THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 29, 1939
THE HOPKINS MANUSCRIPT
(Continued from Page 16)
is returning to the earth at the steadily increasing speed of eight miles in every twenty-four hours,
"The moon, as you are aware, was normally at an average distance of 250,000 miles from the earth. To night, at midnight, it is only 217,500 | miles away; to-morrow night it will be 470 miles nearer, and each night it is "You will remember the eclipse of drawing closer at a speed increasing the sun on February 12 this year. At
by eight miles per day. Mount Wilson Observatory in Cali- fornia the foremost scientists of the world gathered. Conditions were per- fect and the finest equipment in the world was available.
notes.
"Gentlemen, the moon was twelve seconds late. Not only was it late, but the cause was definitely establish- cd.
"The congress at Mount Wilson Ob- servatory broke up on March 15.
"When its discovery was placed be- fore the responsible Governments of the world the decision. of the states- men in favour of secrecy was unani- mous.
"An International Committee of Control was established. Each Govern- "Some gigantic force has disturbed ment held a conference at which the the moon from the path that it has | leading men of science, politics, pursued from the dawn of time; it has Church and Press were told the truth slowed up the moon's progress through and bound by cath to secrecy as the space and forced it upon a journey to-only means of stopping world-wide wards the earth.
panic.
"It was ascertained that the moon
"That, gentlemen, is all.
The clear voice of Dr. Perceval broke the silence.
"To what extent can the president give us hope?" he asked. "What hope is there of the earth surviving?"
The president rose from his chair. "Science, as you may well guess, is divided upon the question whether the carth can survive this collision," he said quietly. "The earth,
"But now it is recognised that the time has come to bring all men of standing and knowledge in the scien- tifle world within this 'conspiracy of silence.' It is your duty not only to keep these facts secret to yourselves; if rumour gets abroad it is your duty to deny it. You are men whose word upon such matters will be believed, and even if you are forced to lle you will do so as part of your duty to pre-know, is no more than a stout crust serve the peace and happiness of the that encases a furnace of molten rock. world to the last possible moment." It is generally believed that the impact
The president was silent.
of the moon will split the earth to such an extent and to such a depth that this subterrancan furnace will explode und blow the cool outer crust of the earth
*
*
✡
It was as if time had stopped dead, and every one of those men around me sat as if embalmed for all eternity. | into fragments. There was not a sound.
And in that icy silence the terrible
into meaning of it all crashed
my brain,
The moon, a mighty mass of dead, ice-cold rock-three thousand miles in million thickness and two thousand tons in weight-was plunging towards us through the night.
you
"Another school of thought believes that the moon may strike the earth a glancing blow and ricochet, as it were, into space again-once more becoming a satellite of the earth or vanishing al- together into the limitless spaces of
the universe.
"If this 'glancing blow' occurs, the
(Continued on Page 18)
ORATIA
YOU CAN'T SEE ALL THE MOVIES THAT ARE MADE...
but you can see the best!
WE'RE PROUD TO PRESENT THE GREAT STARS AND STORIES OF METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER for 1939-40!
IN ALL OF OUR YEARS of earnest en- deavor to present nothing but the Afinest entertainment to our patrons we've never seen anything like the line-up of superb attractions such as these that are on their way to you from M-G-M! Read this list of star-studded hits...and you'll share with us our joy in announcing that these pictures will be shown at this theatre during the coming season.
HITS! HITSI HITS!
135 Women-with nothing on their minds but men! NORMA SHEARER, JOAN CRAWFORD, Rosalind Russell in “THE WOMEN"...The hilari ous stage hit that really tells on the ladies! ✪ Start- ling drama of the "Suicide Fleet"! WALLACE BEERY in "THUNDER AFLOAT” with Chester Morris, Virginia Grey. → MICKEY ROONEY, JUDY GARLAND in “BABES IN ARMS” ...Broadway's No. I musical comedy now one of the year's best films. ✪ It's their best yet! “MARX BROS. AT THE CIRCUS".. Grouchol Chico! Harpo! Lunacy under canvas! ♦ Garbo laughs! Garbo lovest Greta GARBO in “NINOTCHKA”... ■ gay comedy of Parec, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, with Melvyn Douglas, Ina Claire. At long last-WILLIAM POWELL. MYRNA LOY in “ANOTHER THIN MAN" ...Nick and Nora and Asta are back in new excit- ing adventures! ✨ "Maisje”, the explosive blonde is back. ANN SOTHERN, FRANCHOT TONE in "FAST AND FURIOUS”....... Fun with the sleuthing Sloanes! ✪ "Little Caesar” as king of the
oil field dynamiters! EDWARD O. ROBINSON in “BLACKMAIL" with Ruth Hussey... 1939'a most startling screen thrill! SPENCER TRACY, ROBERT YOUNG and LARAINE DAY In "NORTHWEST PASSAGE” In Technicolor. The famed novel that thrilled millions, springs to life on the screen in an epic, star-crowded M-G-M
· production ! --- - Unforgettable musical thrills!... NELSON EDDY, ILONA MASSEY and FRANK MORGAN in “BALALAIKA”....... Exciting love drama in melody! You won't want to miss ROBERT MONTGOMERY and MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN in “BUSMAN'S HONEY. MOON”. ◊ EDDIE CANTOR în “40 LITTLE MOTHERS", ◊ "CALLING ON THE PRES- IDENT", a star-studded cast in Damon Runyon's uproarious story, ◊ “ZIEGFELD FOLLIES”... the breath-taking successor to "The Great Zieg- feld". ROBERT DONAT in “THE RUINED CITY" from Neville Shute's provocative novel, "Kindling". CLARK GABLE in “NOT TOO NARROW, NOT TOO DEEP", epic adventure of fugitives at sea! ♣ NORMA SHEARER in Noel Coward's ""TONIGHT AT 8:30” and “PRIDE· AND PREJUDICE”. ◊ MICKEY ROONEY in "A YANK AT ETON”, ♣ “THE YEARLING" from the Pulitzer Prize novel. & ELEANOR POW- ELL and FRED ASTAIRE in “BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940", first time together in a glit- tering tap and tune triumph! Great new pictures in the HARDY FAMILY and DR. KILDARE serica... and MORE! WATCH FOR THEM!
M-G-M SHORTS COMPLETE
OUR MOVIE MENU.
...
CRIME DOES NOT PAY • PEYE SMITH • ROBERT BENCHLEY - ♦ JOHN HESBITI'S PASSING FARADE CAREY WILSON MINIATURES • OUR GANG FITZPATRICK TRAVELTALKS and M-G-M CARTOONS in Technicsler » NEWS OF THE DAY, a vest NEWSreal.
Watch for our announcements of these coming screen hits!
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