The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
A STRANGE EPIDEMIC.
An English Correspondent Allows q
Weird Imagination Full Play.

The epidemic we are about to describe is
as yet unknown to modern man. No notice
of a visit can be traced even amongst the
traditions of the most sentient peoples
But there is reason TO believe that, in pre-
historic times, 1t has frequently depopu-
lated our earth 1t may be travelling to-
wards US; though no data can be obtained
which would enable us to predict the date
or even to approximate to the time; 1t may
reach our world next year, next month or
even next week, and be of such a malignant
intensity as TO destroy not only the whole
race of man, but all animal and vegetable
life.
The first symptoms of this disorder will
be sense OF loss of weight. although our
bulk is not diminished, and we require as
many pounds in the scales to balance
We did before we became conscious OF this
singular change in our condition: the wind
blows about if we were feathers;
We rise to unexpected height from the
ground with the least spring; we can al
most fly. Yet we suffer from lassitude. IA
tigue on the least exertion, difficulty of
breathing and all the phenomena of disor-
dered circulation. Our clocks stop, our
pump will not raise water from the well.
These events will be preceded by the ap-
pearance of a strange star in the heavens
1t is the star which is doing the mischief
1t is SO large and is passing so near our
planet to counterfeit terrestrial gravity.
Our atmosphere Is going from us.
The air is so rarified that our lungs
are no longer able to present to
tho blood travelling through them suffi-
cient oxygen. Not enough of carbon is
consumed i'm the zoonic furnace and the
vital fire is going out; for it is In the slow
combustion of carbon and oxygen that the
functions and motives of organized beings
have their origin.
AS the atmosphere thins, muscular and
nervous exhaustion become more pro-
nounced, heart, lung and brain troubles in
crease. Birds drop painting from the
boughs. Fish float gasping on the surface
of the water. No form of life escapes. for
all breathe-all want oxygen-f1owers,
plants. shrubs. trees, droop and wither
What are the chances of such an event
occurring? Summed up in the fewest pos
sible words. space is a maze of paths trav-
ersed by celestial bodies of all dimensions,
from the tiny aerolite to the gigantic
world. We are in this maze. We are sur
rounded by masses of matter in motion,
travelling with various degrees of velocity,
iiA ilhto VI NdiiOuS ana
thither. in every direction. Looking at the
heavens from day TO day and see
ing nothing new. except now and
then the arrival of small comet
or the falling of an insignificant
aerolitc. we have grown to believe-what
the mind desires it believes-that nothing
dangerously large need be expected And
yet we may be directly in the paths of
thousands OF mighty stars and only escape
destruction by the luck of their being i'm
some other part of their vast orbits From
remote regions of infinite space millions of
enormous bodies may be hurryine toward
us on parachute curves to reach our
vicinity sooner or later. Can we reasonably
expect that good fortune will attend MS
forever Can We reasonably hope. for all
time. TO escape coming within the sphere of
influence OF some star which. though passed
at the distance of perhaps hundreds of mil
lions or miles, may yet be near enough. ow-
ing TO It's vast size. to alternate our atmos-
phere Thy counteracting terrestrial gravity
TO such an extent as to deprive orgauiza-
tons. animal and vegetable. of the power
or continuing their functions
PROBABLY our earth has times innumerable
| passed through these sterilized periods. and
evolution as often terminated nature. We
may be approaching one of these azo,c
| epochs-how nearly no one can say.
+. MoLYNEAUX.
Bournemouth England. Jan. %