“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.