The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 34, July 1, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls

In Short

The Great Round World is a weekly news magazine designed to make complex current events accessible to children. Through dispatches on the Greco-Turkish war, the Cuban revolution, and the annexation of Hawaii, it provides a snapshot of the late Victorian era’s shifting borders and diplomatic maneuvers. By stripping away the dense jargon of traditional newspapers, the publication invites young readers to view themselves as part of a connected, global community. Its enduring value lies in its attempt to cultivate an informed, empathetic citizenry during a period of significant geopolitical transformation.

The Story

The narrative arc of this issue centers on the concept of international interdependence. It begins by examining the "Great Round World" as a metaphor for a fractured family, explaining how ancient tribes once lived in isolation behind mountain ranges, only to eventually spill out into the world and realize, through war and trade, that they are all distant kin. This grounding philosophy sets the stage for a series of reports on the volatile state of world affairs in the summer of 1897.

The magazine turns immediately to the Mediterranean, where Greece and Turkey are embroiled in a tense standoff over Thessaly. The Great Powers of Europe, led by Britain, attempt to coerce Turkey into withdrawal, but the Sultan remains defiant, even appealing to the Czar of Russia and the German Emperor for support. The editors present this as a precarious high-stakes drama, emphasizing the role of diplomacy while cautioning their young readers against the inflammatory rhetoric of public figures like William Gladstone, who characterizes the Sultan as the "Grand Assassin."

Crossing the Atlantic, the focus shifts to the United States’ cautious approach to the Cuban struggle for independence. The magazine details President McKinley’s measured policy, citing reports of a "cruel war" that, while lacking the massive battles of the American Civil War, is nonetheless devastating. Central to this discussion is the plight of naturalized citizens like Dr. Ruiz, whose complicated legal status highlights the friction between Spanish authority and American diplomatic intervention. Meanwhile, the reportage extends to the Pacific, where the potential annexation of Hawaii is discussed not just as a territorial gain, but as a strategic solution to the ongoing debate over sugar tariffs.

The scope then widens to include the aftermath of the Jameson Raid in the Transvaal, exposing the web of corporate and political corruption surrounding Cecil Rhodes and his influence in London. The magazine concludes its tour of the globe by examining the resilience of local cultures, from the treaty-making between President Diaz and the Yaqui Indians in Mexico to the logistical challenges of managing distant tribal conflicts in India. By the end of the issue, the reader is left with a view of a world that is noisy, interconnected, and fragile, held together by uneasy treaties and the slow, often painful, progress of diplomatic negotiation.

How It Unfolds

The human family The magazine opens by framing all of humanity as a single, sprawling family that has forgotten its shared origins. It argues that once disparate groups are forced into contact—through trade or conflict—they eventually discover their common heritage.

The Turkish deadlock The reportage moves to the immediate crisis in Thessaly, detailing the tension between the Ottoman Empire and the European Powers. The editors highlight the Sultan’s bold appeal to other monarchs, showcasing the fragility of the peace process.

The Cuban conflict Attention shifts to the Caribbean, where the reality of war in Cuba challenges American policy. The text navigates the complex legal issues of citizenship and the brutal nature of the rebellion, reflecting a nation struggling with its role as a global power.

The annexation of Hawaii The narrative examines how domestic policy, specifically the Tariff Bill, is inextricably linked to foreign expansion. The discussion of Queen Liliuokalani’s influence in Washington provides a human element to the cold calculus of imperial annexation.

The politics of greed The magazine delves into the scandal surrounding the Jameson Raid and Cecil Rhodes. It confronts the corruption of "high-placed" officials, contrasting their actions with the ideal of honest, principled governance.

The end of the world’s map The issue concludes by addressing the curiosity of its young audience, confirming that legendary locations like Robinson Crusoe’s island still exist and providing updates on global geography. It ends with a call to competition, encouraging students to synthesize these world events into a coherent understanding of their importance.

The People

The figures populating these reports are caught in the machinery of their respective states. President McKinley emerges as the voice of caution, determined to navigate the Cuban crisis without precipitating a rash, unnecessary war. In contrast, the Sultan of Turkey appears as a disruptive force, utilizing bold, unexpected diplomatic maneuvers to defy the collective will of Europe. William Gladstone is presented as a polarizing elder statesman whose fiery rhetoric concerns the editors, who worry that such language might incite unseemly behavior in the public.

Cecil Rhodes represents the darker side of influence, his role in the Jameson Raid casting a long shadow over British politics and exposing the greed inherent in the scramble for resources. On a more local scale, President Diaz of Mexico is portrayed as a pragmatic, if cunning, leader who successfully incorporates the rebellious Yaquis into his own military, proving that "setting a thief to catch a thief" can be a viable strategy for stability. Finally, Queen Liliuokalani stands as a figure of quiet, persistent defiance, working the halls of the United States Senate to protect her sovereignty. These individuals are not heroes or villains in a simple story, but actors trying to steer the currents of history, each constrained by their own ambitions, the demands of their constituents, and the unpredictable nature of global politics.

In Its Own Voice

"When the holy books and the sacred laws of both nations, also the stories of favorite ancient heroes, were found to be so much alike that it was clear they were all heirlooms from the same family treasure, no more proof was needed for those who had so recently fought... to say: 'We are kin; years and years ago, our fathers were brothers and lived in one common home.'"

This passage appears in the editorial introduction, framing the study of history as a way to understand human unity.

"War is going on in the island. True, no great battles are being fought, no Gettysburgs or Chickamaugas, but there is war nevertheless."

This quote is attributed to Mr. Calhoun, describing the state of the Cuban rebellion to the reader.

What It's Really About

At its core, this publication asks how a young person should process the overwhelming scale of a world in flux. It presents history not as a static record, but as a living, breathing process of negotiation, war, and discovery. The magazine argues for a form of global literacy, suggesting that the "Great Round World" is a site of constant, interconnected movement where the fate of an island in the Pacific or a tribe in Mexico is relevant to the reader in New York. It promotes the idea that conflict is inevitable but that diplomacy, honesty, and a clear-eyed understanding of current events are the only tools capable of managing the volatile inheritance of the human family.

Why Read It Today

Readers today will find a striking, almost intimate connection to a world that feels both distant and eerily familiar. The magazine’s commitment to "conversational" reporting provides a refreshing alternative to the dry, detached tone of modern news, making it feel less like a textbook and more like a letter from a well-informed mentor. For those who enjoy the period detail of the late 19th century, the advertisements for Pocket Kodaks, relief maps, and vertical writing pens offer a vivid, tactile sense of the era’s technological optimism.

However, the modern reader must be prepared for the period-specific attitudes embedded in the text. The magazine reflects the paternalistic and often Eurocentric viewpoint common to the 1890s, particularly in its descriptions of colonial conflicts and indigenous peoples. Its insistence that the "human family" is kin is noble, yet it sits alongside a worldview that views expansionism and annexation as natural, if complicated, processes. Reading it requires an ability to appreciate the magazine’s earnest, gentle effort to educate children while acknowledging the limitations of its time. It is a time capsule—a reminder of when the globe felt simultaneously larger and smaller, and when the act of teaching a child about the world was considered an essential, ongoing civic duty.