Paul R., Kessleri age 9, Albany, N.Y.,
What are the seven wonders of the modern world?
Seven wonders of the ancient world were selected over 2000 years ago. The list led to arguments and disputes. Meantime the world went on changing. Only one of the original seven wonders now remains. People also went on changing. They built new wonders and discovered more new wonders in the world. They needed more zeros to list them: For who can choose only seven wonders from a world full of wonders?
What's more, in the Age of Democracy, people have learned to form their own opinions In the modern world, each person has a right to select his own list of favorite wonders. Naturally almost every list of seven would be different. There are some two billion people in the world. Would a list of 14 billion name all the wonders in the modern world? Andy says that ever such a list is far, far too short.
Various people have tried to list the seen wonders of the modern world. A list made some 40 years ago named radio, telegraph, telephone, concretes X-rays, phonograph and movies. A list made 20 years ago included the subway. Los Alamos, cradle of the atom bomb, was included in a list made some ten years ago.
These lists seem to have been made by inventors and engineers, They would not satisfy people with other interests. A builder might select the Taj Mahal, St. Peterfs of Rome, The Leaning Tower of Piza, Hoover Dam and the Empire State Building. He might well include the pyramids which have endured from the ancient list of wonders. He might disappoint you by omitting your capital building in Albany, N.Y.
A botanist might list the sequoias of California, hybrid corn, the Shasta Daisy, alfalfa, the cedars of Lebanon and the cactus of Arizona. The people of Kentucky would argue to have their bluegrass included in that list, You might want to include a sweet potato vine growing under your care,
A zoologist might select the whale, the elephant, the giant turtle, the albatross the bee,, the beaver and the tiny amoeba as the seven wonders of his wonderful world. You might argue for a pet hop toad, bunny or grasshopper. Andy would certainly include his dog and two cats.
A geologist might limit his list to the wonders of natures He could choose Yellowstone Park, Angel Falls, Death Valley, Mount Everest, Mindinao Trench in the Pacific, The Great Lakes and Mississippi‑Misouri river. Egyptians would argue for their Nile river. You might argue for your favorite fishing stream.
As you see, it is quite impossible for one person to select seven wonders for everyone else. It is only fair that everyone should choose his own. This year you can see a special Cinerama treat that should help you to choose yours. This more‑than‑a‑movie takes us wonder hunting over the world and leaves the job of selecting seven wonders up to you. Andy gave up that job as impossible long ago. He claims to add at least one new wonder to his list every day of his life ‑ and he has lived a very long time.