An Empire : Ocean-wide 



That aim fulfilled, after so much of failure 

 and discouragement, other cables were put down 

 in many other parts of the world. Beneath the 

 sea in all directions they lie, joining countries 

 widely separated. 



A year or two ago it was reckoned that the 

 full extent of all submarine cables in the world 

 had already reached a grand total of about two 

 hundred thousand miles. Not much more will 

 bring it to a length which might span the 

 distance between Earth and Moon. 



Lately a splendid new scheme has come up, 

 and has been adopted. This is — to unite the 

 entire British Empire by one vast "All-British" 

 telegraphic system. As is the nervous system 

 to a man, so will be the said telegraphic system 

 to the Empire. 



At present many telegrams have to be sent to 

 outlying parts through foreign dominions — which 

 is much as though a man's brain should have 

 to send messages to his fingers through another 

 man's arm. But when once this scheme has 

 become a reality, the Mother-land will be able 

 to convey, under the broadest ocean-reaches, to 

 any of her Children in distant parts, her requests, 

 her warnings, her sympathy, her secrets, her 

 congratulations, without fear of being heard by 

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