New-York tribune., 1872-05-21
THE END OF THE VORLD.

in honor oil pure RepuDlcahlsIl, IOI Ills palms,
THE END OF TIE WORLD.
Whence proceeds the notion, or idea, or con-
lecture that this world is soon to be destroyed
Once in six or ten years, somebody bases a
prediction of such destruction upon science,
prophecy, or astrology, astronomy, geology,
or history. The big day comes. The world
swings about as usual. Pretty soon there is
an entirely fresh prediction and another fear
full looking for. Lately, we have been SOL
emnly assured that orr planet will not sur
vive the Summer. There is q comet coming
which will literally do us brown. But until
the philosophers agree about the mOdus, why
should we trouble Ourselves2 Philosopher No.
Che is in Italy, thinks that we shall literally
be knocked into a cocked-hat. Philosopher
No. . proves that as resistance of the air to
body passing it increases in proportion to the
squares of the velOcities, this resistance would
ultimately overpower the momentum and
"prevent a catastrophe" Not so, says Philos-
opher No. 3, for this would be " sufficient to
damage the equilibrium to such an extent,
"that it is doubtful whether animal life would
"surviye."
SO much for the Philosophers! But it is
rather remarkable, considering the extreme
Importance of the matter, that however grave
or scientific these predictions may have been,
nobody from the beginning of time up TO the
present hour has ever been much frightened
When we say nobody, we use the word COM
paratively. OF course, at various times and in
various countries, an incOnsiderable number
of the human race has been almost or quite
mortally alarmed; but this only brings out in
higher contrast the perfect GOODNESS with
which the dreadful announcement has been
received by the majority 1t is easy to see
that if the belief in the coming demolition
were generally entertained, it would so far to
make certain the thing apprehended. If day
certain should be fixed upon, there would be
nothing to do but to wait for it, with perpen-
dicular hairs, knocking knees, and c0ngcaled
marrow. If the hour were uncertain, but still
felt to be at hand, the apprehension might be
even greater. But whatever the theOlogians
NAV think, we hold it to be a blessed impOssi-
bility that all the inhabitants of the world
should be scared simultaneously. In fact, the
nonchaance with which the most fiery prOphe-
cies are received tends to show that they are
discredited by n sort of universal intuition
None of the present human race have ever
witnessed a great cOsmic change, and for the
most part it is impossible for man to conceive
of The world ceasing to exist. BY the aid OF the
imagination, he may picture to himself almost
anything-the world changing from spherical
to flat or a sudden cessation of light
and heat; or q repeal of the laws of gravity;
but whimseys like these do not in the least
influence the arrangements of his private
economy; nor will any predictions when the
chances are so nicely balanced between their
truth and falsehood. The world is a venerable
institution, and while we live we must believe
in it. Analogous to this are our feelings re-
specting death. Here, indeed, the event is
certain hut the day and the hour remaining
unknown, most of us conduct ourselves ox-
actly as if we were to live here forever. Die
we may and die we must; but, meanwhile,
the main business is living, and we go on
vigorously with our affairs, precisely because
we do not expect to die; and just so the
world will 20 Oh because it does not expect
to be destroyed.
In fact, as to its future, the world is en-
titled to the credit of its past. 1t has passed
through vast deal Of experience, but nothing
mortal. 1t has been subjected to enormous
fnnilGtS,
been burned as by fire; it has had upon different
parts of its surface gigantic eruphons; 1t has
been a great mud-hOle full of crawling and
nine times hideOus monsters; but it has still
remained a world. Moreover, IFS changes have
been, not in the direction of destruction, but
of approximate perfection. Every crisis, OF lts
physical history has made ii, litter ana htter
Tor the habitation of man; and If other changes
are to come, reasoning from analogy, Ihey
will be such as will provide dweulnS-piace
still for man in state OF advancement winch
his nature and history render not merely pos
sible but probable.
Finally, it is easy to sse why we look for
ward 80 indiiierently to the finale OF COM
mon destruction. It is because we know that
il it comes at all it Will involve the whole
population Of the world in the change. 1t
will be a misery for each individual but we
easily fad consolation i'll the fact that all are
to share in it. Death captures us, singly, ana
we 20 alone to the last restmg-place, leaving
behind us all our possessions, the neighbors
with whom we have lived IN friendship, and
The few whom we have dearly loved. THIS
makes death, SO far as ii Is Il misfortune at
all n private one; but tho terror VIII be
mostly taken away if we are all to perish
together "at one fell swO0p." 1t ia as ii we
had never been. 1t is as il we went into the
mists of the future prepared still to ASSIST
each other and to speak TO each other words
of alfcctionate consolation. For we are each
o1e OF many, and we Go not shrink irom me
gront emiemton simply because II IS 30 all