McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-10-09
How the World Has Been Frightened
by Stars.


How the World Has Been Frightened
by Stars.
In 1872 magnificent star of the first
magnitude suddenly appeared, effacing
by its brilliancy the most beautiful stars
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 concl'lded
from it that the last Judgment was near.
Thirty-two years later another new star
appeared. From the day of its appear
ance, the 10th Of October, 1904, accord
ing to Arago, it was white it surpassed
stars of the first magnitude in bright
ness, also Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn,
which were near it. Many compared it
to 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
November the twilight which effaced
Jupiter did not prevent this star from
being visible. On the 10Th of NOvem-
Der Kepler perceived it for the last time,
but at Turin, when it appeared in the
east, at the end Of December and at the
beginning of January, its light was
fainter. On the Goth of March, 1906, it
was smaller in appearance than Saturn,
but it exceeded in brightness the stars
of the third magnitude. On the Dist OF
April it seemed equal to the shining star
of the third magnitude. It diminished
imperceptibly; on the 9Th of October it
was still seen, but with difficulty on ac-
count 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 he stihed, of the
confagration of the world, 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 trans
lation:
After 1,500 years. dating from the concep-
ton of the Virgin, this eightyeighth year will
be strange and full of dread it will bring with
perverse world does not fall into dust, if the
earth ard seas are not annihilated, all the en-
pires of the world will be overthrown, and af-
Fiction will Cypress the human race.
This prediction was later renewed in
favor or disfavor of the seventeenth cent
ury, and the Mercure de 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 INVESTIGATIONS
worked in 1924 by the German astrolo-
ger Stoffler. According to him, ON the
goth of February of that year, the con-
junction Of the planets must produce a
universal deluge. Astrologers gave
faith to it like the common herd the
sinister news soon traversed the world,
and they prepared themselves to see the
universe pass from time into eternity.
Cali the provinces of Gaul, says an au-
thor of that period, "were in strange
fright and doubt of universal munda-
ton, and such that our fathers had not
seen, or was known by historians or
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 pro-
vision 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 a 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 Toulouse,
another Noah constructed ship to serve
as an ark to his family and friends, and
probably, also, to few couples Of ami
mails. This was not the only case. Ac-
cording to the account of the historian
Bodin, "There were many infidels who
made arks to save themselves, although
Gods promise and oath, never again to
drown man by a deluge, was preached
to them" Many and many time the
prediction was given out, and it always
found the same number of believers, al
though each time the event gave it
positive denial. In 1854 the fear caused
by an announcement of this kind was so
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.