Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1900 Vol. 56, November, 1899 to April, 1900

This issue opens with a vivid look back at the South Sea Bubble, using the frenzy of 18th‑century finance as a lens for today’s speculative science. The author sketches how grand promises—gold from salt water, perpetual‑motion machines, and other marvels—repeatedly lure eager investors, then cautions readers to seek reliable guidance before jumping into new ventures. The essay blends lively historical anecdotes with a clear warning: enthusiasm alone does not replace sound judgment.

The remainder of the magazine offers a lively assortment of short investigations, from the mechanics that keep trolley cars rolling to the latest insights into North American blind fishes. Readers can also wander through pieces on geology’s century of progress, the practical side of explosives, and the rapid developments of the Klondike rush. Together, these articles capture the restless curiosity of a world on the brink of modernity, inviting listeners to explore the hopes and hazards that shaped the science of an age.