Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1894 — TOPICS OF THESE TIMES. [ARTICLE]

TOPICS OF THESE TIMES.

A MODERN SEEK. The times are prolific in prophets. Ja-apiteoftkeohstiaate refusal of the events, heretofore foretold, to “come to time’’ and save the reputation of the. seers at the expense of this terrestrial ball and its inhabitants, those people with a petfchant for the mysterious continue to devote much time and thought to scientific investigation upon which to base their uncomfortable theories. Probably the most remarkable of these modern seers is Professor Ealb, of Vienna, wdo has a great reputation aaa scientist throughout Europe, and who has long been regarded as an authority on earthquakes. His predictions in regard to these disturbances of the earth’s crust have, it is claimed, been frequently fulfilled. It is stated that he foretold the terrible earthquake at Zante last year, his prediction having been given to the world through press dispatches on the day previous to that great disaster. Professor Kalb has within the past month given out his predictions concerning meteorological phenomena for a period extending over five years. If his -programme shall e entuate as laid down then, it would ie “m, that tho seventh seal had been opened, as foretold in Revelations, when a great star is to fall from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, upon a third part of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters. The date set by Professor Kalb for this star performance is November 13, 1899, when the erratic wanderer known to astronomers as the comet of 1866 will reappear and collide with our globe; then, “fireworks” and —darkness. The Professor, however, is not satisfied to wait so long for a test of his prophetic powers, and has arranged dates for a number of minor preliminaries to the grand catastrophe. Among other things, he predicts that New York will disappear under a tidal wave in July or August of the present year, while California and Florida will probably become islands as a result of a submarine earthquake on the same date. The theory upon which Professor Kalb bases his predictions is that the interior of the earth is a mass of molten fire, which constantly evolves gas that is always seeking an outlet, which it finds through volcanic vent-holes and at places where the earth's crust is thinnest, and at times when the moon is closest to the earth. These days when the moon is closest to our planet the Professor calls “eriticat” days. The •“critical” days for 1894, according to the Professor, are as follows, in the •order of maximum danger: August 30, September 29, February 20. August 1, April 6. Januarv2l, May 5 and October 28. There'oro nthe mosi serious disturbance lor this year may be looked for August 30 and the slightest October 23.