TWO COMETS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 829, 30 May 1910, Page 7

TWO COMETS.

CHINESE GREATLY EXCITED.

SECRET SOCIETIES AND POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. "WE SHALL BE IN DIRE PERIL." By Toleffraph—Press Association—Oor>yrich" Perth, May 28. The Rov. Mr. Sanders, a Perth missionary in one of the inland provinces, of China, writing on March 21,' throws light on the recent rioting. He says: "A comet suddenly appeared, 'nnd remained for a few evenings, but was evidently not Halley's, which is not duo to the unaided vision for some weeks. The comet here is a sign of bloodshed and rebellion. Its appearance has greatly excited the populace, and when Halley's is visible tho fears and unrest will become intensified. Secret societies and revolutionaries make the most of such things, and use tlieni as opportunities to play on popular superstitions and stir up trouble. "China is honeycoiflbed with such societies. Unfortunately, foreigners invariably come in for the first shock and brunt "of any trouble whatsoever. Bo it comet, pestilence, or increased taxation, the blamo is laid on us'. Railways are being built, and common rumour in China points to them being sliced and divided amongst- the Powers.

"Yuan-Shi-Kai and Tuan Fang (China's two most able statesmen) have been summarily dismissed from office, and now come 3 the unexpected comet and the promise of another one more brilliant. What with these and other omens, coupled with tho superstitions of a .bloodthirsty people, trouble is easily aroused. We are in for a year which might bring anything; should popular ignorance prevail, and a panic arise, we shall be in dire peril."

MALEVOLENT INFLUENCE OF COMETS.

SUPERSTITIONS OP THE PAST. The belief of even educated Hindus that the approach of Halley's comet had a direct conncction with the death of King Edward VII would have been universally held if the two events had coincided in less scientific limes. The following extract from "Royalty .in All Ages, by T. P. Tliistletou-Byer, gives an interesting account of the,association formerly held to exist between comets — with special reference to Halley's comet— and Royalty:—

The spirit of the age in which they lived must, in most cases, account for the' superstitious turn of mind of many sovereigns in the past. The fact that we are now acquainted with the laws which 'determine the movements of comets, so that wc are able to predict their appearance, has caused us to cease to pray that we may be preserved from their malevolent influence; and no longer now, as happened in the teuth century, would a European army flee in terror before one of them; But from their movements not being understood, and hence regarded of supernatural character, they wore a source of. fear.

Precursors of Calamity. They were dreaded as the precursors of calamity, because it was shown that comets bad' preceded the death of such rulers • as Caesar, or Constantino tho Great, or Charles V. It was demonstrated that comets had been seen before the invasion of Greece by Xerxes, before tho Peloponnesian war, before the Civil wars of Caesar and Pompey, beforo the fall of Jerusalem, before tlie invasion of Attila, and before the greatest,number of famines - und postileuccs that have afflicted mankind. Hence it is not surprising that Louis the Debonnairo was frightened by the comet which appeared during Holy Week of 837. The first morning after it had been seen he sent for his astrologer. "Go," said he, "on to the terrace of the palace, and come back again immediately and tell me what you have noticed, for I have not observed that star before, and you have not shown it to me; but I know' that this sign is a comet: it announces a change of reign and the death of a prince." Nor was this all, for the son of- Charlemagne was convinced that the comet was sent'for him. But, whilst this comet was a sourco f fear in "France, the Chinese were observing it astronomically. It was no other than Halley's comet, which appeared again in 10GG, and was regarded as a presage of the conquest under William ,of Normanby, a representation of which occurs in Matilda's Bayeux tapestry, And it has been traditionally said that one of the jewels of the British Crown was taken from tho tale of this comet. "The Devil, the Turk, and the Comet." The same comet made its appearance again in 1456, when Europe was filled with dread of the Turks, who had lately become masters of Constantinople, and a line was then added to the litanies of the Church praying for deliverance from "the Devil, the Turk, and the comet." A comet which attained its greatest altitude at the hour of Edward I's birth was much discussed, and Eleanor eagerly inquired of the astrologers what it portended to her babe. They replied that the bright flame which preceded it promised brilliant fortunes to her new-born son; but the long train of smoke great calamity to his son and successor. And once, it is said, when Queen Elizabeth's attendants tried to dissuade her from looking at a comet, which was supposed to predict evil to her, she otdered the wiudow of her apartment to be set open, and, pointing to the comet, she exclaimed, "Jacta est alca (the die is cast); my steadfast hope and confidence are too firmly planted in the providence of God to be blasted or affrighted by these beams."

Another comet -which caused some consternation at Court, was scon iu IGSO, and it was said to be the same as jtkat which had preceded Caesar's death. Hence it said that when the brother of Louis XIV saw the courtiers discussing the matter iu nn unconcerned manner, he sharply rebuked them: "Ah, gentlemen, you may talk at 3'our -ease, if you please; you are not princes."