Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-12-19
A Terrible Prophecy.
THE RED SUNSETS. CYCLONES AND
EARTHQUAKES FoRETELLING CON-
ING DIsAsTER-How TO MEET 1T.

ING DIsAsTER-H0W TO MEET IT.
The recent mysterious appearance
following sunset and preceding sunrise
have attracted wide attention from
students of the skies and the people
generally. During the days OF recent
weeks the sun seems 10 have been OBJ
scured by thin veil Of dull leaden
hue which, as the sun receded toward
the horizon, became moro luminous.
then yellow, then orange, then red; aud
as night settled down upon the earth, a
dull purple. At first it was thought
these appearance, were ordinary sunset
reflections of light but It is now pretty
certain that they are either the misty
substance OF the tail Of some unseen
comet. in which the earth Is envelored,
or surrounding stratum Of world dust or
very small meteors. Professor Brooks,
of the Red House Observatory; Phelps.
n. Y, has turned bis telescope upon
these objects aud discovered what be
thinks are NJ Yrlads of telescopic mete-
ors. If 1t is uHorganized world dust, or
decomposed vapors, as The Democrat
and Chronicle of Rochester, n. Y, re-
marka: How IS this matter 10 be dis
posed oi2 Will il settle and form a de.
post upon the earth, or remain a par
tial Opaque shell about the earth to cut
off portion Of the suns light upon it'
Whatever the mystery ls, there ls no
denying that some very strange fore es
are at work in the upper airs
The terrible tolnadoes and cyclones
which have swept our own country, and
the fearful volcanoes and earthquakes
which have destroyed so many cities
and thousands Of people the tidal
waves which mysteriously rise aud fall
on coasts hitherto unvexed by them
the tremendous activity which is evident
in the sun by the constant revelation Of
enormous spots upon its surface-all
indicate unusual energy in the heavenly
bodies,
These circumstances recall Professor
Gfimmer's prophecies that from 1881
10 1887, the passage Of the five great
planets-Mars, Neptune, Jupiter, Ur.
anus and Saturn-around the sun would
produce strange and wonderful pheno-
mems. He says: The waters OF the
earth will become more or less poison
Gus. The air will be foul with noiso me
odors. Ancient races will disappear
from the earth He attempts to prove
his phophecy by the tact that 10 1920,
when Mars and Saturn made thelr
passage around the sun coincdentally,
great destruction and mortality visited
all parts of the globe. He also found
the same results in previous pereheliUn
passages of the planets, and argues that
these circumstances always produce
epldemics and destructive diseases
which will baffie the skill OF the most
eminent physicians; that the poor will
die by thousands. the weak and lutem-
perate falling first, those whose blood
has been impoverished by excess OF
work or dissipation next and only those
who are 10 comparative vlgor shall es-
cape to enjoy the era Of renewed acc
tivty and prosperity which will follow
the period of destruction.
Inasmuch as the entire world seems
subject to the sway OF the heavenly
bodies no part of the earth, he thinks,
can escape scourging. He even pre-
diets that America will lose over ten
millions Of people; that farmers will be
r stricken with fear and cease 20 till the
, soil; that famine will make human mis-.
Try more wretched. That hundreds will
9 fee TO overcrowded cities for aid 10
vain. That sudden changes in ocean
currents, temperature and surroundings
will entirely transform the face of ma
ure and climate OF countries; that the
air will be 30 foul with malaria and
, other noxious gases; that those who
, urvive will be troubled with disorders
q of the digestive organs. That MANY
, who escape other i'll, will bloat with
q dro psy and suddenly pass away, while
others will grow thin and drag out q
Ei- erable existence 10 indescribable
agony for weeks. Neuralgia pains 10
diff rent parts OF the body will torment
-, them. They will easily tire and become
lcs pondent. A faint, hot feeling will
b. ,ucceeded by chilly sensations while
, Authorizations and dread Of impending
il. i'll paralize all effort. The birds
in the air. the beasts of the field and
: even the fish of the sea will become
diseased, poisoning the air and poison
Ing the waters Of the globe.' We are
told on the other hand that those who
shall pass through this period of trial
will have large enjoyment of life aud
health. The earth will Yield more
asundanlly than ever before. The
animal kingdom will be more prolific
and life prolonged very materially
This prolongation Of life will be owing
to the healthy electric and magnetic
influences that will peryade the atmos-
phere. 1t would perhaps seem that the
present redness of the sun, and the
presence Of a belt or veil OF cosmic
matter, justified, in a measure, the pre-
dicton of Professor Grimmer, but dis
turbIng as his prediction may be we are
told for our comfort that the strong and
pure blooded need have little to fear in
these calamlties, that those who are
delicate or indisposed should adopt
means 10 keep The system well supper.
ted and the blood pure and that the
most philosophical and effective method
of accomplishing this is TO keep the