Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-07-13
END OF THE WORLD.
Speculations Concerning the Time
and Manner Of 1t.
Maybe the World VIII just wIther Away
Evidence That the Poles Have Often
Changed Their Position In
the Caaf


the Cast.
The manner in which the world will
end is not, perhaps, matter of prime
Importance to the present generation,
but it is a question in regard to which
even the unlearned may be permitted
to be curious A sacred writer has re-
marked that when the final catastrophe
comes the heavens will be rolled to-
gether as scroll and the earth will
melt with fervent heat He had prob
ably seen volcanoes, experienced earth
quakes and so gathered some idea OF
the irresistible character OF subterra-
mean forces. A commonly received the
ory among scientists is that the atmos-
phere will gradually be absorbed into
the surface OF the earth; that lakes,
rivers and the seas will dry up, and
in the process animal and vegetable
life will necessarily disappear. Some
writers on astronomy have depictured
with graphic and touching detail the
last man in this withered and icy world
retreating toward the equator and OK
piring in the only locality whero re-
NAMED drop OF water and lingering
bit of vegetation. Recent writers have
advanced other theories that are plaus-
ible, and suggest the coming of the ca
tastrophe In an era not so remote. We
know that the surface OF the earth on
which we live is q crust or she'll spread
thinly over we know not what. Under
us are imprisoned forces capable OF
shattering the crust and annihilating
us at any moment We enjoy regular
seasons and certain equability OF
climate owing to the fact that in
its annual revolution round the sun
the earth always presents its axis
at a certain angle to that lumi-
nary, by which means we have alter
nately summer and winter. All life
depends on the amount of heat we re-
ceive from the sun. and the amount OF
heat on the Obliquity with which its
rays strike the earth's surface. The
region between the tropics receives
them almost vertically, which renders
the heat nearly insupportable. The
temperate zones receive them at a
greater angle, and the polar regions so
obliquely that the amount of heat at
the poles is infinitesimal. AS a conse-
quence the polar summer, though long,
is cold and insufficient to melt the vast
masses OF ice AMI snow accumulated
during the winter, which renders all
forms of life impossible.
Letus suppose that by some unfore-
seen contingency the earth were slight
ly turned from its present position in
relation to the sun and compelled to
present the ends OF its axis at differ
ent angle to that body. Then the sun
rays would be distributed over the sur
face OF our planet in such manner
that what are now the torrid regions
might become temperate, the temperate
regions polar, and the polar regions,
receiving the polar rays vertically,
would become tropical The regions
which we now occupy would become
sterile, covered with ice and, OF course,
Those of their teeming
who were not frozen to death
or had not perished by famine would
be obliged to emigrate to the parts of
the earth thus rendered temperate or
tropical If in the new distribution these
regions formed part of the dry Ian d.
that is, If theyEere not within the linn
its OF the present ocean.
Astronomers will tell you that this
sugges ion is impossible and absurd.
Why is it impossible? Biologists say
that great part of the United States
and the northern part of Europe were
some thousands OF years ago covered
with coating of ice. The traces OF its
action remain in striated rocks, and
immense powders torn from the noun
Iains Of which they formed a part and
carried to considerable distances. Sim
liar effects of this glacial action are
seen In the southern parts OF South
America and elsewhere on the earths
surface. On the other hand the islands
north OF Siberia and far within the po-
ar circle are filed with the bones of
animals that must have accumulated
when there prevailed torrid heat
What do these signs Of climate that
once prevailed in localities where an
1ther climate entirely different is now
'ound indicate? Simply that the angle
If the axis of the earth and the ecliptic
mas changed several times since life be-
gan on its surface. This the astrono-
ners that is some of them say can
iot happen again, because the earth
las assumed the form OF an oblate
lpherold, that is, it is fiattened at the
poles, and has consequently an equa-
.0rial diameter greater by twanty-seven
niles. more or less, than its polar di-