, 1881-02-13
TIE WORLD'S END,

Ihc ~ ohLDo y I'm ~
SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT or \ nRooldYS
al.aTuEMAT1Cl4AN TO POSTPONE TIE CA
YAsTRurIlE - ,foTl1El: sulpToN VAN
Qr1Sl1ED BY FIGURES.
Ne,v 1ora Herald.
The great International Exhibition Of every
thing in general which is to be held at IT.
wood in 1855, has been termed, naturally
enough, the Next Worlds Fair. Purists have
objected to the phrase, opliyious Of Mother
Shipton's prophecy, alld have maintained
that it Should be called the Worlds Next
Fair. Like poultry that have their necks
twirlcd fair, they object to tho order Of pro-
cedure. Mother Shipton. it may or may not
be remembered, wrote
The world unto an end shall come
In 1881.
+ It is true that unworthy attempts have been
made Of late to uiscrcdit the old Indy, man
kind beginning to appreciate the necessity of
doing something to avert the catastrophe she
wrote so trrsuly about The responsibility
for her assertion has been, so to speak,
scattered. One writer declares that the
ttistici1 is all unauthorized Injection
Of modern ideas into mass of
ancient nonsense. Another land his
assertion was repeated by a correspondent Of
tie Herald last monthly maintains that this
particular couplet was taken from Piazza
Smiths and Philo 1sraels Interpretation Of
the hieroglypllics in the great gallery Of the
Pyramid None Of these attempts thus far
have been successful iii breaking Up the old
lady's position as Il prophecies. There was,
mot without profit on 'er in her own coun-
try,'' all edition Of her sayings published in
1862, and the world, rejoicing in nineteen
years Of prospective safety, went on marry
ing, giving III marriage, aud insurlng against
fire, accidents, and plate glass, with all utter
and astounding Disregard Of the end SO rap
idly approaching. It is now telt that SOME
thing must be done. It is certain that the
world will not come to an end before 1881,
and this is i proof that she was to that extent
correct. The well known theory of law,
;. Fa!sus in uIlo, falsus in omniGus," applied
inyttsely. shows TINT she is entirely to be be-
Iieyett. II a Mau can arrive ut correct coll-
ctusions even IN all Omnibus nc Should not
complain. Further proof III 1T Is needea) OF
the correctness Of ilcr assertion IS to be found
in the frequent disastrous failures OF the
Alilleritcs in their attempts to hasten the
progress Of events. .
As was said, sulhe measure Of relief is now
felt to BIZ necessary. There are 1llany i'm
portallt public Interests WHICH would suffer,
and lnany reforms Of public affairs which
will undoubtedly be interrupted, If Molher
'Shpton is not III solne way sat upon. The
obligation of contracts would be IMPAIRED
seriously. Douesiic relations would be IT,
stroyeA, and the sanctity Of The laws Of the
land would no longer be respected;
These facts being once tiiorouShly Under
some pi the most strikingiy original minds
III this country and this aye have been busl-
ly-cnsaScd Of late in the attelnpt to break
the 1orcc. Of the prophecy. 5one @ ii,rt,, remark-
tea,t Of tho old lady prevents her being
burned at the stake iu the cheerful and Ct
I.ctve nude of snrpteSsiHg }ieft{scai tf0th
III vogue ;t',loHE our ancestors, anu lile lneli
Whn lla:t desutcd their uazzitilG orlsfI1ai
minds to the sitting upu1n Muther ShlptOn
Iaye 1T length been reduced to the Necessity
Of cinpsC: sing mathematics instead of lire.
!, One ut c!ac5a gentlemen, resident III BROOK
i3E who l'c4.gt:d the reporter, with tears Ill
his eyes, to suppress his name, aeclarce yes,,
i.l4fay That, by dint of hard work, he had
been able To postpone the general wlntt-up Of
earthly alT;liSS Tor seven years. 1t 1SN't
Mlch,'' lie said sadly, ''but if everybody
would do c,yel 50 much we Needn't worry Tor
some ti.n:.'
!" Da: iow 10 you come to pitch upon 1883
rs the tinai date::'" asked the reporter. 1T
seems, 1nathematically, as 1t 1881 was
much more mystic date. II reads backward
and turWard the SAME, which nh other year
will do for 11o years 10 con!c, and it tairly
bristles witl, o which is the magic number,
as yuu know"
True said the unknown bencfactor of
mankind, but it is 50 near .,,
IL i:ave worked for ,latii years OH this,..'
.l1c continued, for appreciate the necessi-
ty Ut g2ttiEGit done in time. At last have
constructed Il view Ut the age Of the world
w'l;rt fixes things satisfactorily Until
(as s;id} the year ISIS. Something more
will huvc to he .ulle, Of course, but am too
old tn try it again. indeed, no man can do
this kind of !. thing twice and live. III the
first pee, you !Ss, k,'"w' te millennium begins
=. l,."- ,.},1s Jnn. *,--hor3 the rar,nrtar