Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-04-29

Bouquet OF VlOlets. JocKy CluD; Woou
Violet and Baby Soaps.
LUCY CARTER.
THE PLANETS IN THE HEAVENS
EVIL PROPHECIES FOR THE NEXT FIVE
YEARs-A DRESS PARADE OF WORLDS,
SUCH AS HAS NOT BEEN SEEN FOR AGES
TWO LAGGARDs,
&C., &C., sc.
It is only once in an age. or in many
ages, that the planets in this solar system
arrange themselves in such relation to
each other as they hold to-day. Along an
imaginary line drawn from the earth to
the sun and projected right onward for
millions upon millions of miles, the plan
ct Jupiter, beyond that the ringed planet
Saturn, and still further out the planet
Neptune, will be ranged almost as if they
we're strung together. Between the earth
and the sun, Venus is swinging into line'
and beyond the sun, and between it and
Jupiter, little Mercury is also approach
ing the line of march. But before these
two laggards will have joined the celestial
dress parade, the great planets will have
already broken ranks to proceed in their
circling about the sun. The phenomenon
is not of brief duration, like an eclipse or
like the transit of the planets Venus and
Mercury across the suns disk. The &C.
lestial machinery in this instance is more
complicated and ponderous. According
to the compilers of the Nautical Almanac
the conjunction, or time of nearest ap-
proach of Jupiter and Saturn, &C.
Cured Tuesday; but the grand march will
not break up until next week.
Prof. Henry Draper of New York, was
asked whether the event is OF importance
to astronomers. He replied that it could
serve only one end and that was merely to
compute chronological events. The Chi
nese, he continued, paid great attention
to- astronomy in ante-historical times and
they have always linked their knowledge
of astronomy with astrology. Historical
events were noted by their writers as TAX
ing place while the stars held certain rela-
lions to each other. When we read these
writings we have to compute the move
mentS of the stars to learn when note
worthy events took place. Any such unu-
sual combination of the heavenly bodies as
this is an aid in computing the position of
the planets in those far off ages.
Professor Grimmer, of Cambridge,
Mass, has recently given forth scientific
prophecy equally as dreadful as Mother
Shipton's'' inasmuch as it comprehends
the depopulation of the earth by frightful
plaques. Professor Grimmer says:
'sThe perihelia of the 1--WE great planets,
Mars, Jupiter, Uranus. Neptune and Sat-
| urn, will be coincident in 1876. I simp-
ly state the effect which the approaching
perihelia will produce according to astro-
logical deduction. From 1881 to 1887 will
be one universal carnival of death. No
place on earth will be entirely free from
the plague. The Pacific coast will not
suffer anything in comparison to any other
portion of the globe. Diseases will appear
| the nature of which will battle the skill
of the most eminent physicians. Every
drop of water in the earth, on the earth
and above the earth will be more or less
| poisonous. The atmosphere will be foul
| with noisome odors, and there will be few
constitutions able to resist the coming
scourge; therefore, prepare, ye that are
| constitutionally weak, and Incorporate,
and gluttonouS, for, mans last home, the
grave" From the far East the pestilen-
tial storm will sweep, and its last struggle
will end in the far West. In 542 and 1866
association. Now $40 and 1866 were the
worst plague eras of which the world has
any record.
From 542 to 546 it has been estimated
that from Is, 100000 to 120. 1000. 900 victims
suffered death by the plague ttGibbOnS'
History vol. 8, chapter Il; also "Cous-
in's History of Rome,'' vol. 2, page 1857
In 554, 10000 died each day in CONSTANT
nople. Alexandria (EgypJ) lost in 542
$4,000; and in 543 10000 of her inhabi-
tants by the plague. In 1880, $4,000 out of
$4,000 died tbs city of Marseilles in less
than five weeks. But as bad as were
those times, they will only approximate
the horrors of seven years many OF us are
doomed never to witness. ALL the weak
and Incorporate are sure to die. There is
no escape from the memorable plague-fend.
Fortunate indeed are those whose blood is
pure and free from faint or weakness, for
they alone will survive the wreck of the
human family The Incorporate and weak
will join hands and go down to their graves
in tens of thousands. Ancient races will
be blotted from the face of the earth.-
Asia will be nearly depOpulated and the
islands that border Asia will suffer fright
fully from the scourge. The countries that
join the northeastern portion of Asia will
suffer the ravages of the plague. Russia
will be the first European nation that will
suffer. Unless correct sanitary measures
are taken the plague will be found devas-
tating cities on the Atlantic coast of
America. America will lose more than
Is 900, 900 Of her inhabitants if the sewers
of her cities are. as imperfect as they are
to-day.
WHAT TO EXPECT.
There will come storms and tidal waves
that will swamp whole cities, earthquakes
that will swallow mountains and towns
and tornadoes that will sweep hundreds of
villages from the face of the earth; noun
tains will tremble, totter and fall into sui
phurous chasms; the geography of the
earth will be changed by volcanic action;
mountains will toss their rocky heads up
through the choicest valleys, valleys will
appear where mountains stood; Skillful
mariners will be lost in the ocean, owing
to the extraordinary variations of the
compass; navigators will grow pale with
alarm at the capricious reflections of the
needle; volcanoes that have been dormant
for centuries will awaken to belch forth
their lava with more violence than when
in theft pristine vigor: rainfalls will del
uge valleys, and mountain streams will en-
large their beds and become mighty tor
rents; fires will start spontaneously and
devastate whole forests: great fires will ocs
cur in many cities, and some will be TO-
tally destroyed; there will be remarkable
displays of electricity, frightful to wit
nesss Wild beasts will leave their natural