One Hundred Proofs That the Earth Is Not a Globe

by William Carpenter

APPENDIX TO THE FIFTH EDITION.

Editorial from the “New York World,” of August 2, 1886:—

THE EARTH IS FLAT.

The iconoclastic tendencies of the age have received new impetus from Mr. William Carpenter, who comes forward with one hundred proofs that the earth is not a globe. It will be a sad shock to many conservatives who have since their childhood fondly held to the conviction that “the earth is round like an orange, a little flattened at the poles.” To find that, after all, we have been living all these years on a prosaic and unromantic plane is far from satisfactory. We have rather gloried in the belief that the semi-barbarous nations on the other side of the earth did not carry their heads in the same direction in which ours point. It is hard to accept the assertion that the cannibals on savage islands are walking about on the same level with the civilized nations of our little world.

But Mr. Carpenter has one hundred proofs that such is the unsatisfactory truth. Not only that, but the iconoclast claims that we are not whirling through space at a terrible rate, but are absolutely stationary. Some probability is given to this proposition by the present hot weather. The earth seems to be becalmed. If it were moving at the rate of nineteen miles a second wouldn’t there be a breeze? This question is thrown out as perhaps offering the one hundred and first proof that the earth is not a globe. Mr. Carpenter may obtain the proof in detail at the office at our usual rates. A revolution will, of course, take place in the school geographies as soon as Mr. Carpenter’s theories have been closely studied. No longer will the little boy answer the question as to the shape of the earth by the answer which has come ringing down the ages, “It’s round like a ball, sir.” No. He’ll have to use the unpoetic formula, “It’s flat like a pancake, sir.”

But, perhaps, after we have become used to the new idea it will not be unpleasant. The ancients flourished in the belief that the earth was a great plane. Why shouldn’t we be equally fortunate? It may be romantic but it is not especially comforting to think that the earth is rushing through space twisting and curving like a gigantic ball delivered from the hand of an enormous pitcher. Something in the universe might make a base hit if we kept on and we would be knocked over an aerial fence and never found. Perhaps, after all, it is safer to live on Mr. Carpenter’s stationary plane.

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The “Record,” of Philadelphia, June 5, 1886, has the following, in the Literary Notes:—“Under the title One Hundred Proofs that the Earth is Not a Globe, Mr. William Carpenter, of Baltimore, publishes a pamphlet which is interesting on account of the originality of the views advanced, and, from his standpoint, the very logical manner in which he seeks to establish their truth. Mr. Carpenter is a disciple of what is called the Zetetic school of philosophy, and was referee for Mr. John Hampden when that gentleman, in 1870, made a wager with Mr. Alfred R. Wallace, of England, that the surface of standing water is always level, and therefore that the earth is flat. Since then he has combated his views with much earnestness, both in writing and on the platform, and, whatever opinions we may have on the subject, a perusal of his little book will prove interesting and afford room for careful study.”

“The motto which he puts on the cover—‘Upright, Downright, Straightforward’—is well chosen, for it is an upright lie, a downright invention, and a straightforward butt of a bull at a locomotive.”—The Florida Times Union, Dec. 13, 1885. Editor, Charles H. Jones. [Pray, Mr. Jones, tell us what you mean by “an upright lie.”!!]

“We have received a pamphlet from a gentleman who thinks to prove that the earth is flat, but who succeeds only in showing that he is himself one.”—New York Herald, Dec. 19, 1885. [The reviewer, in this case, is, no doubt, a very “sharp” man, but his honesty—if he have any at all—is jagged and worn out. The “quotations” which he gives are fraudulent, there being nothing like them in the pamphlet.]

“The author of the pamphlet is no ‘flat,’ though he may perhaps be called a ‘crank.’ ”—St. Catharines (Can.) Evening Jour., Dec. 23.

“To say that the contents of the book are erudite and entertaining does not do Mr. Carpenter’s astronomical ability half credit.”—The Sunday Truth, Buffalo, Dec. 27, 1885.

“The entire work is very ingeniously gotten up …. The matter of perspective is treated in a very clever manner, and the coming up of ‘hull-down’ vessels on the horizon is illustrated by several well-worded examples.”—Buffalo Times, Dec. 28, 1885.

“The erudite author, who travels armed with plans and specifications to fire at the skeptical at a moment’s notice, feels that he is doing a good work, and that his hundred anti-globular conclusions must certainly knock the general belief in territorial rotundity out of time.”…

“We trust that the distinguished author who has failed to coax Richard Proctor into a public discussion may find as many citizens willing to invest two shillings in his peculiar literature as he deserves.”—Buffalo Courier, Dec. 27, 1885, and Jan. 1, 1886.

“It is a pleasure now to see a man of Mr. Carpenter’s attainments fall into line and take up the cudgels against the theories of the scientists who have taught this pernicious doctrine [the sphericity of the earth].”—Rochester Morning Herald, Jan. 13, 1886.

“As the game stands now, there is ‘one horse’ for Prof. Carpenter.”—Buffalo World, Jan. 16, 1886.

“It is interesting to show how much can be said in favor of the flat world theory …. It is fairly well written, although, we believe filled with misstatements of facts.”—Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Jan. 17, 1886. [We “believe” the editor cannot point one out.]

“It is certainly worth twice the price, and will be read by all with peculiar interest.”—Scranton Truth, March 8, 1886.

“Mr. William Carpenter has come to Washington with a “hundred proofs that the earth is not a globe.” He has a pamphlet on the subject which is ingenious, to say the least, and he is ominously eager to discuss the matter with any one who still clings to the absurd prejudices of the astronomers.”—The Hatchet, May 9, 1886.

“It contains some curious problems for solution, and the author boldly asserts that until they are solved the globular theory of the earth remains unproven, and is fallacious, &c.”—The Presbyterian, Philadelphia, June 19, 1886.

“His reasoning is, to say the least, plausible, and the book interesting.”—The Item, Philadelphia, June 10, 1886.

“Mr. Carpenter seems to have made a thorough investigation of the subject, and his arguments are practical and to the point.”—Sunday Mercury, Philadelphia, June 13, 1886.

“A gentleman has just called at the editorial rooms with a pamphlet which is designed to demonstrate that the earth is not a globe, but a flat disk; he also laid before us a chart from which it plainly appeared that the earth is a circular expanse of land, with the north pole in the exact center, and the Antarctic Sea flowing all around the land …. We went on to state that we lodged the care of all astronomical questions in the hands of Rev. R. M. Luther, to whom these perplexing matters are but as child’s play …. Our readers may, therefore, expect at an early date a judicial view of the astronomical and cosmological situation.”—National Baptist, Philadelphia, July 8, 1886. Editor, Dr. Wayland. [We hope that the Rev. R. M. Luther will give us the means of publishing his decision before many more editions of the “Hundred Proofs” be issued. We are afraid that he finds the business much more than “child’s play.”]

“‘One Hundred Proofs that the Earth is Not a Globe,’ by William Carpenter, is published by the author, whose novel and rather startling position is certainly fortified by a number of argumentative points, which, if they do not shake the reader’s preconceived notions on the subject, will, at least, be found entertaining for the style in which they are put.”—Evening Star, Philadelphia, July 22, 1886.

“His ‘Proofs’ go a long way towards convincing many that his ideas on the subject are practical and sensible.”—Fashion Journal, Philadelphia, July, 1886. Editor, Mrs. F. E. Benedict.

“ ‘One Hundred Proofs that the Earth is Not a Globe’ is a curious little pamphlet that we can commend to all interested in astronomy and related sciences. It may not upset received notions on the subject, but will give cause for much serious reflection. Published by the author, Wm. Carpenter, Baltimore, Md. Price 25 cents.”—The Saturday Evening Post, Philadelphia, July 31, 1886.

“Here now is an able thinker of Baltimore, Professor William Carpenter, who presents the claims of the Zetetic philosophy to be considered the leading issue of our times …. One of the great proofs of the truth of the philosophy is that the regular astronomers do not dare to gainsay it …. They are well aware there is no South pole …. Prof. Carpenter, in a treatise that has reached us, furnishes 100 proofs that the earth is flat, and while we cannot say that we understand all of them we appreciate the earnestness of his appeals to the moral people of the community to rise up and overthrow the miserable system of error that is being forced upon our children in the public schools, vitiating the very foundations of knowledge. What issue can be more noble or inspiring than Truth vs. Error? Here is an issue on which there can be no trifling or compromise. In the great contest between those who hold the earth is flat and they who contend that it is round, let the flats assert themselves.”—Milwaukee Sentinel, Aug., 1886. [From a long article, “The Great Zetetic Issue.”]