The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-10-09

In connection with the above special dis
patch the European edition III ting New
York Herald continues TO publish interest
ing parallels between the unusual ntmUs-
phcric conditions experienced throughout
central Sud western Europe within the
last month ANA those set forth in VI.
Flammarion's absorbing scientific novel
LA Fin du Monde, - as prccurSory to the
collision between his comet and the earth
In the twenty fifth century
With the remarkable heat and dry at
mosphero In Europe FOR weeks past, con
dition unrccorticd heretofore in The wealth
III annals, the comparisons presented are
uuicicnt TO greatly interest not alone the
world OF science but the multitude Of lay
readers. and II ii not surprising hat the
discussion has engaged the attention of
the Paris public.
England and France, for instance, have
endured such intolcrablc weather that
horses have collapsed in the street. and
numerous casts OF sumstrokc have been
sepurtod-this in so late month rs Sep
TENDER
Curiously like this is the situation pre-
sentcd so graphically in NJ. Flanmariun's
work, and following which this admirable
writer thus leads up to tho final approach
OF the comet to the carths surface:
During the night of July 1874 the comet
spread over nearly the entire sky, and whirl-
ing winds of fire could be seen 10y the naked
eye oddyinR atou, al axis oblluc to the
zenith The appearance was That OF army
Of flaming mCtcur- in whose midst the flashing
lightning produced the effect OF a. furious com
bat The burning star had revolution OF its
own and seemed to be conyulsCd with pnin,
like living thing Immense juts OF flame is
sued from various oenters, some of "a grccuish
hue, others rcd as blood, while the most bril-
liant were of : dazzling whitcnuse. II WAS evil
dent that the sun was acting powerfully upon
this whirlpool OF gases. accompanying certain OF
them, forming decorating compounds. Clcctri-
Tying the nearer portions and rcpcll!ns the
smoke from about the immense nucleus which
was bearing down upon the world.
The orb OF day seemed 10 30 down in sea
OF gold and purple. Its rcd disk Disappeared
below tho horizon, but the stars did not rise.
and night did not corrc. To tho daylight sue.
cccded n day OF comctsry and lunar sp.eudor.
illuminated by da.2iiLg i.SEt, recalling that
OF The aurora borcal-, hut more intense, vm.,-
mating FROM an iaI;u-reG blazing focus which
haj not been visible during the day hccrusc II
had been below the horizon, nut which would
certainly have rivaicd the aur ia briiliancy.
Amid the universal rla!pt OF nature this lumi
nous center rose in tho wcSt almost ut the
same time win the full moon. which climbed
the sky with IL like s2cr:ilclal victim ascend
ing the funeral pyrc. Tho moon paed rs il
mounted higher but the comet inc cased in
pTlEhIilSsS ae llc SIN shllk beicW the western
horizon, and ROW when she hour Of night hmi
come it reigncd sug'e..e. = vaporous, scarlet
gun, with flames OF yellow and green, like i'm
,ncuse extended wirgs. To the terrified spec
tator II seemed soma enormous giant taking
sovereign possession Of earth and sky.
Suddenly as the terrified spectator gazcd ST
lent and awcstrUCk, holding his very breath
in stupor of fear, tho vault Of heaven seemed
rent asunGCr from ze:.jth to horizon. and from
bis yawnin6 ohHsln ~ from an enormous mouth
was vo:nitcd forth Jets of dazzling grceniah
flame, envcloping the earth in glare so blind
ing that al who had not already sought shell.
ter, men and women, the old and the young,
the bold a. well as the tinid. all rushed with
the impetuosity Of al avalanche to the cellar
ways, already choked with people. Many were
crushed 10 death or succuElbcd to upoplcNy,
Rneurisnal rupiUres and wild dcliriuni re.
quilting in brain fever.
Computation had Indicated that the earth
would penetrate thu heart Of the comet ms I.
BULLET would penetrate cloud and that the
transit, reckoning from the first instant of
contact Of the outer zones OF the cumct's at.
mosphere with those Of the earth, would CON.
sumo g. hours-a fact easily established in
Asrnuch e, the comet, having a diameter *
times that q! the earth, would be trHycr-Ctl
not centrally, but at One-qUHrtcr of thu dis
tance from the center, with velocity of about
1900 l.i!umetcrs per hour. Nearly ~ min.
utos after the first instant of contact the heat
OF this incnndescent furnace and the horribl,
uGcr of sulphur became so sitfocnting that .,
few moments more Of such torture would have
eufhced TO destroy every VcstiSr of life.
The crisis had passed. Little by little men
recovered their self possession, rejoicing In
the mere fact Of living
While Paris has been discussing tho M.
preaching comet and the theories Of VI
Flamnariuu about the fin du monde.
England has had peculiarly interesting
excitement about lunar phenomenon no
tiCpl NV SuVprrl 1h.ary,r. In, chou,