The New York herald., 1921-10-23
Before Voliva Was Davey.
Fifty Years Ago He Wrote q Book
to Prove the Earth IL Flat.

TO The NEW York HERALD: have
liShed concerning the declaration and
claim Of the Zion leader. voliva, that
tho earth Is Nat plane surrounded by a
wall Of Ice.
About nfty years ago, not long
after the birth Of this new prophet, on
a trip from Liverpool to New York on
the original Baltic Of tho White Star
Line, found among my fellow passen-
gers man Of quite unusual appearance.
Eie HAD very large head, an intellectual
ana benign countenance, but his lower
limbs were merely rudlmentary, ana he
could only move about. unaided, in n
wheel chair propelled by his hands.
A sea voyage under such handicap
was rather trying. and. .availng Of the
privilege Of the strong to aid tho weak.
I was able to contribute to his comfort
and enjoyment OF the voyage.
do not recall his mentioning In our
frequent talks the matter OF the earth's
form indeed. our discussions related
more to tho Tichborne case and other
topics then engaging public attention,
but when We were about to land In New
York he handed rne package which he
said was In partial recognition Of the
conrtesies had extended to him. This
package, as I presently discovered. con-
talned a volume OF several hundred
pages entitled Earth Not Globe" by
"Parallax." and the authors real name.
George Davey. the man TO whom refer
above. was inscribed on its title page IN
his gift OF the book to me as It's author.
and the fact that he was the author
1 had no difficulty in later confirming.
Now this book. written to demonstrate
that the earth Is q circular plano sur
rounded by n wall OF foe and containing
many maps and diagrams and many
data in support Of his theory, including
deductions drawn from certain natural
phenomena and also with copIous quo-
tatiohs from the Old Testament, contains
eysry proposition. including the proxim-
ity OF the sun to tho earth, the north
pole being the centre Of the plane, &C.,
which has been advanced by voiiva.
passed this book around nnions soma
OF my friends in scientific circles and
invited them to note their criticisms
upon Its pages, and this they proceeded
TO do with great enthusiasm, ana as =
result Of the passing Of the book from
hand 10 hand It disappeared. ana II was
with considerable difiiculty and several
years Later hat succeedod In procuring
a copy OF a later edition. and this have
at this writing before me.
Now It is 4 common human trait TO
cherish a kindly remembrance OF thoss
whom we have met in friendly intercourse
and under unusual circumstances In by
gone days, and I am Unwilling that tho
fame OF my auondam. friend Davey
should be ohscured.
Suppose, for example. that I'm the on
rush OF his crusade. the teachings OF
voIlva In this regard In tho schools of
the Zion community should become
standard IN the schools and colleges OF
the world. and suppose that at no dis
tant day man OF voliva's weight
should penetrate somo vulnerable point
In the alleged Icy wall surrounding the
earth's plane. and THUS. due to the de-
struction OF proper balance. the whole
structure be tipped over, would it be
fair that wc should meantime have
ascrlbed tho discovery OF tho earth's
true status in the armament 10 Wilbur
Glenn voliva instead OF 20 George
Davcyg A. q. Mul.s
NEW Yonx, October 22.