The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-12-03
THE COMET.
Hours OF Alarm and Dread.
To the Rditor of the rntelllxencer.

To the Editor of the Intelligencer;
The information given by astronomers
about the comet and the opinions express
sed by them, that it was coming with IN
conceivable speed, directly towards our
mundane sphere, caused much interest,"
with many OF our citizens.
The latest prediction was that It would
strike our little planet at 9:45 Sunday
night, and II did, 1t would give us a piack
eye, knock us out of time, ana send US all
where the preachers tell us we Will SO,
some to the abode of the righteous, and
the balance to the realms OF sheol.
Nome OF our citizens looked with deep
interest upon this matter fraught with
such dire and stupendous consequences to
the little world we inhabit, and the billion
and a half of people who inhabit 1t. This
was a serious question.
Some went to church before the schedule
time 10 proprietor coming events what
ever they might be, and afterwards kept q
sharp lookout for the unwelcome visitor.
A goodly number were on the streets, with
anxious faces, with heads thrown back
and eyes looking up taking In the pano-
rama of the heavens In search OF the
strange intruder, or II it did not come
then for the meteoric display which the
wise astronomers said would come and be
a glorious sight to behold, IL there was no
again by the present generation. Among
this gathering OF the interested, curious
and the fearful was the writer.
The wonderful fall OF meteors 10 1888
had been told OF by the older citizens who
witnessed 1t, who In graphic language
portrayed Its terrible appearance as num-
berless burning meteors shot across the
sky, lit up the heavens and alarmed and
! frightened the people who believed that
THE awful day OF Judgment had come. The
younger ones listened with sharpened In
terest and anxiety to see, not the comet
coming on time, to knock US out OF exist
ence, for that they didn't want, but the
shooting OF the meteors, the pyrotechnic
display of the heavenly fire -works.
The clouds that had hung over us in the
morning, cleared away 10 the afternoon
aud left an almost cloudless sky at night.
The moon, high up in the sky, shone out
clearly, n the stars twinkled in the
clear cool night az we watched and Won
dered II the destroyer would come, or II it
did not, would we be blessed with a sight
of the meteors. We looked, and looked,
and looked in vain for the dreaded mon
ster until the time for its coming had
passed. II did not como nor could 1t be
seen anywhere Ia the heavens. Had q
mistake beer made. Was 1t possible
We began to reflect ON the situation.
Hopes sprung up that all was not lost and
that we might yet escape the horrible
doom which q short time before we
thought awaited us. Then one said that
Father Lewis of Washington CITY, and
Prof. Kerr of Chicago, had said the comet
was 100, 600 900 miles from us, had passed
the nearest point to the earth and was now
going from 1t ct the rate of 10000 miles
an hour. This was glorious news Why
did we not think Of it before. How many
dreadful approximations it would have
saved but we did not, We heaved a deep
sigh Of relief as we thought there was
still q chance for q % mortal on this
earth.
When the danger was passed we looked
with q pleasure unspeakable upon the
brilliant moon and the bright, bright stars
that bedecked the skies, The night was
clear, the atmosphere was COO and crisp.
There was Joy within us, n in a happy
mood we sang the good old song
The moon was shining silver bright,
The stars with glory crowned the night,
HIGH on Q limb hat same old coon
N singing TO himself this tune,
Get out Of de way you're aliunlncky
Clear de track for old Kentucky.
len we waited the appointed time for
the meteoric display, which some wise
philosopher bad fixed from II to 2 o'clock.
The our was Q long time coming, for we
were anxious to see the sight when 1t did
come. We watched with the most intense
interest. For two hours every part OF the
heavens was scanned with keen eyes, but
not one meteor could be seen. What was
Some one suggested that the brilliant
light OF the noon bscured them. No, this
could not be for they were seen Wednes-
day night when the moo was mp, and
SO We watched on until late In the night
but not a shooting star did we see, Then
we indeed saw that another mistake had
been made.
Moments Of reflection came and we re-
allied that philosophers and astronomers
like lawyers and doctors will differ. One
In the plentitude Of his wisdom said the
comet would strike US at 9:45, but 1t did
not. Others said 1t would cross the earth's
track eight hours after the earth had
passed apd scatter gaseous meteors and
meteoric STONES over the earth. This was
not true. lOther mach wiser ones said
1t was . great distance of and was nov
going swiftly from us, II any Of Them
were correct it Is the last, but ] have my
doubts that any comet was In sight. There
may have been another mistake.
There is n happy thoughtleft to cheer
MS, as Brother Jackson said: .Still the
earth do novel, and we are yet on it.
JACKSON.