The Comet Trouble.

Southland Times, Issue 4483, 22 November 1882, Page 2

The Comet Trouble.

i The anriouHeement that Mr R. A. Proctor and Piazza' Shiy thy ]Ssq., have agreed that the comet — the ' comet— will fall into; the' sun next October has, of course, created considerable consternation, as it is bus-: peered that this means mischief to th'6 earths—nothing less than its destruction by fire. ..Now, this is exceedingly unkind on the part of the comet. After, nil the admiration it has received from young men and maidens, old men; and children ; after we have,- many of us, got out;o£ our warm bods at the unearthly hour of, four in the morning for the purpose of admiring its resplendent beau'y ; after we have talked about it, written about it; and, it must be confessed, laughed about it, it is an exceed^ ingly shabby trick to play us — to double back on us and set fire to our establishment. Perhaps this is by way of retaliation for the levity with which the subject was treated by too many people. I should not be surprised if it was. I have a faint recollection that one little dot brought out a candle for the purpose of having a better view of "de to'met." And 1 have no; doubt that other persons treated it still more contumaciously. So the comet will have its revenge with a vengence ! There will be no levity when it falls into the sun, only a flare up, and then FINIS in big letters. But although some of us may treat the vaticinations of Messrs Piazzi Smyth and Richard Proctor with scant ceremony, yet other residents of Chrißtchuroh may regard them in a more serious frame of mind. I have heard of one gentleman who had entered into a contract to build several houses, who has been deeply impressed by the forecast of Mr Piazzi Smyli, countermanded his order, and paid the penalty for breach of contract. Ho justly feels that to build houses that are to last only till next October, would be a wanton sacrifice of capital. And everyone will agree with him. More consistent than the Rev. John Camming, who predicted the destruction of the world in ten years' time, and then took a lease of his premises for thirty — he deserves a better fate — that is, if that is a battle which involves the 10.5.s of all his house property, as well as that of his neighbors. These uneasy nervous souls may content themselves. The good old world will out last their time. It has often been consigned to destruction by divines and others, and has lived to see them all safely tinder the turf. And Ido not doubt that it will outcast all the present prophecy mongers. Mr Piazzi Smyth has tried his hand at this kind of thing before. In his " Our inheritance in the Groat Pyramid " he assuredhis readers that something very startling would come off in April 1881, or 1882. Failing here the author now tries another line, and I believe, in hiH new line, he will be just as successful as in the former — so, my good friend, go and build your house, do not scamp the work ; and let them to good tenants, without any fear of October, 1883. — '' Robin Hood " in Christchurch Telegraph. ____,_________„_,_.