Back in 1896, the editors of Scribner’s Magazine Illustrated had great hopes for the future. In the December issue of that year, now 111 years ago, they seemed sure that war was a thing of their past, that “it begins to seem possible that a great police force may keep the peace of Europe, and promote, if not actually compel, the peace of all the world.”

The editors felt that “peace on earth, good-will toward men” was in their future, not knowing that World War I, World War II, and all the other wars between and since were still to come. As a result, I’m afraid that I can’t be quite so sanguine about our own future. But I’ll do my best to imagine, if only for today, a world in which such hope was possible.

I’ll at least try.

Merry Christmas to you, too!