New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-01
NOT so BAD AFTER ALL.

Judging from the almost universal com
plants of mankind it would be inferred that
this world, 80 far as its material conditions
are concerned, is distressingy uncomfortable
planet to live on. Everybody seems to think
that it has been constructed on q radically
vicious plan. No spot on it's surface affords a
satisfactory abiding place. 1t is too hot or too
cold, or too wet or too dry. The climate here is
so enervating that man loses all energy and
simply vegetables, while there the air is so slim
ulating that it drives him to labors which wear
him out before his time. Every latitude and
longitude furnishes distinct annoyanccs and
trials most of which are quite as serious as
those of certain county in California, where,
according to the testimony of local physician,
no man can keep sound pair of lungs unless
he drinks enough whiskcy to eat up his liver
One would naturally suppose that universal
humankind would hail with delight the pros
pect Of any elemental revolution, feeling as
stiscd that in a general readiustment of natural
forces their surroundings would be made less
oppressive. But no sooner does a chance comet
come blazing into view than feeling of dread
shivers through the race, and every body is sud
denly satisfied with the constitution as it was
and the universe as it is, while all the astrono-
meis are kept busy assuring the tipd that the
object of dread is shooting away toward the
celestial pale.
But why should not a race which processes to
suffer so many woes from unkind elements
clutch at the hope that this cruel earth should
he cuhed into propriety by some comet whose
mission is to discipline erring members of the
solar system The earth has been made as
good as it is by series of catastrophcs in geo.
logic time, and the presumption is that the next
one will be rs beneicent as its predecessors
have proved. 1t is possible, to be sure. that
every living thing might incidentally be de-
stroyed in the purifying process, but public
spirited people could hardly object to that if the
sacrifice were necessary in order TO prepare n
suitable home for nober races II is an even
chance, however, that instead of hurting any,
one comet-stroke might work an immediate
Improvement in our physical SURROUNDINGS
Cometary gases mingled with our atmosphere
instead OF poisoning or choking the race might
i've Ills "a more inyigorating air to breathe and
destroy nothing but malaria aud Mosquitoes.
II the earth should be tilted lay the blow SO
that its axis stood Mt different angle with the
ecliptic, the new arrangement might insure "a
succession of kinder seasons Even if our
planet should be driven into n more eccentric
orbit, we might be swept into more genial eli
matte conditions. With all these beneticent
chances in view, the popular dread of a COLI
sion with some stray heavenly body can only
be accounted for on the theory that the dissat-
isfaction with our globe is not so profound or
universal rs it seems to be. When people COM
plain OF their environment they do not mean Go
assert that they eager to make the trial of
any other. They may not be willing to admit
that this is the best possible variety of planet.
but inwardly they feel reasonably certain that
it is quite rs good one rs they deserve.