Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-14
-E7I- .- }f--l GRUESOME PREDICTION.
Astrologers. Foretell Disasters By the
 Score, But Contradict Each Other.

Astrologers Foretell Disasters By the Score, But Contradict Each Other.
 The London Mail says: Assuming it were at all needful to demonstrate the faliacy Of forecasts based on so- called astrological ca1cula tions, it would be- amply sufficient to compare -as the writer has done-the predic- tions put forward for the forthcoming year by those almanacs that make a speciality of this sort of verbal jug glery. It Is but seldom indeed that they agree.
 Old Moore, for instance, states that In January our prosperity will in crease, while Raphael tells us that there will be much distress in the land. Zadkiel, again, referring to the same months, says specifically that the pub lie health will not be good, while at least three publications run on simi- lar lines assert that Will.
 Among RaphaePs predictions for February is one to the effect that a terrible disaster, with. appalling loss of life, will occur at sea. Zadkiel has nothing about this, nor nave the other Seers.
 Curiously enough, however, the four principal prophetic almanacs-Moore,s Raphaeps, Orien's and Zadkiers-all l a for March.
 In April, according 10 three alman- acs, trade will be unusually good. two give out that it: will De bad, two are silent on the subject, while yet an other predicts heavy fall in the rev. enue returns. By another curious CO., incidence, no fewer than three of the ''prophets'' tell of war iL May.
 Raphaers list of predictions for June includes an appalling accident in travelling, attendant with heavy sacri- fee of life, an incident foretold by none among his rivals. On the 18th of the following month-we are in formed by Zadkiel-at about 6 p-( nl., the entry of Neptune into the tropical sign of Cancer takes place. They all agree that this is portentous event, but differ widely concerning results.
 For August. Orien predicts great fires in London and Paris. Raphael foretells a serious war; with much dispa tching of troops" Moore omits to mention either war or fire, but, on the contrary, prophecies peace.
 British trade and. commerce during September are to be unsatisfactory" according to Raphael. while Zadkiel predicts that We shall find our trade increasing. @.~
 Similarly, in October. it is not exact ly easy to see how foreign affairs can be at the same time unsatisfactory and placid,'' while it is even more diff ticult to reconcile the diverse predic- tions recorded under the November heading. We are assured, for in- stance, that owing to an annular eclipse of the sun the month will be both politically and socially the dark est and stormiest of any for ten years to come Zadkiel, however, sees in this omen only@u little sickness among royalty, and 0rien- ignores it.
 Finally while old Moore predicts that December will exercise over Lon don q .benefic'' infiuence, Zadkiel prophesies for the last month of the year much sickness and high rate of mortality for the metropolis, cou- pied with an outbreak of crimes of vio- lence which is to shock the communi- ty;;" Orion says it will be scourged by extensive and terrible fires and anoth- CT prophetic publication of lesser note boldly announees the total destruction of London by an earthquake and tidal wave, and the overthrow of Britain's maritime supremacy owing to q Euro pean condition, as well as the death by a "virulent sweating sickness of two-thirds of the inhabitants of the United Kingdom.