1.8 to 1.9

31st Dec. ,1900. I bid good-bye to the old century, may it rest in peace as it has lived in war. Of the new century I prophesy nothing except that it will see the decline of the British Empire. Other worse empires will rise perhaps in its place, but I shall not live to see the day. It all seems a very little matter here in Egypt, with the pyramids watching us as they watched Joseph, when, as a young man four thousand years ago, perhaps in this very garden, he walked and gazed at the sunset behind them, wondering about the future just as I did this evening. And so, poor wicked nineteenth century, farewell! (From W. S. Blunt, My Diaries: 1888-1914 ,2 Vols. ,(New York 1921), I. 212-213, 298-299, 325, 375-380. The original post is at The Internet Modern History Sourcebook -Imperialism .)