The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-15
The Year 1000.

1t was believed in the Middle Ages that
the world would come to an end at the expira-
ton of one thousand years of the era. This
expectation in Christian countries was uni
versal The year 900 was year of sus-
pense, terror and awe. The histories of
this dark period give vivid accounts and
incidents of the state of the people under
the influence of this awful apprehension.
A writer in Sunday at Home reproduces
the picture with much distinctness, and
relates an incident of the manner that the
hours were numbered on the supposed
final night of that year, which might aptly
suggest dramatic subject for the poet.
When the last day of the year 999
dawned the madness had attained its
height All work of whatever kind was
suspended. The market places were de-
serted. The shops were shut. The tables
were not spread for meals; the very house
hold fire remained unlit. Men when they
met in the streets scarcely saw or spoke to
one another. Their eyes had a wild stare
in them, as though they expected every
moment some terrible manifestation to take
place.
Silence prevailed everywhere, except in
the churches, which were already thronged
with eager devotees, who Frustrated them
selves before the shrines of their favored
saints, imploring their protection during
the fearful scenes which they supposed
were about to be displayed.
As the day wore on the number of those
who sought admission grew greater and
greater, until every corner of the sacred
edifces, large as they were, was densely
crowded, and it became impossible to find
room fer more. But the multitude outside
still strove and clamored for admission,
filling the porches and doorways, and
climbing up the buttresses to find refuge
on the roof which they could not obtain
inside.
A strange and solemn commentary on
the text which bids men to watch because
''they know not whether the Master of the
house will come at even or at midnight, or
at the cock-crowing, or in the morning, :"
was presented by the multitude which
filled the churches that night. Watch in
very truth they did. Not an eye was closed
Throughout that heightened vigil; not a
knee but what was bent in humblest sup
plication; not a voice but what joined in
the penitential chant, or put up a fervid
entreaty for help and protection.
There were no clocks in those days, but
the fight of the hours was marked by great
waxen tapers with balls attached at inter-
walls to them, These fell one after another,
as the fame reached the strings by which
they were secured, into brazen basin be-
meath with a clang which resounded through
the church.
At the recurrence of each of these warn
ing sounds the awe of the vast assembly
seemed to deepen and intensity as each in
terrible suspense supposed that between
him and the outburst of Divine wrath only
the briefest interval now remained.
At last the night, long as it was, began
to draw to an end. The chill which pre-
cedes daylight pervaded the air, and in the
eastern sky the first pale gleam of morning
began to show itself. The light grew
stronger in the heavens, and the fame of
JIe fiHulc Ildi6u DelOIc IL, dhu eO idSO DhO
rays of the risen sun streamed through the
windows on the white, anxious faces of the
watchers. The night had passed away.
A new day, a new century had begun.
The text that says that "no man knoweth
the day nor the hour, had new meaning.
Forty years ago speculation in stocks
was almost unknown. Within few years
some men have become immensely rich by
fortunate speculation in mining, oil, tele
graph, telephone and railroad stocks. The
contagion has spread Thousands of men
with small means small salaries-clerks,
professional men, lawyers, physicians, and
clergymen even-have dealt in margins,
with the expectation of becoming suddenly
rich. While one in a hundred may have
made something, the ninety-nine have been
sadly disappointed and lost all, Wall street
is the great maelstrom that has swallowed
the hard earnings of thousands upon thou
sands of unfortunate victims. Beecher has
quantity said that the angels hold their
noses when they look down on Wall street.
Is there any wonder that the anxious,
sleepless victims of Wall street should be-
como insane p NeeIicO- Le0dI Journal