A TRAGIC YEAR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144297, 12 January 1914, Page 5

A TRAGIC YEAR.

‘ OLD MOOKE’S*’ VREDICTIOSS. A melancholy series of notional disasters. with little redeeming brightness, is set forth in “Old Moore's Almanac’* for 1914. Even in these enlightened times many'peopie place a good deal of. credence in this annual prognostication of gloom and trouble. The publication is ilie successor of the Vox Stellarum of Francis Moore, the first number of which was completed in July, 17C0, and contained predictions for 1701. The do-;lii of a royal personage in the first quarter of the year is predicted as one of the events of the year in the Tinted Kingdom. Towards the end of the your there is to bo public mourning for “n death in high circles, v and a fruitless attempt will be made to shoot an unpopular Minister. To these misfortunes will he added a national strike and the downfall of a groat institution. Foreign nations will share grave misfortunes. Tho Turkish Empire in Europe is to bo sponged oil’ 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 great volcanic eruption, war between Germany and France will bo only narrowly averted, and an international dispute in West Anica will be productive of much., trouble in Europe, Among chc few people who will have occasion for rejoicing in J9l I will be the suffragettes, who. it is said, will come into their own. The year will be a marked one among onciiusiasvs for women's voles, and it is predicted that in .March or April a measure will be passed by which ta-xpaying women will . be onliv.nchisai. As a result-, the appointment of females to public positions will be a maiked feature of the' year, particularly during the month of ■ December. ♦ , Tile list of disasters is appalling— ' cinema lograph iiros. tho partial destruction of a hospital, the burning down of a Government building, mining explosions, numerous earthquakes, another volcanic eruption in Krakatoa, , destructive gales, bank failures, aerial s disasters, ir-da disasters, cattle pcsti- I lences, are but a few of the alarming ' incidents that will occur in 11)14. There is. however, one bright interlude, i September 8 In 12 art' percunarly j favourable days for love affairs. Prr- , posals on these days will be accepted, j and marriages effected on them will | turn out to h n hanpy unions.