New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-13
THE END or THE WORLD.

After ALL what Is the use OF getting into
'pother over the outcome OF the Chicago Con-
vention. or Of any other gathering for that mat
ter? For. according to Samuel Hendricks0n, a
prophet. and. we may add. one OF the best
now In the business. the world is going
to end on January 4, 1900, ut II o'clock
in the morning This careful forecast Of the
exact moment at which the final cataclysn
will occur shows I'm itself the high rank
of Mr. UendrcksOn as n yaticinatOr. An
ordinary prophet would have conented himself
with naming the day Of the disaster, or perhaps
only saying that 1t would take place about such
n date. The end of the world has been fire.
uucntly predicted in that unsatisfactory way
1t is an exceedingly Objectionable method, and
entails great deal of annoyance. II people
are told, for instance. that the end will como
about April l." how are they going to ar
range their engagements. 1t may occur two or
three days earlier than that dare, and so take
them unawares; or 1t may take place two or
three days later giving irrevercnt small boys
n chance to cry out April Fool Mr.. Hen
Erickson is not that kind of a prophet. He
gives not only the exact day but the exact
hour. II O'Clock in the morning. so that nobody
need lose money by purchasing matinee tickets
for the afternoon of the fatcful day.
We are obliged to say, however. that In one
little detail Mr.. Hendrcksons prediction seems
to be defective. When he gave 1t out. some
weeks ago, he declared that the world must
erd on the date he mentioned, because the
Beast, whose number Is 666, would appear on
the throne of France Oh Saturday. July 4. 1896,
and 1t is admitted by all prophets that the
world will come to an end just three years and
a half after the coming Of the Beast The
Beast is Louis Napoleon, supposed to have been
killed in Zululand seventeen years ago. but
whom Mr. HendricksDn knows TO be still alive.
and ready TO assume the role of the Beast.
Now it does not appear that Louis Napoleon as
ccnded the throne OF France last Saturday week.
Certainly no intimaton of the fact was caDled
to this country. Doubtless this apparent break
in the chain Of prophecy will be nuts for the
sccptics. who will say that II proves Mr.. Hen
Erickson to be deluded visionary. But after
ALL how do they know that Louis did not assume
the throne on the day predicted? When the world
last knew him he was modest. well-mannered
young man. who would naturally shrink from
making an abhorred spectacle OF himself In
less it was absolutely necessary, therefore, ne
would not choose to reign as Beast in mat
fierce light which beats upon throne 1t IS
not pleasant for n man to appear before MS
fellows as q Beast, even when he knows that
he is thereby fulfilling a prophecy, and vindi-
eating the sacred science OF hermeneutlcs. so
we rather fancy that the unfortunate NAHUM
fortunate alike In his death and In the manner
of his resurrectlon-had the throne sent by ex
press to some secluded spot in the country,
where he is now accomplishing the DEGREES OF
fate by sitting on It,
But the Beast will not be able to remain hid
den for long. According to Mr.. Hendricksons
prophecy. there Is stirring work before him.
During the next three years and half he Will
have to subduc three kings and accomplish
other deeds that are to presage the end or all
things. The three kings, " hose names are not
given, may try to resist, but they VIII nave 10
succumb to the inevitable 1t will be matter
OF small consequence TO them, however, Tor
they have only short term to serve. anyhow.
At II o'clock on the morning OF January 4, 1900,
this little planet will go out of commission and,
rs It will probably be burned up. 1t won't even
exist ms a dead world The prospect Is one cal
culated to make the bravest man tremDle, I'M
less he happens to be prophet himself. For
prophets never get excited over their predic-
tions they have found them to fail too often.
Yet, on the other hand, they never get dis
couraged. When the world fails to end on
schedule time they Immediately begin doing
sums to prove that 1t will surely end Mt some
future date. AS this Is source Of perennial
enjoyment to the prophets. and interferes with
the happiness Of no one else there is not the
slightest reason why they should not keep on
doing so indefinitely.