Αρχές του αιώνα ακόμη δεν είχε γίνει καμία απόδειξη της κίνησης της Γης γύρω από τον Ήλιο ή της περιστροφής της και μόνο θεωρίες αναπόδεικτες κυκλοφορούσαν !
It is painful to read that Sir John Gorst, the head of the British educational department, is in serious trouble and has been threatened by Mr. Ebenezer Breach and other taxpayers of the
city of Portsmouth, in the kingdom of England, with prosecution under the "imposters' act." It seems that the Schools of Portsmouth have been teaching the damnable and heretical doctrine that the earth is a sphere. Sir John's attention has been called to this dissemination of seditious and treasonable doctrine, hut he has refused to correct "the abuse. Ebenezer and his friends know, of course, that the earth is as flat as a pancake. They have been patient with Sir John, and day after day have allowed the false teaching regarding the shape of the earth to go on, but can stand it no longer, they say, to see their children corrupted with this most "heretical doctrine," as the complainants call it in this protest. Sir John Gorst has many political enemies, and even -his political friends do not always agree with him but the depth of his depravity was not known until he was unmasked by Mr. Ebenezer Breach and his friends. Sir John may cavort about parliament and deceive some people, but when he runs up against a body of respectable British taxpayers, the bulwarks of the throne and the guardians of the constitution, it is another matter. Such new fangled ideas as that of the earth being a sphere he may impose upon the frivolous persons who riot in the ungodly city of London, but not upon the taxpayers of Southampton. Ebenezer and his friends mean business, and have served formal notice upon the Portsmouth school board that the teaching that the earth is a sphere "cannot be allowed to continue under any circumstances, plea or explanation whatever," and that it must be abandoned for schism by the law provided." After having stamped out the dastardly doctrine in the schools of Southampton, the committee announce that they will next go up to London and bring the London school board before the courts, being well advised and informed that the same doctrine regarding the shape of the earth is also taught in the London schools. Sir John, meantime, is to be brought to court and prosecuted under the "imposters' act" aforesaid. Now, the "imposters' act" is a part of the British constitution, probably— no one knows what is, and what is not apart of that nebulous thing—and provides certain pains and penalties, such as forfeiture of estate and burning at the stake, if recalcitrant. Ebenezer and his friends are worthy and reputable citizens and mean business. If necessary they will light the fires of Smithfleld again for the wicked Sir John. At last,accounts Sir John was still at large, and so was Ebenezer.
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