THE COMING YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15496, 1 January 1914, Page 8

THE COMING YEAR.

A GLOOMY FORECAST. , 1 • * •j. • "OLD MOORE'S" PREDICTION. ' . ' ■ " • ' ' ' yi ; A melancholy series of national disasters, with little redeeming brightness, is- set forth in "Old Moored Almanac" for 1914. Even in these enlightened times many people place a good deal of credence in this annual prognostication .of gloom and troubled It 'Tho;., publication is .the successor of the Vox Stellarum of Francis Moor© the first number of. which .mi completed in July,. 170i)j and contained predictions for] 1701. '-t ; I. ■ ' The death of a royal personage In the first quarter of the year is predicted as one of tho events of the year in the United Kingdom. Towards the end 'of the year there is to be public mourning for "a dijath m high circles,"- and a fruitless attempt will be made to 'shoot an unpopular Minister. To these misfortunes will be added a national strike and the downfall of . a great institution. t • Foreign nations will share grave misfortunes. The Turkish Empire in Europe is to be sponged off the map, a new rebellion is to break out in China, a.' horrible massacre of villagers is' foreshadowed in Asia Minor, Italy .is to experience the horrors of a jreat volcanic eruption, war between Germany and France will be only narrowly averted, and an international dispute in West Africa will be productive cf much trouble in Europe. f-

Among the few people who will have occasion for rejoicing in 1914. will be the suffragettes, who, it is said, will 1 come into their own. The year will be a marked one among enthusiasts fcj women's, votes, and it is predicted that in March or April a measure will be passed by which taxpaying women will be enfranchised. As' a result, the appointment •of '"females' to public positions will bo a marked feature of the year, particularly during the month of December. , i* :; - ,r :

The list of disasters is appalling—cinematograph fires, the? partial destruction of a hospital, the burning down of a Government building, mining explosions, numerous earthquakes, another volcanic eruption in Krakatoa, destructive sales, bank failures, aerial disasters, train disasters, cattle pestilences, are but a few of the alarming incidents that will occur in 1914. There is, however, one bright interlude. September 8 to 12 are* peculiarly favourable days for -love affairs.' Proposals on these days will be accepted, pnd marriages effected on them will' turn out to bo happy unions.