The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 28, May 20, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls

In Short

Published in May 1897, this magazine issue acts as a digest of international and domestic affairs for boys and girls. It covers everything from the opening of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition to the ongoing tensions in Hawaii and the legal challenges surrounding American trusts. By blending hard news with educational games, reader correspondence, and advertisements for school supplies, it functions as a primary teaching tool of its era. It remains a fascinating snapshot of how the nineteenth-century American press curated the world for children, emphasizing civic duty and global awareness.

The Story

The news cycle of May 1897 is dominated by the tension between expansionist ambitions and the desire for peace. In the United States, the Tennessee Centennial Exposition opens with a grand, modern flourish: President McKinley triggers the machinery of the fair remotely from Washington, D.C., via a telegraphic connection. This technological triumph contrasts with the political gridlock in the Senate, where a General Treaty of Arbitration with Great Britain is narrowly defeated. While the public favors peace, the legislative branch remains divided, leaving international relations in a state of uncertainty.

Beyond American borders, the struggle for influence and stability is acute. Hawaii stands at the center of a geopolitical storm. With Japanese immigrants protesting their exclusion and Queen Liliuokalani visiting Washington to plead her case, the islands face an uncertain future. The United States government, signaling its intent to protect its interests, dispatches warships to Honolulu. Colonel R.H. McLean, who arrived to reorganize the Hawaiian army, provides a vivid account of the absurdity he encountered—guns trained on civilian houses and an army of sentries more concerned with palace intrigue than military discipline. He successfully dismantles the worst of these defenses, bringing a temporary, fragile calm to the palace.

Meanwhile, the Mediterranean is engulfed in conflict. Greece, after attempting to challenge Turkish power, suffers a series of military failures and retreats. The Great Powers of Europe, including Russia and Germany, watch the developments closely, leaving Greece to face the consequences of an unequal war. In Italy, King Humbert narrowly survives an assassination attempt, an event that triggers a massive, emotional outpouring of public loyalty—a scene mirrored by an earlier, nostalgic recollection of Queen Victoria’s own brush with a would-be assassin.

The issue also explores the personal stakes of citizenship. The State Department intervenes in a case involving an American-born man named Mayer, who was forced into the German army despite his U.S. citizenship. This highlights the growing reach of American diplomatic protection. Simultaneously, economic and social issues persist at home; "Sugar Kings" face legal scrutiny for their refusal to cooperate with Congressional committees, leading to jail time for those in contempt. The magazine closes by looking toward the future, highlighting the persistent, if sometimes strange, nature of human progress—from the use of elephants in the British Indian army to experimental night-time advertisements suspended by balloons in the heavens. It is a world in transition, caught between the old monarchies of Europe and a rapidly modernizing, assertive United States.

How It Unfolds

The Exposition opens The Tennessee Centennial Exposition celebrates its anniversary with a high-tech demonstration of unity. President McKinley uses an electric button in Washington to start the fair's machinery, marking a moment of national pride.

Trouble in the tropics The Hawaiian Islands are caught in a web of Japanese immigration disputes and American naval presence. The situation is complicated by the presence of the deposed Queen and the heavy-handed, often comical security measures of the local government.

Diplomacy and conflict International relations are tested by the Senate's rejection of an arbitration treaty and the failing military efforts of Greece. The Great Powers loom over smaller nations, influencing the outcome of wars and the stability of thrones.

The rights of the citizen A legal case involving the forced conscription of an American-born man in Germany underscores the importance of national identity. The government asserts its duty to protect its citizens, regardless of their parents' origins.

Domestic legal struggles Trusts and large corporations face a reckoning as Congress pushes for transparency. Prominent businessmen find themselves in legal trouble for failing to provide testimony, showing that no one is above federal investigation.

The march of invention The issue concludes with a look at the future of advertising and transportation. Ingenious inventions like folding bicycle crates and aerial light displays suggest a world where technology will soon permeate every aspect of life.

The People

The figures in this edition represent the various levers of power and the personal lives they impact. President William McKinley embodies the centralizing authority of the United States, utilizing his position to influence both the morale of the nation at the Tennessee fair and the strategic future of Hawaii. Queen Liliuokalani stands as a tragic, persistent figure, arriving in Washington to plead for the restoration of her throne and challenging the legitimacy of the Dole government. Colonel R.H. McLean serves as a pragmatic bridge between chaos and order; his frustration with the "comic army" he finds in Honolulu highlights the instability of the Hawaiian government. Finally, the young American Mayer becomes a symbol of individual rights, his personal struggle against German conscription serving as a lesson for readers about what it means to be a citizen under the protection of the American flag.

In Its Own Voice

The tone is earnest, informative, and deeply committed to the idea that young people should understand the mechanisms of power.

"The Japanese are extremely indignant at this action on the part of Hawaii."

This sentence captures the rising diplomatic tensions in the Pacific that the magazine tracks for its readers.

"There is no avoiding this service, which was formerly for three years, but has been changed to two."

This observation explains the rigid military requirements of the German state, contrasting them with the freedom enjoyed by American citizens.

"The heavens have thus far escaped, but this new invention brings them also into line."

This dry, wry comment on the invention of sky-based advertising shows the magazine's skepticism toward the commercialization of the natural world.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the development of a global consciousness in the American youth. The articles pose a persistent question: how does a republic navigate a world still dominated by old-world empires and royal power? There is an undercurrent of American exceptionalism, as the text consistently measures foreign events—earthquakes in the Leeward Islands, the conflict in Greece, or the military use of elephants in India—against American values and interests. The book argues that being a citizen requires an active, informed attention to geography, law, and diplomacy, suggesting that the "Great Round World" is a classroom where the United States must define its place among the nations.

Why Read It Today

Readers today will find this magazine a fascinating study in historical perspective. It offers a clear, unvarnished look at the prevailing attitudes of 1897—including the period’s casual assumptions about colonial rule and the rights of indigenous peoples. It is not a polished, modern history book, but rather an immediate, raw document of its time. The writing is precise and brisk, designed to be read aloud in a classroom, and it maintains a rhythmic, conversational quality that makes it easy to digest.

One will experience the specific anxieties of 1897, such as the fear of "trusts" and the intense debate over tariffs, which feel surprisingly relevant to modern economic discussions. While the dialect of the letters and the period-specific attitudes toward imperialism may strike some readers as dated, the magazine’s core mission—to make complex global politics understandable—remains timeless. It is ideal for those interested in the history of journalism or anyone who wants to see how the world appeared to a twelve-year-old child at the turn of the century. The inclusion of advertisements for "The Game of States" and bicycle premiums adds a layer of charm, illustrating a culture that was rapidly becoming more consumer-oriented and interconnected. Reading it is like opening a time capsule that vibrates with the specific, urgent energy of the late nineteenth century.