Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-12

lantis send her boys to die in other
people S earthquakes"
There was. in fact. in those days
a popular religion whose high priests
achieved fame. wealth and large
abdomens by the simple process Of
chanting: atlantis shall keep out
of the next earthquake!" Atlantis
for the Atlantians was their motto
and they WaXed powerful and even
the chief of Atlantis trembled at
their troWn.
In those days. there were of course
some men bold enough 10 suggest
that incantations might not be
enough to prevent earthquakes and
that it might be wise 10 take some
precautions to mitigate the damage
Of the next catastrophe.
These WretChes were promptly
held up to scorn and derision and
were subjected to the bastinado and
the stocks as earthquake mongers.
It was said that they wanted our
boys 10 die under falling walls, to
be trapped in burning houses. TO
be swallowed up by assures in the
earth. and to be animated by a
selfish desire to bring an earthquake
on Atlantis in order TO take charge
Of the rescue work.
Scientists Warn Chief.
Then came a time when all the
scientists came before the chief and
nailed him in the manner of At
lantis. Boss. they said. our in
stluments tell US that a great earth
quake is due 10 strike the earth.
To the west and to the east. the
lands are ravaged by earthquakes,
and to the south there are signs that
We don't like
So the chief called the older
statesmen Of Atlantis together and
said TO them: My friends. we can
no longer conceal from ourselves the
fact that earthquakes are not un-
Jhinkable There are earthquakes
raging on either flank and II seems
to me that We ought 10 do some
thing to prepare ourselves"
The statesmen pouted and were
silent.
so" continued the Chief, u ask
your consent to plan TO keep
earthquakes under control Nat
urally, we can't guarantee that they
will not hit US or. in fact, that our
whole great country may not be
swallowed up in the ocean. But
there are some things We should
do at once"
The statesmen still pOuted but the
people of Atlantis cheered.
First said the Chief. Il think
we should make our own houses
earthquake-proof Then I think We
should-send all possible aid to
those who are resisting earthquakes
in other lands-because they NAV
have learned how to avoid the worst
consequences Of their destruction.
And finally I suggest that we build
feet Of canoes, so that if Atlantis
Is swallowed up by the waves. our
people may still have a chance to
escaped"
Mothers Protest.
The Council of Atlantis then be-
gan to talk about these proposals
for practical precautions against an
earthquake. They called the Chief
tyrant and they said that to co
as he suggested was to invite an
earthquake. Troups of women. rep
resenting the Earthquake Mothers
Of Atlantis. appeared at the chief
city, clad in black and blowing
across the mouths of empty f1agons
to make mournful sound. Seven
OF the elder statesmen ran around
the country. gashing themselves
with sharp pebbles and bowling that
the Chief proposed to drag Atlantis
into the earthquake within 80 DAYS.
Others. more moderate. said, We
must have Albanian unity" and
suggested, as compromise. that all
earthquakes of foreign origin should
stop short of the chief. city of At
lantis and that the boats should not
be built until after the next shock.
They were still talking when the
earthquake came and today the cold
waters of the Atlantic Ocean flow
over the cities of Atlantis, the weed
and the polyp careSs the pillars of
the temple and the slime of sea-
bottom lies deep upon the market
place. And legend recalls that as
the earthquake waves Numbered
upon the elder statesmen of At
lantis, they cried out in anger, This
is not constitutional"
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