The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-06

of 1898 I, the undersigned, agree TO abide
by the decision of the judges chosen by
the Journal; and L prophesy that during
the coming year"
Then followed the space for prophecies
All through the year. while the greap
events which Mr.. Delano has correctly
foretold in his prophecy were happening,
the iron boxes and their contents were
kept in a safe place of deposit, and all the
keys were kept nj small box, in possess
sion of the Journals business manager.
When the year drew toward its close
there arose the necessity of choosing judi
yes to consider the prophecies and award
the prizes.
Seven-the musical seven-seemed the
most appropriate number for committee
which had-or might have-so much to do
with mystical knowledge of second sight.
So seven judges were selected.
Henry Clews has made his name known
in this and other countries by foreseeing
what was going to happen in the world or
finance.
Isidor Straus has the highest of standing
| in the commercial world-which is, after
all, the material backbone of human pro-
gress.
Dr. Cyrus Edison was chosen as the best
| qualified judge on all subjects appartain-
| ing 10 the worlds health and the advance
| ment in medical science. His long ex-
perience on the board of health made him
particularly expert in matters relating to
the physical well-being of the Greater
| New York.
Charities Commissioner John W. Keller
could not fail to make one of the best OF
| judges in such a contest. for there is no
| man who watches so closely the turn OF
events, the comings, goings and doings
| of public men as does the editor ;and
| though Mr.. Keller has now laid down the
| editorial pen for the baton of office and
abandoned the moulding of public opinion
for the equally commendable work of light
ening the sufferings of the poor, there Is
no man more thoroughly abreast of the
| times than he
Paul Fuller, who represents the Cou-
dert firm, was selected by reason of his
| intimate acquaintance with international
affairs, and because it seemed more than
| likely that there might arise in the judg-
ment many matters which would call for
| legal advice as to their value.
In the progress which the past year has
witnessed, the war brought forth much
relating to armament and other parts of
| the martial equipment. Captain E. L.
| ZaHnski, U. S. A, retired, consented TO
| serve as judge.
| No board of judges in such a competition
would have been really complete without
Eben H. Emery, clerk Of the weather, and
without the best known professional pro-
phet in the world, in meteorology and the
| thousand and one things which have to
! do with weather conditions, crops and
the like he is very volume OF informa-
| ton.
After the gentlemen had all consented
| to serve, the iron chests containing the
! prophecies were brought to the Journal
| office and placed under lock and key in
a room on the sixth floor. There they
were opened by a committee of the board
| Of judges, consisting of Mr.. Keller and
Mr.. Clews And then the work of exam
| ination and classification began. All the
| contents of the big boxes were dumped
] out upon long tables and the clerical force
| began stamping them with a star stamp.
so that by no possibility could any late
| made PROFESSIONALLY an aftercast-ind
| its way among them and came to the con-
| sideration Of the judges. The contributions
| gathered at the main office and several
branch offices of the Journal were kept
on different tables. When they were
| opened the empty envelopes were returned
each to the box it had come in, not, now
ever before the number on each envelope
had been twice written upon the prophecy
which it contained-once on the body of the
beside II.
This was done for purpose. Afterward
clerks with shears cut the name from the
prophecy. so that the judges, in consider
ing each forecase. should estimate its
worth without knowing who the author
| was
| All the prophecies were first divided into
| two classes, those first being thrown aside
which were utterly worthless. Then those
sc aside asworth consideration were gone
over again and further separated, the
superior from the inferior This process
was repeated again and again. each
reader referring to the others any prophecy
or point about which ne had any doubt.
One of the most impressive features Of
the contest was that. as the reading pro.
crossed. startling single predictions. so &C.
curate as to seem almost born OF super
human foresight. would creep into tn.
midst Of the forecasts which in all other
respects were unworthy Of A second
thought. A large number Of these hav,
been Transcribed and are printed in thi.
issue OF the Journal. with The names o.
the prophets who penned them.
In the judging a value was fixed by the
"momentous'' event correctly foretold
that value being shaded off or increased
according to the definition of the prophecy
was complete or lacking in some OF il.
elements
When il came down TO sheer ability Il
tell what was forthcoming, hard common
sense and thorough acquaintance with
men and things seemed 10 weigh NOR.
than magic o. study OF the stars. y,
astrologer's phrophecy was found amoni
the nineteen 70 the consideration OF whicf
the judges. on the last day Of the can
vass. sat down. There were present o
the board only Mr. Clews. Mr.. Straus. Mr.
Keller Mr Emery and Dr. Edsou-bu
with such a distinguished quorum they de
. c.ded 70 complete the work OF the canvas
aud return final verdict. Mr.. Fuller ha'
been called away 10 Florida and Ca7tzi,
Zalnski was IL
Each Judge was armed WIKI pad an
pencil, and a reader vas provided from
among the clerical force supplied By IN
Journal. who took from the file befo-
him one after another az the prophecie
r and read il slowly, prediction after pre-
! diiction. the judges making record Of II
credits and deeits. and discussing as I
, | the weight and value u each point a. n
. work went on. Each prophecy was know
J only BY fts number. since the names Ia
? been carefully removed
F-or, e-a0 o-ciock in ne afternoon mt