The Saint Paul globe., January 18, 1903, Image 31

About The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
I (fc -.'L I X an article that appeared m
| W^ the columns of this paper
) some time ago Dr. J, T.
Boyd ■of Indianapolis de-
IJ ; 5^ clared that the world will be
)| destroyed by a comet with
I which it will collide in 1933. Dr.
ißoyd's article is extremely interesting
and highly instructive and is fortified by
quotations from a number of eminent
astronomers who concur in the doctor's
belief. As a further proof of this prom
ised calamity, he refers to a chapter in
| the Book of Revelation wherein the
I coming destruction of the earth through
f this agency is. as he claims, clearly pre
{ dieted. After carefully perusing his ar
/ tide, however. I find that the .doctor
i, has been guilty of an oversight which
• to my mind raises a question as to the
\ reliability of some of his deductions. At
| tho outset he indorses Prof. Pierce! s .in-"
' ference that the nucleus of this great
j comet consists of a solid metallic sphere,
an opinion in which many prominent as
j tronomlrs seem to concur." But in this
assumption I think they are in error, as
the follov.ing facts and deductions go to
shew.
The leonids and other meteors that
h:;ve fallen from time to time from this
and from other comets , have invariably
been at red heat when they reach the
*-nrth. a fact that would indicate that the
parent bodies from which they, came
v. ere likewise superheated. Now in order
thfit these meteors could become de
tached, one of three cpnditions must nec
essarily prevail — either they musthave
melted-off, or have been split off under
i the influences of contraction due to rapid
cooling, or they must have been thrown
! off as the result of volcanic action. As
, says that have been made of these mete
oric productions have in every case dis
closed the fact that they are composed
cf a large percentage of magnetic iron.
n variable percentage of nickel and a
FmaH amount of non-metallic matter.
This fact indicates that all these comets
■would be highly magnetic bodies under
normal conditions, and the fact.that they
are nil traveling in clearly definite orbit 3
goes to strengthen this belief. Now, it
Is an indisputable fact that iron loses its
magnetic influence at or just below red
heat, and if so, the nucleus of these
■ comets could not be solid spheres hot
enough to detach their leonids from the
r-utcr surface without being extremely
hot at the center, a condition that would
preclude tho possible presence of influ
ential magnetism; without magnetic re
sistance they could neither build no*
maintain their orbits, nor respond to the
force that is driving them along. The
first errer.t axiom of solar law declares
that all bodies traveling Jn magnetic or-
Kis must be themselves magnetic; and
wo can therefore safely conclude that
the nucleus of the great comet to which
Dr. Boyd refers is not solid, but hollow;
not only U it hollow, but it is provided
with a hollow metallic core extending
through its entire diameter, and termi
nating in open holes at each end; and
the ether that is constantly rushing into
this central cavity is condensed and
evaporated, producing sufficient moisture
lo keen its metallic wall constantly cool
and therefore magnetic.
Indications are that this comet is trav
eling at a much higher rate of speed than
is our earth, and, therefore, owing to the
lack of cooling atmospheric influences,
we must conclude that it is extremely
liGt on the exterior surface, i ny excess
of moisture that may be generated in
the interior chamber would have a ten
dercy to creep to the outer surface en
amount of centrifugal force, where it
would tend to build up and solidify the
outer crust, the reaction from which pro
cess would result in cracking loose and
c'.ippinsr off the matter which comes to
us in the form of meteors and leonids.
Aeseyers have proved the leonids to be
magnetic, and if the exterior shell of the
nucleus were not red hot. they could not
leave it, but would be held fast to the
parent body through the agency of co
hesive magnetism; instead of doing so,
however, they trail along in the comet's
wake for a time, a fact that is probably
due to capillary attraction and the lack
of a dense atmospheric resistance.
Naturally the question will arise as to
•v.hence this. and. in fact, all com
tlf. derive their superficial heat as the
apparent lack of a condensed atmos
phere would seeming]v indicate a corre
sponding lack of frictional resistance.
This is a deep question and one that can
at this time only be met by conjecture,
the most probable likelihood being that
these comets, traveling us they do over
very extensive orbits, come from time to
time within the radial Influence of the
Bur.s cf several other systems.
* We may also infer that the space be
tween the inner core and outer shell in
crsmonie formations is filled with su
perheated gases, and if this is the condi
tion these comets, like our earth, was
during its early, life, are doubtless sub
ject to volcanic disturbances.
In advancing this hypothetical theory
as lo the probable construction of com
ets, I reason that the Creator has or
dr.lned that a uniform solar law shall
operate in the construction and main
tenance of all bodies of like nature in
this and all other solar systems; and it
Is my belief that the comets being, as
they are. equipped with definite and def
ferential orbits, are destined to become
In time satellites to some of the fixed
pianets, and that at the present time
they are going through the preparatory
stage in order to be ripe to begin their
■work when the predestined time arrives.
All nature is the result cf a gradual pro
cess of growth and constructive develop
ment, and why should we look for dif
ferent conditions in the solar system?
If this great comet is hollow and also
magnetic, then it must be revolving on
Its axis; this being a condition, I fail to
Fee how it is going to collide with the
earth, since ahother solar axiom may
eafely be recorded to the effect that no
two magnetic bodies can come within
their respective repellent lines of force.
If the astronomers are correct in their
calculations, and ther^ is every reason
to believe that they are, this comet's or
bit got into the earth's attractive field
some months ago, and the earth being
the more powerful of the two bodies be
pan to pbsorb the comet's orbit, a fact
that was demonstrated by the volcanic
disturbances tha. began at the time, and
which are due to the excitement of the
earth's magnetic core under tlfc excess
ive influx of magnetism from this new
source— and I figure that these disturb*
rmoes will continue with more or less
ficquency until the magnetism stored in
this great orbit has been entirely ah-
*ShO€S tOT frYP/lt n^lpfl
j AXE 'em str-ong," is the di-
Mroction -which President
Roosevelt gives when he
orders shots In a certain
little boot shop in Sixth-
aye.. where he has had his
footwear made since the
days when he wore out much shoe leath
er as police commissioner trying to bet
tor the discipline of the force. However,
hjs shoes varied in style, according to
thf; requirements of his activity as as
sistant secrf-tary of the navy, Rough
PJdr-r, governor and president, the ex
ponent of thi- strenuous life invariably
directed the shoe nvm to "make 'em
str-ong," with a characteristic stretch
ing out of thf last word.
i The Utter of feet needs no more cx
i pllcH Instruction*. l\>. constructs for
, the prrsid<-nta! foot a c-ommonsense shoe
of Biout nalfakin, oV.ulile soled, with the
, flat of the foot broad arid the toe medium
i width.
[ In striking contrast to the Roosevelt
Borbed, when the comet, having complet
ed its circuit, returns in its course to
ward the earth, will, instead of colliding
with it, fall in line and become its satel
l-'te, subject to "the same solar laws of
maintenance that sustain and govern our
present satellite, the moon.
Dr. Biyd recounts as proof of the ac
curacy of his deductions the early
prophecy of Prof. Michel as to the clos
ing in of one of Saturn's rings, pointing
out the fact that the prophecy is now be
ing verified and that the ring is at pres
ent dragging on the planet. To my mind
the prediction forty years ago of what
has come to be a condition on thie dis
tant planet at the present time is a glow
ing tribute to the genius and astronomi
cal ability of Prof. Michel; but I fail to
discover any connection between the
professor's prediction and the doctor's
declaration respecting this comet. My
conclusion is that Prof. Michel was a
wise man who studied much and spoke
little, and who through the agency of
hts telescope, arid the practical knowl
edge of geological construction, realized
that the planet Saturn was about to en
ter upon her calcite period, or that which
would correspond to our world's Silurian
age. During this time all indications
point to our atmosphere as having been
highly phosphorescent, and probably
displaying at that period a luminosity
very similar to the present appearance
of the ringj, of Saturn. Astronomers de
clare that the telescope has discovered
the existence of satellites in the rings
of Saturn, and that the satellites are ap
parently actively circulating around that
planet. If so W3 may conclude that the
small bodies belong to the order of lunar
plarets, and that they are at the present
time discharging their phosphorous into
the atmospheric rings, that seemingly
..act as storage reservoirs for this ele
ment until the controlling planet requires
and assimilates it through a gradual
process of absorption, when the rings
will become like our atmosphere, prac
tically invisible.
Metallurgists in searching for the baslo
source of our metals have recently com
pared their volatile colors with the colors
of the solar spectrum, with the result
that advanced thinkers among this class
of scientists conclude that, like carbon,
the metals, with the exception of Iron
and nickel, came to us originally from
the sun, to be stored, like carbon, deep
in the enrth, and subsequently distrib
uted through volcanic agency. Whether
this theory is reliable or not remains an
open scientific question. But as phos
phorous, the underlying base of calcium,
is highly destructive and self-consuming
under the influences of heat, we must
conclude that it. at least, could not have
been a sun product without a violation of
natural organic law as we understand it;
and in seeking for the source from which
came the vast quantity of this element
essential to the world's early life, we
naturally turn to our satellite, the moon,
and conclude that the Creator designed
this planet to supply our world with this
very necessary element. If these deduc
tions are correct we may reasonably
conclude that Saturn is comparatively v
new planet in our system, and that the
Creator has ordained that a fixed law in
uniformity in constructive process shall
extend, to all planets and bodies of like
nature in our system.
I will agree with Dr. Boyd that the
great comet to which he refers
in his article Will cause us considerable
trouble when it returns next time
—not by any collision with the
earth, however, but by disturbing
its magnetic core, as 1 stated in an
article published last August. And I am
further inclined to. agree with the doc
tor, with Prof. Pierce and the royal so
ciety of astronomers that the world will
ultimately be knocked to pieces, but it
will be many millions of years after 1933;
not until the vast gas chambers within
the earth's crust become obliterated
through the expansive growth of its in
ternal core and are no longer able to pre
pare the necessary elements to sustain
the world's physical life; then, and not
till then, will the end come.
For the benefit of Dr. Boyd and other
readers of The Sentinel who may be in
terested in following this discussion, I
enclose a diagram of the internal struc
ture of our earth according to a theory
that I have worked out, and I shall be
pleased at any time through The Sentinel
to supply the original copies bearing on
this subject and to explain in detail any
feature which it outlines.
I do not wish- to appear in the false
light of having challenged Dr. Boyd
through a spirit cf controversy, but haV
ing put myself en record several months
ago as to the' causes that led to our re
cent and present volcanic disturbances,
I regret the necessity which obliges me
to dispute the accuracy of some of his
deductions in defense of statements
which I then made and which are being
verified at the present time.
■ of
type of shoe is that worn by former Vice-
President Levi P. Morton, who patron
izes the same shoe shop. He wears a
boot very light in weight, with a broad
toe without tip. His boot is soft and
pliable as a glove compared with the
stout footwear of the President, and he
requires an easy fit and elasticity rather
than strength, says the New York Times.
Elihu Root, the secretary of war. is
up to date in his fotowear, following the
changing styles, though probably pay
ing no attention whatever to the shapes.
He does not hare his shoes made to or
der. When he needs new boots he drops
into the little Sixth-aye. shop, and asks
for "what is being worn now." The
salesman selects a stock shoe for the
secretary and puts !t on his foot. Mr.
Root takes a turn up and down the shop
and is satisfied with the salesman's se
lection If It ■''feels comfortable."
The late Thomas B. Reed did not care
a fig about being up to date. What he
wanted was something that required
neither buttoning nor lacing, for he did
WHEN WILL THE WORLD
COME TO AN
?} #haJ? a valet- So he Btuck *<> the
old fashioned elastic congress gaiter and
insisted on having the toe made much
broader than fashion approved
Ambassador Choate and his family Btick
to American shoes, to the chagrin of
London bootmakers. Every now and
then a case of shoes goes from Sixth
a^?L the-American embassy in London,
with an assortment of footgear for all
possible occasions for each member of
the family.^ The amadassador likes a
pretty substantial shoe for everyday
wear.
Senator Clark, on the other hand, has
his long, slender foot encased in shoes of
a very light weight, and he invariably
orders half a dozen pairs at a time.
Andrew Carnegie buys a stout but trim
and neat shoe, and he tramps about the
grounds of Skibo castle in American
made boots.
General Shafter of necessity has hl«
shoes made to order. No stock shoe
END
would flt hla short, chubby foot, and he
is particular about the fit, always insist
ing on two or three fittings for every
pair of shoes.
J. Walter Wood, son of the former su
perintendent of public schools, is one of
the few well-to-do men of New York who
still wears the old-fashioned Wellington
high boot.
Dr. W. Seward Webb wears an assort
ment of footwear ranging" from stout
boots for his Vermont stock farm to
light patent leathers, all carefully fitted.
President George F. Baer of the Read-
Ing -railroad encases his small foot In
neat salfskins, caring little for "what Is
being worn," but insisting on a Rood,
easy fit. suitable for the active life which
he leads, with two offlce9, one sixty and
the other 146 miles from his Pennsyl
vania home.
The little place in- which these and
other prominent men have their foot
wear manufactured is unique among the
high-class shops of New York In tn e mod- "
esty of its quarters, both In. outward ap
pearance and interior - dimensions,-' Yet
here men of national fame are fitted with «
shoes as they talk of public affairs, and
women of fashion try on dainty creations
or the shoemaker while they \ exchange
the gossip jof Fifth-aye., and actresses
are fitted with stunning boots while they -
fhat of the life behind the;fotolights. In
this little shop are the lasts of hundreds :
-who are frequently in the puMic eye.