[Illustration]
As the cold continued and strengthened, and about all the animals had
left the Cocoanut Hill region, the Ammi began to consider whether they
also should not migrate. They had resisted the change of climate thus far
by building mounds, adding to their clothing, and habitually using fire.
(For they had given up their superstition about this element, to whom it
long since ceased to be a God, and was now not even an animal.)
By these and similar devices they could live in the cold longer than
other animals, and they made many improvements in their condition, which
would have defied the weather had it been of an ordinary kind. But a
glacial period had set in, which was to last, not for a winter, but for
an age. The snow was falling that was to pile up in mountains, and to
march for centuries over the land as glaciers, and no life could resist
it; and hence, when they were satisfied that there was to be no thaw, or
early return of warmth, they asked themselves whether they should not
abandon their homes and their country.
“The cold has come to stay,” said Cocoanut-scooper, “and we cannot always
dig for a living. The hogs and tapirs which excel us in rooting, have
left, and we should not try to live where a hog can’t.”
“Our fingers and toes are frozen,” said Gimbo, “and if we don’t soon get
away we will have nothing to walk away with.”
“How do we know,” asked Koree, “that we will find it better elsewhere?”
“I notice,” replied Abroo, “that none of the birds or beasts that go are
ever seen to come back, and they all go one way.”
“Perhaps they are frozen, and can’t return through the snow,” remarked
Koree.
“The birds, which do not have to walk, do not come back any more than the
beasts,” retorted Abroo.
“I think,” said Gimbo, “that any place where one can’t walk on four feet
is no place to live,” and he raised himself up on his hind feet to warm
his hands by blowing them—a method that they had only recently learned.
At this moment a great roar was heard in the mountains, and a shaking
of the earth like that which followed the upheaval of the Alps. A rush
of snow descended from a high peak, crashing into the valley below, and
burying everything beneath it. It was the first avalanche seen by man,
and it laid the foundation of a mighty glacier which was to be followed
by others in its march across the country.
The Ammi were frightened at this new wonder, and thought that part of
the sky had fallen, and that the gods would come next. Gimbo died from
the fright, not so much because of what he saw and heard, as from the
expected descent of the gods. Thus passed away the last four-footed man.
After regaining their composure they quickly decided to flee from the
Cold, the Famine and the falling Heavens.
It was, accordingly, determined to go South; and they immediately began
preparations for the exodus.
As soon as they were ready, they therefore left their ancient Paradise of
Cocoanut Hill—the first Eden of the Human Race—driven by the cold, bleak
God of Snow; but they sought another Eden.
As they started South, Koree and Sosee led the way, not caring whither
they went, so they went together.
They directed their steps toward Egypt and Western Asia, whence their
ancestors had come.
They soon got beyond the snow, and out of their sufferings; for
the glacial region did not extend far south of Cocoanut Hill. They
accordingly had abundant fruits and mild climate for their journey, and
they proceeded with merriment, as well as regret, stopping often and
delaying long where the country through which they passed pleased them.
They were soon beyond the Alps, which they did not, like Napoleon and
Hannibal, have to scale; but many of the present peaks and ridges were
not yet thrown up in the air, so that they easily passed through the
defiles on level ground.
Nor were they stopped by the Mediterranean; for that sea did not then
exist in its present extent. The whole surface of Europe, indeed,
differed from its present contour. Spain was still connected with Africa
at Gibraltar, and Italy at Sicily; while the British Isles were still
joined to the continent. It was subsequent convulsions that first tore
the continents apart, and sent deluges over Europe. For the upheaval of
the Alps, already mentioned, was to be followed by others still greater,
which would upset the basins of the old world, and spill their contents
over nearly all Europe, destroying its life.
It was not difficult, therefore, for these primitive pilgrims to make
their way to the tropics; and, like the Phocaeans, they went resolved
never to return; and not for many centuries was Man again seen in Europe
or the North.
The region that was covered with snow remained a waste for ages; and it
was, according to a prophecy of the Ammi, to continue unpeopled, until
one of the descendents of Koree and Sosee should return, and, under the
name of Adam, (Ammi or Man) recapture Cocoanut Hill, and enter again the
North as a Paradise Regained.
But some said that the man who should thus re-people the North would be
the lost one mentioned in the preceding chapter, who would wander till
the appointed time in Alligator Swamp; and they maintained also that he
would then be found to be no other than the faithful Aloo, who had fallen
back with Osa to die; that on account of their faithfulness these two
lovers would not be destroyed by cold, or hunger, or fatigue, or time;
but that, overcoming all hardships, they would wander on until the Sun
should come again; when they would find rest at last amid the retreating
snows, and there start a new race, after all others had passed out of
history.
INGERSOLL BEACON
A spicy little monthly at 50 cents a year.
Edited by—WM. H. MAPLE
Devoted to Science, Free Thought and the Gospel of Reason and Good Cheer,
in contrast with the “foolish forms and cringing faiths” of theology.
It comes to hail the morning
Of re-enfranchised man,
To sound aloud the warning
Of priest-craft’s dangerous plan.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Every Number is Worth the Price for a Year
INGERSOLL BEACON CO.
CHICAGO
ONE OF THE STRONG BOOKS OF THE AGE.
NO “BEGINNING”
OR THE FUNDAMENTAL FALLACY.
BY WILLIAM H. MAPLE.
“The links of its logic are riveted very firmly together, and “No
Beginning” is simply unanswerable.”
This work _demonstrates_ the non-existence of a “first cause” for the
material universe, and proves the oneness of God with Nature.
It denies supernaturalism in all its forms, and claims that reason alone
leads to truth. Nature, it holds, is ever changing in form, but is
eternal in substance, and in its entirety constitutes the only absolute.
It is believed to be the only book in existence claiming to prove, with
the certainty of a mathematical demonstration and along common-sense
lines of thought, the negative of the above mentioned old theological
premise. In this respect it is at once =a curiosity of literature= and a
powerful auxiliary in the cause of rationalism _versus_ superstition.
_Its aim is to aid in popularizing a reasonable conception of the
universe in place of the old notion of its supernatural origin and
control, to the end of lessening superstition and intolerance, and that
both politics and ethics may be made to rest on scientific truth instead
of pretended supernatural revelations._
It shows how the infallibility of the Pope and other cardinal church
doctrines have grown out of the old belief in the “creation” of the
universe out of nothing, and incidentally it is made to appear that
religious controversy must eventually narrow down to an issue between
Rationalism and Catholicism.
The closing chapter deals with Herbert Spencer’s argument for an
“Unknowable Absolute,” and, to quote the Chicago _Chronicle_, “amounts to
a very drastic, indeed, destructive criticism.”
=Third Edition: 183 pages, two striking illustrations. In neat cloth
binding, 75 cents; in paper binding, 35 cents, postpaid.=
=ADDRESS: INGERSOLL BEACON CO., CHICAGO.=
☞ For testimonials, see next two pages.
What They Say of “No Beginning.”
“Is the strongest book on earth.”—_A correspondent in the Truth Seeker._
“It is a volume that should be in every Freethought
library.”—_Freethought Magazine, Chicago._
“As a champion of reason, one of the very strongest essays we have ever
read.”—_Boston Ideas._
“One of the most comprehensive and conclusive works on the subject we
remember seeing.”—_Truth Seeker, New York._
“I doubt very much whether more thoughts were ever compressed into 183
small pages of print.”—_T. M. Stuart, Attorney._
“It is the most sensible treatise on the question of a first creation
ever published and should be taught in the public schools. The book is a
credit to the intelligence of the age.”—_Santa Ana, (Cal.) Bulletin._
“The argument is unanswerable.... The book will at once appeal to the
reason of every reader, and leave him more amazed than ever at the
prevalence of the theory of Creation.”—_The Arena, Boston._
“He employs the resources of both logic and scientific discovery in a
convincing and common-sense way, and ought not to offend the feelings of
the most orthodox who is willing to argue honestly.”—_Review of Reviews,
New York and London._
... “In my judgment it surpasses anything that has ever been written on
the subject.... Every thinking man and woman on earth should be sure to
read the book, as they will learn something that will live in their minds
as long as memory lasts.”—_T. J. Edwards, M. D., Oblong, Ill._
“I consider it one of the greatest masterpieces along its line ever
written. With one blow the author knocks out the First Cause theory
for the material universe, and, with the clearest and most logical
reasoning, he causes the veil of orthodox superstition to rend from top
to bottom.”—_P. M. Harmon, late Pastor of the People’s Church, at Spring
Valley, Minn._
“It deserves a place among the strong books of the age ... evolves a
world which bristles with life and thought.... To me as entertaining as a
story.”—_Moses Folsom, St. Paul, Minn._
“The links of its logic are riveted very firmly together, and ‘No
Beginning’ is simply unanswerable.... The book is a rare gem of precious
thought and will do great good in the world.”—_Dr. W. H. Gibbon,
Chariton, Iowa._
“While the author’s smooth, argumentative style, logical methods and
cogent reasonings, exhibit the keen conception and consummate skill
of a well-trained legal mind, the kindly spirit of toleration of
views, adverse to the thought presented, reveals the generous-hearted,
noble-souled manhood with which the author is inspired.”—_Chariton (Iowa)
Herald._
STRIKINGLY BOLD AND ORIGINAL.
“The book is a strikingly bold and original argument, ... is compact,
systematically built up and controversially formidable.... It [the
last chapter] amounts to a very drastic, indeed, destructive criticism
of Herbert Spencer’s argument for an ‘Unknowable Absolute.’”—_Chicago
Chronicle._
A WELCOME BURST OF SUNSHINE.
“A second and more careful reading of ‘No Beginning’ confirms the
favorable opinion formed from the first reading. The clearness,
thoroughness, lucidity of style, reasonableness and profound wisdom
of this invaluable volume hold the attention, convince the judgment
and command the most unqualified admiration. I know of no man, however
extensive his research or well disciplined his reason, who would not
receive benefit by a careful examination of this work, while to the
average thinker it must prove like a welcome burst of sunshine through a
rift in obscuring clouds. A friend of mine who had just finished reading
the book, emphatically remarked to me: ‘I would rather be the author of
that book than to be president of the United States,’ and to my mind,
the sentiment did credit to his judgment and character.”—_George W.
Morehouse, author of “The Wilderness of Worlds.”_