When the Moon Falls Down.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2278, 15 September 1899, Page 4

When the Moon Falls Down.

It is not likely to happen just yet awhile, but many astronomers are prepared for the fall of the moon at a distant date.

It is probable that eventually the moon will be drawn well within the sphere of attraction of the earth. At present she is just far enough off to be kept in tow, so to speak, and to whirl round and round us as well as spin herself.

But when the inevitable time comes, and she is drawn far into the attraction radius, she is likely to be pulled right down and fall on to the earth, for her attraction is, of course, much weaker than ours. She is in more danger of this at one time than another, and the danger is increasing gradually but surely. It may be ten or fifteen thousand years yet, but when she does fall there will certainly be a terrific bump, and the whole system of the earth will be badly jolted. It ia calculated that, taking the most dangerous epoch of the year into consideration and her consequent position, she is likely to fall on the north-eastern part of Europe, and will entirely wipe Russia and (Jermany from the map. Tidal-waves and all sorts of horrors will occur, and the fallen moon will probably break up. The entire climate of the world will be altered, and England will probably be more or less improved, according to the scientists.

A Bad Spec. ' Off did it work ?' said the small boy in the street the other day. ''Osv did yon get on?' queried the other. ' Why. the old man dropped a penny, an' 1 picked it up an' runued after 'im, an' I says, 'Mister, 'ere's a penny as you dropped,' an 1 he puts 'ia 'and in 'is pocket, an' 'e says, ' You're a very 'oni'st little boy ; 'ere's tuppence for yer.'' ' Well, 1 dropped the penny in front of an old woman when she 'ad her purse open, an' 1 picked it up, an 1 follows her an' says. ' 'Ere, missus, is a penny yer dropped.'' ' Well T

' Well, she takes it an' says, 'Thank you, little boy,' an' puts it in her pocket ; an' I'm a penny to the bad. I am.'

A French statistician has calculated that the human eye travels over 2,000 yardu in reading an ordinary sized novel. The average human beiiii* is supposed to get through 2,000 miles of reading in a lifetime.