The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-07-18
LUMINOUS OUTLOOK FOR FRANCE
panus. the Celebrated seer, MAKES soine
strange Predictions.

strange Predictions.
Several so-called prophets have arisen
in France during the last few months.
Of Them hardly one seems to nave any
raaI claim 10 the lofty title of prophet
The young girl who says she is 'no
mouthpiece of the angel, Gabriel seems
ia have more claim to the title than any
of the others. but even her claim seems
very ludicrous in the eyes OF those VIM
have given any time 10 the study OF the
mysterious art of diyination. Sueh per-
sons turn with a sigh of relief from tiie
vaoue predictions of these fortune tell
ers to the measured words which Papus,
probably the ablest living magician ana
seer in Europe, has just uttered IN re-
gard to the future of France.
Papus, remember, is no wlndbag' put
n trained student of occult sciences ana
an authority on all matters relating 10
magic and sorcery. Intellectually he
is as much above these little prophets
of Yesterday as Nostradamus is above
an itinerant gypsy fortune teller. lie
predicted the assassination " President
Carnot in 1893, a full year Sefore the
tragedy took place. Here are his very
words, as they were published IN the
Initiation: During the fourth month
of 1894 the president of the republic
will be in danger of death at the hands
of an assassin" Now, Garnot was as.
sassinated in June. and, as the astrolog.
ical year begins in March, the prediction
was clearly fulfilled.
Papus predicts dire events for the
coming year, and insists that they will
occur unless warded off by human VIII
power. Ever since the 18th century,
he says, "all the prophecies relating
to this period are in harmony ON one
point-namely that the year 1896 will
be disastrous one. Philippe Olivarius'
a monk of Citeaux, prophesied long ago
that in 1896 Paris and other great cities
would be destroyed by fire. Now, ! do
not believe that a calamity Of this kind
will happen, but / am confident that
during 1896 the French republic witt
suffer serious loss in many ways.
see danger of war, and not of war with
foreign country SO much as of civil
war. The government, too, will have
many troubles, and the president will
either resign or be dismissed. Incl
dentally, | may mention that early IN
1895 there was a clear foreshadowine
of the present Italian troubles in Africa
PERSONALLY, I look forward to the
coming year with great dread. Either
fate or Providence is determined that
the republic shall be severely tried. The
danger of a popular uprising and of all
the horrors of civil war have never beer
more great France it is true, will pass
safely through this crisis, and the an
archist movement which threatens will
unquestionably be crushed. But never.
theless the year will long be remem-
bered for its many calamities.
Gall that I have spoken of is fore.
Swallowed. and yet nothing of it may
happen. We who read the stars can only
foretell the events most likely to occur
at any given time. Human will is al
powerful, and as the strong will of &
man can ward off many peril in his
path. so the will of strong nation car
ward off even the worst catastrophes
The glory of astrology is that it en-
ables us to see the dangers ahead and tc
guard against them."-N. Y. Herald.