Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-29
TIE LAST OF THE YEAR 1000.
Strange superrI,ioBs and Awful A3prehen-
sions-sasau Embossed.
fsuuday at H0me.l

The laborers in the fields and the artisans
in the towns could not be induced TO 90
about their daily tasks with any regularity
Notwithstanding that theil daily bread d.
pended upon it) for thinking Of the out.
break Of Divine wrath which was about 10
take place. There were some wise aud
sober men, even in that age Of darkest g.
norance, who endeavored 10 persuade the
people that their alarm was without reason
able foundation, aud even IL this bad been
otherwise, tina: Il would st.ll beiit them
20 90 about the duties OF lie with dill
gence and iaithiulncss, rs unto God-so
that the Lord. II lie should come, a. they
expected, might fnd them watching. The
terrified and cOnscience-siricten men paid
no heed 10 remonst-anccs ike these, bat
gathered eagerly around fanatic monks or
hak-cTnzed pilgrims, who poured INTO their
ears their tale OF horrors, ever gro wing
more wild and terrible as the last week 81
the year 1000 went By. When the last dgT
Of that week dawned the mldness had at.
tained its height. All work, OF whatsoever
kind, was suspended. The m7rkot-pjgcc'
were deserted the shops were shut; the
tables were not spread for meals; the yer7
household fires remained unllghted. Men,
when they met in the streets, scarcely saw
or spoke TO one another. Their eyes had a
wild stare in them, rs though they expected
every moment some terrible manifestation
to take place. a strange, unnatural siieu,e
prevailed everywhere except in the church
cs, which were already thTOnged with
eager devotces, who pTostrted thcm'elves
before the shrine. Of their ilyorite saints,
lmploring their protection during the fear
ful scene. that were on the point OF beng
displayed. As the day wore on the numJcc
Of those who sought admission grcT
greater and greater. until every corner OF
the sacred cdifices. large a. these were,
were densclv crowded, and IL became
impossible TO find room for more. Bat
the multitude outside Sill strOve and
clamored for admission, filing the Dorches
and dOOrwsys and climbing up the but
trcsses 70 fluid a refuge Oh the roofs which
they could not obtain inside. i was gene
rally believed that the expected lo)siny Of
Satan would take place at some time or
other before the night was ended, but a.
what precise moment no onecouid say.
strange end solemn commentary on toe
text which bids men 10 watch because they
know not whether the master OF tlc
house will come at IL OF at midnight or al
cock.crowing or in the morning" was pre-
scented by the mullitudes which filled the
churches that night. Watch in every
truth they did. Not ali eye was closed
throughout that heightened vigil. Not
a knee but was bent in humbiGst sup.
plcatiou. Not voice but iOnedI e peni-
tential chant or put up feryent enIieaty
for help and protection. There were 10
clocks in those days; but the Hight OF the
hours was marked by great waIen npers
with metal balls attached ut intervals t0
them. These fell, one after another, as the
Games reached the strings by winch they
were secured, into braZen basin beneath
with n clang which TesOunded through the
church. AT the recurrence OF each OF these
warning sounds the awe % the vast assem-
big seemed TO deepen aud intensity, As
each realized the terrible fact that between
him and the ouiburst Of Divine wrath only
the briefest interval could now remain.
At last the night. long as it was. be-
gan 10 draw 10 an end. The chill which
precedes dsybreak peryaded the air, AMI in
the eastern SKY the first pale CLEAN Of morn
inc began TO show itself. This must be the
signal for the long pent-up anger OF heaven
90 show Itself. Satan was even now being
loosed from his bondage. But no; tue
light grew stronger IN the heavens, and the
flame Of the candles paled before It, and at
last the rays of the risen sun streamed
through the windows and fell on the white
and anxious faces Of the watchers. The
night had passed away. \ new day,
new year, new century, had begun.
The terror which had possessed their souls
was after all. God be thanked for il, a de-
fusion.