Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-01
PLENTY OF THE LEFT.
End of the World Predicted Many
 Times.

T to bring all creation to an ending crash was that of the old bishop of Hippo When his scheme of annihilation did not connect in S95 A. D., the bishop went over his figures once more, and declared that De had been century out of the way This restored his standing as prophet, and made it sure that he, at least, would not live for second disappointment. His courage in readjusting dates has come down the ages without his discre- tion in setting the end far enough ahead to dodge the issue, says the New York World
 In the year 1000 all Christendom went into terror, and many persons died of fright because that year had been set as the time appointed by Scripture crazed seer. In 12l2 great populations crowded the Italian shores Of the Medi- terranean waiting for the sea to dry up, as had been promised by some crank, so that they might walk to Jerusalem for the general perishing. Tn 1885 an Italian priest scared half of Europe out it's wits by issuing 8 general warning to put on the last bridal robes. And so the direful foretellings went on until there came the plunge of Steiffel in the sixteenth cen tury.
 Steiffel was amathenatician and a friend of Luther For 20 years, or some such matter, congregations had listened to him, believing him to be t.the seventh angel named in the Apocalypse" When he fixed upon Monday, October 8, 1853, as the day and eight clock in the morn ing as the hour, for the earth to go out of business, he was able to set a great crowd of people to moaning and groan- in. Previously, at his urging, these peo- pie had separated themselves from most of their worldly goods As the hour passed and destruction came not, the lamentations turned to denunciations Herr Steiffel then got such mobbing as has not yet come even to fashionable wedding party in a New York church.
 It would take tremendous book to follow up the later prophets of the worlds end. There are few decades which have not contained one or more dates for the catastrophe The Adven- lists have learned caution. They wait now hopefully, ready for the finish at
 any old time" Yet in July 1S80 Mr. Henry A. Chittenden, a former New York dry goods merchant, one of the be- 1ievers of '42-44, sent out bulletins of belief that the very year was then upon us.
 An Indiana farmer-prophet says the years 2000 is to be that of fate. Rev. A. B. Simpson, noted for his ability to life church debts, favor 1884 A. D.. Other choice dates are 1915 and 1941 The pro- phets have large variety of calculations Dn hand, and their motto is 'eWe try to please"
 As rule predictions of final catas- trophe in matter are based on individual readings of the Scriptures. Real scien- tists first occasionally-and usually by request-with the possibilities of plane tary collisions, consuming solar fires and exhaustion of atmosphere M. Flammarion weaves awful contingencies into delightfully."- shivery romances. But there are always waiting groups of un- forunates ready to take everything se- rfously. Even the new North Abingdon circular writer may catch some of these.
 Pending other arrangements for their personal comfort in the premises, all who have an uncertain faith in the sta- bility of the earth are urged to consider the view presented not long ago to the American Association for the Advance ment of Science. This gives 5000 ,000,- 900 of years before the end. Sc znay we all have time to eat, drink and be merry, and yet preserve proper diligence. \