Some thinkers have pointed out that there has often been a direct
connection between the feelings produced in the human soul by the
appearance of a Comet and the human deeds of violence or the human
epidemics and excessive mortality following the widespread terror
produced by Comets.
Only this year (1910) the appearance of Inness’ Comet over Mexico
caused a panic-stricken holy pilgrimage to the Shrine of Talpa. In
China, too, it caused terror, resulting in Christian massacres.
Hence, also, several Jewish massacres inspired by Comets in the past
and hence also so many terrifying plagues connected with Comets.
Thus Ambroise Paré, the “Father of French Surgery,” who flourished
in the sixteenth century, has recorded the effect produced upon his
contemporaries by the Comet of 1528.
“This Comet was so horrible,” wrote Dr. Paré, “so frightful, and it
produced such great terror among the common people, that many died of
fear and many others fell sick.”
Dr. Paré himself appears to have come under the influence of this fear,
judging from his awestruck description of the appearance of this Comet:
“It appeared to be of excessive length; and was of
the colour of blood. At the summit of it was seen the
figure of a bent arm, holding in its hand a great
sword as if about to strike.
“At the end of the point there were three stars.
On both sides of the rays of this Comet were seen
a great number of axes, knives, and blood-coloured
swords, among which were a great number of hideous
human faces with beards and bristling hair.”
Hannibal committed suicide on account of a Comet. So did Mithridates.
So did one Toma, in Hungary, only this year.
King Louis “the Debonair” of France, died from fear of a Comet
(Halley’s Comet) in 837 A. D.
Emperor Charles V., of Germany and Spain, the monarch who boasted that
“the sun never set on his dominions,” was so moved by the appearance of
a Comet in 1556, that he gave up his crown and became a monk.
Certain metaphysicians have held that there is a substance in a Comet,
or in its tail, which has a weird effect on man’s brain, as moonshine
is believed to have on some men, making them lunatics. As a matter
of fact, as Arago pointed out, Comets have caused tremendous spring
tides just like the moon. The same irresistible pull of gravity or
electricity or light-pressure must perforce affect other substances
besides water, such as human brains.
According to this metaphysical theory, the close approach of a Comet to
the earth affects and disturbs men’s brains, so that men are inwardly
stirred with warlike impulses. Hence the great wars almost invariably
following the appearance of Comets.
Hence, too, the appeal to Comets made by so many conquerors, from
William the Conqueror down to Napoleon. In the homely phrase of one
writer, “the inner eye of man, under the weird effect of a Comet, sees
red and makes him thirst for blood.”
Those rare beings who have lying latent within them the gift of Second
Sight or divination, according to this same metaphysical theory, upon
the near approach of Comets find themselves stirred to prophesy. Hence,
so many marvellous prophesies inspired by Comets since the ancient days
of Merlin, the seer.
[Illustration: “THE COMET OF 1910 SO ALARMED THE PEOPLE OF MEXICO THAT
MANY THOUSANDS WENT ON A HOLY PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE OF TALPA IN
XALISCO.”—_Mexican Herald._]