Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-09-30
The Year 1000.

that the world would come TO an end
at the expiration of one thousand
years of the era. This expectation in
Christian countries was universal
The year 1000 was q year of sus-
pense, terror and awe. The histories
of this dark period give vivid ac-
counts and incidents of the state Of
the people under the influence of this
awful apprehension. A writer in
Sunday at Home reproduces the pic
ture with much distinctress, and re-
lates an incident of the manner that
the hours were numbered on the
supposed final night of that year,
which might aptly suggest dralNatic
subject for the poet
When the last day of the year 900
dawned the madness had attained its
height. All work of whatever kind
was suspended. The market places
were deserted, the shops were shut,
the tables were not spread for meals !;
the very household FIRE remained un-
lit. 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 mo-
ment some terrible manifestation to
take place.
Silence prevailed everywhere, ex-
cept in the churches, which were al
ready thronged with eager devotees,
VINO prostrated themselves before the
shrines of their favored saints, i'm
ploring 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 corn
er of the sacred edifces, large as they
were, was densely crowded, and it
Decame impossible to find room for
more. But the multitude outside still
strove and clamored for admission,
filing the porches and doorways, and
climbing up the buttresses to find
refuge on the root which they could
not obtain inside.
A strange and solemn commentary
on the text which bid men to watch,
because "they know not whether the
Master of the house will come at eve
or at mid night, or at the cock-crow-
ing, or in the morning." was present
ed by the multitude which filed the
churches that night. Watch in very
truth they did. Not an eye was closed
throughout that Heightened vigil ; not
knee but what was bent in humblest
supplication not voice but what
Joined in the penitential chant, or put
up fervid entreaty for help and pro-
lection.
There were no clocks in those days,
but the fight of the hours was marked
by great waxen tapers with balls at
tached at intervals to them. These
fell, one after another, as the flame
reached the strings by which they
were secured, into q brazen basin be-
meath with clang which resounded
through the church.
At the recurrence of each of these
warning sounds the awe of the vast
assembly seemed to deepen and inten-
sify as each in terrible suspense sup
posed that between him and the OUT
burst of Divine wrath only the brief
est interval now remained.
Al last the night, long as it was,
begand to draw to an end. The chill
which precedes daylight pervaded the
air, and in the eastern sky the first
| pale CLEAN of morning began to show
itself The light grew stronger in the
heavens, and at last the rays Of the
risen sun streamed through the win
dows 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.
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