Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-31
Mother
ShiptOB's Prophecy.

AN which is real is rational; all
which is rational is resi-, said a noted
philosopher Of q past generation,
1t was a bold thought, aud a holder
expression; yet a truthful one, and it
does not tell the whole of the story.
An unknown power presidos over
the variations Of the celestial and
terrestrial world, moving the mysteri-
Gus machinery Of the numberless crea-
ton inhabiting the vast space of the
universe, and many Of their vibrations
do not appear rational to the untutored
iphabitant Of our planet"
Thus remarked a prominent and
Nell-read gentleman yesterday, while
discussing an article on Mother Ship
toms prophecy, about the end Of the
world coming next year, which APP
pearei in this paper a couple Of days
ago, The gentleman is a close ObserV-
er, an original thinker, and expresses
himself in a concise, a clear and a very
entertaining manner.
4 read your sketch the other day.
he continued, and was impressed Sc
riOuIy by it. l have an idea that we
are running rapidly to the end of our
string, on earth, aud whether or not
existing generations are to be
privileged to witness the extinguish-
ment Of their world. within the en-
suing year, is a problem that has
lately been worrying me q great deal.
The fact is, prophecies Of the
Mother Shipton type have been
common for many generations,
and such predictions are not
worth q copper, but it is also a
potent fact, known to all who study
Oatural philosophy, or the stars and
the laws Of nature, that there is moth
ing TO prevent this world from coming
to 40 end at a very early day. W. may
easily be knocked into notbinguess at
any unexpected moment.
Every now and then an important
star disappears from the armament.
and this Of itself is calculated to
awaken a dread Of the end Of the
world being near. Why not? Ours
could be as easily blOtted out as any
other. Stsrs have appeared and dis
appeared in the past, and the fact has
been recorded on numerous occasions.
\ star appeared to the Magl at the
birth OF our Savior. not now to be !
iaund in tue celestial host. A mag.
nihcent one is recorded as having
shone out in the constellation Of Cas-
on the 18th Of November 1872,
and its %brilliancy paled the most beau.
iiiGl stars in the sky. After eighteen
months it disappeared and never re-.
aud some astrologers have as.
serted that il was the same that ap-
aeared to guide the three wise men on
their way 10 the manger. Another
star appeared, October 10, 1904,
brighter than Venus, and a month or
10 after il faded from human view,
it was observed through pow
'rful telescopes by astronomers for a
iear or 30 after. These are not the
Instances Of the kind Herschel
md others have pointed out many
'tars which have completely disap.
aud It is well known that stars
Inning to-day with a splendid light
nay be invisible tomorrow The
most daring imagination could scarce
invent the stories current about the
ariations and occasional disappear
noe Of celestial bodies. Such
were well calculated
o excite terror among the
nhabitants Of earth, and make many
the end Of time near. If tho
our has struck for tho end Of other
what 10 to keep some pro
Iroul force from causing us TO leap