The Washington times., 1912-02-24
CHAPTER II (Continuedl

CHAPTER II (Continued).
ErT LII do nothing so ridiculous!
These bulletins have undoubtedly
i been influenced by the popular
excitement There has possibly
been q little obscurlty in the atmos-
phere-cirrus clouds, or something
and the observers have imagined
the rest. I'm not going to in
salt science by encouraging the pro-
ceedinGs of a mountebank like Cosmo
Vcrsal. What we've got TO do is 70
prepare dispatch for the press reas-
suring the populace and throwing the
weight of this institution on the side of
common sense and public tranquility.
Let the secretary indite such q dis
patch. and then wen edit 1t and send
II out "
Prof. Pludder, naturally dictatorial.
was sometimes a little overbearing. but
being man of great cbility and uni
versally respected for his high rank
In the scientific world. his colleagues
usually bowed to his decisions. On this
occasion his force. Of character sur
feed to silence the doutters. and when
the statement intended for the press
had received its final touches It con-
tained the hint # the seeds Of discord
that CCsmO Versal had eown amon..
Americas foremost savants. The next
morning 1t appeared in all the newspa-
pers az follows:
Official Statement from tho Cornerie
Institution.
In consequence OF the popular excite
ment caused by the sensational utter
ances of notorious pretender to scien-
tiltc knowledge in New York, the coun-
ell of this institution authorizes the
statement that it has examined the al
legged grounds on which the prediction
OF a great flood, to be caused by n
n"bula rncountering the earth, is based
and ilnds. as all real men OF science
Knew beforehand. that the entire mat
ter is simply a canard.
The nebulae are not composed Of wa
ter; If they were composed of water.
they could not cause flood on the
earth; the report that some strange,
| misty object is visible in the starry
heavens is based on a misrepresentation
and, finally, the so-called calculations of
| the author of this inexcusable hoax are
| baseless and totally devoid of scientific
| validity.
The public is earnestly advised to pa :
| no further attention to the matter If
| there were any danger to the earth
and such thing is not to be seriously
Observation-Disclosures would know II
|
official warning.
| Unfortunately for the popular effect OF
| this pronouncement, on the very morn
| ing when it appeared in print. 30, ,OU
| people were crowded around the old
aviation field at Mineola, excitedly
| watching Cosmo Nersal, with 800 work.
| men. laying the foundations of a huge
! platform, while about the field were
stretched sheets of canvas displaying
| the words
THE ARK OF SAFETY.
Earnest Inspection Invited by All.
Attendants VIII Furnish Gratis Plans
for Similar Construction
| Small Arks Can Be Built for Families
Act While There Is Yet Time
The multitude saw at a glance that
| here was a work that would cost mil.
lions, and the spectacle OF this i'm.
mense expenditure, the evidence that
| Cosmo was backing his words with his
| money, furnished a silent argument
which was Irresistible. In tho midst oi
| al. flying about among his men, was
| COsmo, impressing every beholder with
the feeling that intellect was in charge
| Like the gray coat of Napoleon on a
battlefield. the sign OF that mighty brow
! bred confidence