The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-28

been going on but only now were the effects beginning to be felt by the inhab- itants of the world. As early as 20OOo, 900 A. D.. astronomers had noticed that va- rious portions of the suns surface seemed to be losing briliancy. They warned the Englanians, nation of eighty million souls who chen inhabited the earth but the admonitions went nnheeded by race of people whose individuals rarely lived longer than 25 years and who therefore cared nothing for the future.
 In the 30, 100000, however, the surround ing atmosphere became perceptibly cool CT and returning explorers of the uni- verse reported that they had approached nearer to. the sun than had ever before been thought possible. The pilots of the Petrel line of airships, plying between the earth and the moon, noticed that several familiar steering marks among the stars were no longer visible. Experienced aeri- al travellers came back with strange ac- counts of the phenomena they had en- countered in space.
 The Englanians awoke to the doom which was drawing near to them. Their men of science, masters of every problem the universe contained, easily computed the years remaining to organic Ire anu their announcements sent out over the land filled the people with fearful gloom that was handed down from father to son and hung like a pail over the sterile oo- mains of the Englanians. Yet generation after generation of the shortiVeo Iace liyr.. md died and still the sun suppheo them with sufficient heat.
 At the close of the thirty-seeond cycle of million years the appalling oraln" sa a the world was drawing to it's close. DO rapidly did the solar furnace cool that there was scant hope of two more gen erations living out their allotted oays. Great anxiety was felt everywhere. Ihe ether bulletins, that announced the news of the world every five seconds on tne public squares of the great cities, heralo- ed far and wide the calamity which was overtaking the earth The great Ice pelts of the North and South poles began 10 encroach upon the equatorial reglons' All forms of vegetable and animal lire had been extinct for nearly 30,0o years III all parts of the world above 23 degrees from the equator. The greatest part or North America was field of Ice.
 After the first chill struck them the Englanians drew together more closely about the equator. Realizing the late which was overtaking their world, the pleasures and vices of countless cycles ol years offered no consolation. lher numbers began rapidly to decrease. By the wonders of science which they could perform they were enabled to live com fortably in the increasing cold. but the $ horror of witnessing the gradual end or the world weighed upon them ana they were glad to die.
 At last all the inhabitants Of the eartn were assembled together in number or great crystal domed cities betting the globe. These towns were covered with huge transparent domes which collected the light and heat of the sun. Witnm the people were kept warm by all the heating apparatus known to the adVahceu mind of the Engianians. Chemicals were used altogether in producing heat anu there was no danger of the fuel supply Incoming exhausted. There was yet plen- 4v of light on the earth but the cold had become so intense that the people seldom ventured forth from their crys- tai cities. Frequent expeditions were sent to the north and south to make opserVa- tions. These went far out over the ues- olate fields of ice and noted the rate with which they were creeping down up- on the equatorial regions.
 Communication was kept up between the cities by means of ether waves ana the airships, which made such speed that travellers reached their destinations "lth- out suffering from the cold.
 
 Inc heavens eagerly noted that one by pne the planets were disappearing ana the distant stars shining out with more brilliancy. Each disappearance was an announced to the anxious people wno re- rarded it as another step toward oblivion
 The Englanians were reaay TOT ens end of the world. Science was an open hook before them. Every problem that had vexed the human mind for millions or years had been solved. The elimination of progress had been reached and there was nothing else to live for. The En- klanians were supreme emperors III ihe grand domain of knowledge
 The cold became more and more in- lense and the plains of ice came si- Iently onward. Finally all connection pe- tween tho cities ceased and only slen- der telepathic bond remained. By this means they kept themselves informed or he events taking place in the various cities.
 savants announced that in fifty years more all organic life on the earth would eease When the appalling news was lent whirling around the equator the last men were stunned and silent Ihen eame the reaction. We nave pareiy Two more generations of life to live, let hs enjoy it." they cried. At once the lever seized everyone and the cities be- ran their preparations for the splendid brgv that was to close the last scene Tn he drama of our universe.
 Wealth was of no more use and every fhing was sacrificed in the mad pursuit bf pleasure. The masterpieces of science, aterattfe and art were wantonly destroy ed by the frenzied people. mad riet leized the world.
 The luxury, splendor, and vices of mil- Mons of years were mingled in vortex sf debauchery. It was a fitting close for | people who were so advanced in thought that they were devoid of all reverence and had no religious feeling. The land was filled with bachannalians who spent their days in singing, dancing, md shouting. The insane dissipation was larried on by the Englanians until one by 1ne they began to drop dead in their re- res Down the furnished streets reeled ,hilosophers youths and maidens. Men, women and children were intoxicated with the subtle drugs of the times and no me cared to retain his reason for fear If the awful fate which was overriding he world. Suicides were numerous but he greater number preferred the easier ieath of pleasure. Only the more distant stars now shone put with a wonderful brilliancy which Eas heightened by the disappearance of he earth's atmosphere. In Petrax, the tapital city of the Englanians, the huge furnaces were kept ceaselessly going. The | lights became periods of bitter cold dur hg which the f~ycest heat that could be l mgendered bareiy suff1ced until the pale | hnrise. Being better equipped to combat l he cold Petrax alone remained of the