The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-02-17
HOW THE WORLD HAS BEEN
FRIGHTENED BY STARS.

y
in the sky. 1t remained for eighteen
months and disappeared.
Astrologers said that this appearance
was the same as that to the magi at the
birth OF Jesus Christ, and concluded
from it that the last judgment was near.
Thirty,two years later another new star
appeared. From the day of its appear
ance, tho 10th of October, 1904, accord
ing to Arago,-i was white; it surpassed
stars of the first magnitude in brightness,
also Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, which
were near it. Many compared it with
Venus. Those who had seen the star in
1872 found that the new one exceeded
Venus in brightness. 1t did not appear
to become fainter in the second half of
the month of October; on the 9Th of No
vember the twilight which effaced Jupi-
ter did not prevent this star from being
visible, On the 10th of November Kep-
ler perceived it for the last time, but at
Turin, when it appeared in the east, at
the end of December and at the begin
ming of January, its light was fainter
On the Goth of March, 1905, it was small
er in appearance than Saturn, but it ex-
ceeded in brightness the stars of the third
magnitude. On the Dist of April it
seemed equal TO the shining star of the
third magnitude. 1t diminished imper-
ceptibly; on the Sth Of October it was
still seen, but with difficulty on account
of the twilight. In March, 1906, it had
become completely invisible.
These appearances, like all extraordi-
nary phenomena, excited terror and
awakened ideas. not to be stifed, of the
confagration of the word, the fall of the
stars, and the end of time. One of the
most memorable predictions is that of
1888, announced in emphatic Latin verse,
of which the following is translation
sAfter 1900 years, dating from the
conception of the Virgin, this eighty
eighth year will be strange and full of
dread; it will bring with it sad destinies.
If, in this terrible year, the perverse
world does not fall into dust, if the earth
and seas are not annihilated, all the en-
pires of the world will be overthrown,
and affection will oppress the human
race"
This prediction was later renewed in
favor or disfavor of the seventeenth cen
tury, and the Mercure dc France an
nounced the greatest revolution for the
year 1888. It then passed for having
been found in the tomb of Regiomon-
tanus. Authors did not think how right
they were to describe this memorable
epoch under the title of revolution.
But while considering these predic-
tions, the list of which would be longer
than at first imagined, we cannot help
relating the curious mystifcations worked
in 1924 by the German astrologer Stoffier.
According to him, on the Goth of Fobru-
airy of that year, the conjunction of the
planets must produce universal deluge.
AstrologerS gave faith to it like the COM
mon herd; the sinister news soon travers-
ed the world, and they prepared them
selves to see the universe pass from time
into eternity. 'tAll the provinces of
Gaul," says an author of that period,
''were in strange fright and doubt of a
universal inundation, and such that our
fathers had not seen, or was known by
historians OF others, by means of which
men and women were in great fear. And
many removed from their low dwelling
places and found higher spots, and made
provision of meal and other matters, and
had professions and general and public
prayers, that it might please God to have
pity On His people"
Fear seized on q great many minds
Those who lived near the sea or rivers
left their abodes, and sold, at immense
losses, doubtless to unbelievers, their
properties and goods. At T.dlouse,
another Noah constructed a ship to serve
as sll dIh W LIS ltsAlAlJ dLItt 1LICLUo3 StItA
probably, also, to few couples of ami
mails. This was not the only case. Ac
cording to the account of the historian
Bodin,N "There were many infdels who
made arks to save themselves, although
Gods promise and oath, never again to
drown man by deluge, was preached to
them" Many and many time the pre-
diction was given out, and it always found
the same number of believers, although
each time the event gave it positive de-
nial. In 1884 the fear caused by an an
nouncement of this kind was 50 great
that the churches were unable to contain
those who sought refuge in them. A
great number made their wills without
rejecting that it was useless if all the
world was to perish; and others gave
their goods to the priests, in the hope
that their prayers would delay this day
of judgment.
REV. Gro. Fl. Thayer, of Bourbon,