22. Summary of the lesson, "A day in 2889 of an American Journalist"

The story, "A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist", written by Jules Verne, is set in the time period of \(2889\), which was 1000 years away from Jules Verne's age. The lesson highlights the high technological advancements and lifestyles of people who were living at that time (2889). Mr. Francis Bennett is the protagonist of this story, and he is the director of the world's largest newspaper, named 'Earth Herald'. 

 

The story starts with the opening scene of Francis Bennett waking up in his bed in a bad mood, and the reason behind it is that he missed his wife Edith, who had gone to France a week before. He then switches on his phonotelephote and sees his wife while conversing. Francis's conversation with his wife refreshed his mood, and he then got into the mechanised room. With the help of a machine, he was able to get ready for his office within two minutes.

 

After entering the office, Francis inquires about the latest news from astronomical reporters. The discovery of a planet named 'Gandhini' and the specifics collected about it by astronomers makes him happy. There was a quarter-mile long gallery in the Earth Herald where inordinate advertisements were projected on clouds through thousands of projectors. Francis Bennett then goes down to the dining room, where he receives food through pneumatic tubes. After finishing his lunch, he travels in his aero car to his accumulator work factory at Niagara in half an hour.

 

After returning to the Earth Herald office, he meets people and discusses their projects. First, he appoints a young man who has a project to reduce three elements to one. Secondly, he decides to invest partly in another inventor's project of moving a whole city through rails near the seashore. 

 

Finally, he confirms his wife's return to Centropolis, has his bath and goes to sleep after a day of tiring work.