The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 44, September 9, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls

In Short

Published in New York in September 1897, this weekly news digest introduces children to current world affairs alongside historical essays and practical life tips. Across its pages, international crises unfold with dramatic tension: Armenian revolutionaries throw dynamite in Constantinople, British regiments battle rebellious hill tribes on the Indian frontier, and Cuban insurgents push Spanish forces toward defeat. Meanwhile, American travelers struggle against new import tariffs, and an essay on ancient burial mounds probes humanity’s prehistoric past. It survives as a remarkably clear window into how nineteenth-century Americans explained global power, technology, and culture to the next generation.

The Story

The issue opens with commercial announcements and a history contest for children before diving directly into volatile international reporting. In Constantinople, political tensions explode when Armenian revolutionaries detonate dynamite at the Government Council House and attempt to bomb the Ottoman Bank. Alert guards stop a disguised attacker wearing a bomb beneath his robes, yet panic spreads through the city as armed Turkish crowds take to the streets. Against this chaotic backdrop, European ambassadors attempt to broker peace between Greece and Turkey. Great Britain’s Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, initially demands that Turkish troops evacuate Thessaly immediately, threatening to break up the concert of European powers. However, facing strong opposition from France, Germany, Russia, Austria, and Italy, Salisbury backs down, accepting terms that allow the Sultan’s victorious army to remain until Greece pays a heavy war indemnity.

Attention then shifts to the northwest frontier of India, where the formidable Afridi tribe joins a growing rebellion against British rule. By capturing strategic forts in the Khyber Pass, the Afridis seize control of the primary mountain route between Afghanistan and Hindustan. Though the British military relies heavily on Afridi recruits within its own ranks, the colonial government rejects the tribesmen’s offer to negotiate and prepares a punitive military expedition. Suspicions fall upon the Ameer of Afghanistan, who is accused of distributing books advocating a holy war against Christians. Although the Ameer issues formal denials and orders his subjects to remain peaceful, British officials remain convinced he is secretly directing the uprising.

In Europe and the Americas, political turmoil continues. Spain mourns the assassinated Prime Minister Cánovas, while the newly appointed leader, General Azcarraga, vows to maintain General Weyler’s harsh military strategy in Cuba. Despite Spanish resolve, Cuban insurgents under General Gómez cross into Havana province, forcing Spanish garrisons to abandon interior positions and retreat to coastal strongholds. In the United States, enforcement of the new Dingley tariff law causes chaos for returning European tourists, who face aggressive searches and steep duties on personal belongings. Domestic labor and economic news highlight a broken conference between striking coal miners and mine owners, alongside a booming wheat market driven by European crop failures that floods New York docks with export trade.

The world report concludes with distant colonial and diplomatic dispatches: King Drunami of Benin makes a formal, public submission to British authorities, kneeling in the dust, while Great Britain attempts to soothe Irish disaffection by sending the Duke and Duchess of York on an official tour to Dublin. Finally, an educational chapter on prehistoric human history explores global mound-builders, explaining how archaeological artifacts define the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages before ending on minor news of a newly patented adjustable coat hanger.

How It Unfolds

An explosion in Constantinople Armenian insurgents attack Turkish government offices and the Ottoman Bank with dynamite, sparking fears of widespread anti-Christian massacres throughout the city.

European powers press Greece Lord Salisbury threatens to break diplomatic ranks over the Turkish occupation of Thessaly, but eventually yields to fellow European nations, leaving Greece burdened by heavy war debts.

Rebellion in the Khyber Pass The powerful Afridi tribe captures vital mountain forts along the Indian frontier, forcing the British government to organize a major military campaign against its former allies.

Changing of the guard in Spain Following the assassination of Prime Minister Cánovas, Spain appoints General Azcarraga, who maintains a stern policy in Cuba even as insurgent forces advance successfully toward Havana.

Customs turmoil at home New American tariff legislation leads to chaotic scenes on New York docks as customs officials search incoming tourists and levy heavy taxes on personal garments and gifts.

Stalemate in the coalfields Negotiations between striking miners and mine owners collapse over wage rates per ton, prompting owners to attempt opening the mines with non-union labor.

A royal submission in Benin King Drunami surrenders to British officials in a dramatic public ceremony, marching to the Council House adorned in heavy coral ornaments and bangles.

Unearthing the prehistoric world An educational essay explains how ancient burial mounds across the globe reveal the evolution of human tools from the Stone Age through the Bronze and Iron Ages.

The People

• Lord Salisbury: The British Prime Minister who devises a bold plan to force Turkish troops out of Greece. Though clever and firm at first, his lack of resolve leads him to abandon his policy when pressed by rival European powers.
• The Ameer of Afghanistan: A regional ruler accused by British authorities of inciting frontier tribes to revolt by distributing books on holy war. He formally denies complicity, claiming his subjects acted without his knowledge or consent.
• Señor Cánovas: The late Prime Minister of Spain whose assassination leaves his country in deep mourning. His death forces the Queen Regent to select a successor capable of managing ongoing colonial conflicts.
• General Azcarraga: The newly appointed Spanish Prime Minister who assumes leadership after Cánovas. He shares his predecessor's strict approach to the Cuban insurrection and maintains support for General Weyler.
• General Gómez: The insurgent leader in Cuba whose military maneuvers successfully breach Spanish defenses, crossing the Matanzas border into Havana province as Spanish garrisons retreat.
• King Drunami: The monarch of Benin who surrenders to British authority. Decked in heavy coral jewelry and accompanied by hundreds of followers, he publicly kneels before the British Resident to tender his submission.

In Its Own Voice

"The certainty that these outrages were the work of Armenians has roused the Mohammedan population to fresh fury, and a repetition of the massacres of last year is feared."

Context: The narrator describes the tense atmosphere in Constantinople following dynamite explosions at government buildings.

"He can think out a clever plan which would be of the greatest benefit to his country, and though in the beginning he will try with great firmness to enforce it, he cannot stand up against strong opposition."

Context: The text critiques Lord Salisbury's political tendencies after he yields to rival European ambassadors on the Greek peace treaty.

"He had by this time added a band of music to his train, and to the mournful music which they made on their reed instruments the King and his chiefs marched in front of the Council House..."

Context: The narrative depicts King Drunami's formal procession to make his public submission to the British Resident.

What It's Really About

The magazine reflects the geopolitical anxieties and industrial transformations of the late nineteenth century. Beneath its simple reporting for young minds lies a deep fascination with statecraft, imperial power, and technological progress. It repeatedly asks how order is maintained in a volatile world, examining the collapse of empires, the ethics of colonial rule, and the struggles of labor against capital. The text contrasts civilized "culture-races" with prehistoric societies, framing human history as an ongoing march toward industrial efficiency and administrative control. By presenting real-time international conflicts alongside ancient history, it seeks to train young readers to evaluate world events critically, emphasizing that political maneuverings, economic shifts, and technological inventions shape the course of civilization far more than military victories alone.

Why Read It Today

This issue offers a captivating, unvarnished look at how late-nineteenth-century global affairs were packaged for young readers. Reading it feels like opening a time capsule: you experience the immediate shock of historical events—the Cuban War of Independence, the Great Game in Central Asia, and the decline of the Ottoman Empire—before they were condensed into textbook summaries. The narrative voice is direct, instructional, and surprisingly candid about the shortcomings of world leaders.

Modern readers will find immense value in its primary-source perspective, though the text carries the unmistakable biases of its era. Colonial conflicts are viewed largely through European frames, and its cultural commentary reflects Gilded Age assumptions about progress and race. Furthermore, the prose occasionally lingers on administrative details or forgotten legislative bills like the Dingley tariff. Yet these period attitudes and forgotten particulars are precisely what make the periodical so compelling. Anyone interested in imperial history, Victorian journalism, or the history of education will relish this vivid snapshot of a world in rapid transition.