The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-03
ANOTHER COMET
TiE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
IMPORTATION BUREAU
By Frederic J. Haskin. Director
Washington. d. O.

if you have a good telescope you can
see a disturber of the celestial peace
known as VOLTS comet breaking the
speed laws of the skies. OF course, in
the eyes of the aStrologers this comet
accounts for good deal. Comets al
ways indicate war and disaster.
VOLTS comet became visible about the
time we broke off diplomatic relations
with Germany. Strangely enough, its
last appearance was in 1898, when we
declared war on Spain. In order to
establish world-peace, apparently we
will have to do more than enforce dis
armament. We shall have to round
up and incarcerate all these war-pro-
ducing comets as well.
Omens of evil. prophets of war and
blOodshed since history began, comets
have been held to flash a warning
from the offended gods. In 1851, a
great comet which appeared was held
in the north as a prophet of failure
for the south. Below Mason and
Dixon, however, it WIS hailed as a
warning to the north. Even comets
Some comets are visible but once
from the earth, and then pass for
ever into space. Others appear and
reappear periodically century after
century. Most feared and dreaded
of these periodic visitors is Halley's
comet. This meteor runs on 10
year schedule, and it has been blamed
for more mischief than the kaiser or
the devil himself. The death of the
patriarch Methuselah at the early age
OF 964 years was attributed to its bale
full influence. The flood and the at
tending disaster brought upon Noah
and his neighbors was coincident with
one of it's early trips
In 1910 Ralley's comet showed up
again, and stimulated the prophets of
disaster. Woe unto France" prophe-
sled Madam de rhebes, but her grief
will be soothed. Woe unto the house
OF Hohenzollern whose chief mounts
his horse from the wrong sidei" Kali
ser William II is paralyzed in his left
arm and hence IS forced to mount
from the right side.
All of the disasters of that year
and the next were laid at the comet
door-the great flood in Ohio and the
sinking of the Titanic. Its influence
will be felt until its next coming" was
common prophecy.
But the sensation caused by Hal
ley's comet in 1910 was mild beside
the one it stirred up on the trip. be
fore, in 1885. Thousands of people at
this time rushed tc join the Miller
its and prepare for the end of the
world. Crops were neglected and al
lowed to spoil ind rot in the fields
while the farmers wept and prayed
the sun of the Judgment day would
surely dawn. The day came and the
hills were covered with white clad
thousands singing. praying, and way
ing palms, waiting for Gabriel
trump. Nightfail came and the next
day dawned on the waiting multitude
and a world still cheerfully intact. But
all the troubles of that year were
blamed on the comet.
J This same comet watched the first
settlers land at Jamestown, and their
struggles in the wilderness. Elizabeth
of England watched it from her win
dow, scorning her courtiers' fear,
and her action at the time was one
of the reasons she gained reputation
as a strong minded woman.
The fall of Constantinople before
| the Turks in 1856 was blamed on the
| Iong-suffering meteor. From devil
Turk, and comet, good Lord, deliver
u.s." prayed the Christian of that day
This particular comet was distinguish
/ ed by being the only heavenly body
TO receive a sentence of excommuni-
cation. Pope Calixtus 1 passed an in
| terdict against the ungodly and au
dacious star forbidding all good an6
orthodox Catholics from holding in
! tercourse of any kind with it. Con-
stantinople itself owes it's name to an
| other comet, for the Emperor Con
| stantine for whom the city was name
! became converted to Christianity by
the sight Of a flaming cross in the
sky. This cross was only peculiarly
shaped comet.
The most famous appearance OF
this meteor was in 1866 when the
Comet of the Conquest, as it is called
brought disaster to the English anC
victory to the Normans. In the
of Williams court there is a picture
of group of people gazing from
window at bedraggled comet. The
inscription is "They marvel at tn,
STAR
On one occasion a comet really
caused the death of royal prince
Louis the Debonair of France believed
that the comet portended his death
betook himself to his royal bed refus
ing the aid of his doctors and died
} firmly believing that the comet wa
responsible.
A few centuries before this anothe
comets blaze lighted the EnglisI
shore for the Anslo-Saxo invaders o
Srltain- It's light shone on the dyin.
Attlla and on the victorious Astus
last of the Romans.
Nero flddled to the light of a blaz
ing city and HaIley's comet. In tn,
year So in the shape of a flamin,
sword it hung above the doomed elf
OF Jerusalem while Vespasian witt
his Roman legions hammered at tn
city gates. A few years after this
Vespasian laughed at a comets beard
> and died year later for his bad man
| ners. "A comet guided the Wise Me-
to the Infant Saviour's manager cradl
in Bethlehem. This comet and tn
prophecy that 1t blazed for a create
King than he so frightened the KIM
Herod that he murdered his own tw
sons and hung himself to prove tn
prophets wrong. Eleven years be
fore, this comet beralded the death O
Agrlppa, beloved of Rome
; A comet is said to have inspire
Brutus with the idea Of Kidding Rom
= of Caesar and making himself
I Shakespearian hero. Among the Dor
tents which occurred on the night pre-
ceding the fateful Ides of March wer
:, a number of shooting stars and com
| cts. So greatly did they impress tn
p wife of Caesar that she establishe
herself forever as an example of wife
IN wisdom h1- 11ro-ir1cz haI. h11Shar,d 4