations and conditions.