Predict Germany's Downfall In 1913.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 4, 1913:
Strange Agreement of Soothsayers in Regard to the Events of This 'Astral Year.'
KAISER IS SUPERSTITIOUS
Thirteenth Century Prophecy Said to Give Him Much Anxiety — The Famous Prediction of Mayence.
Special Correspondence of The New York Times.
    LONDON, April 19.— It has long been known that the present year has been regarded by astrologers and mystics of various kinds as one in which events of supreme importance to the world are to take place. The Throne, under the heading "The Astral Year, 1913," prints an interesting article on this superstition. It says that March 21, the Vernal Equinox, according to the Astral soothsayers, saw "the birth of a New World."
    Some remarkable predictions have been made in regard to this year from March 21 to the same period in 1914. Mme. de Thèbes declared some time ago by her reading of the stars that this was the year when France would rise supreme. "France," she said, "is marked out for a glorious role. Once more the tricolor will float over victory on victory.
    From March 21, 1913, to March 20, 1914, the true Astral year, France will have entered into a new era, and will enjoy great hours of feverish enthusiasm and joy — no more disappointments, no more pessimism, and anaemia. Mars, the war god, will act upon us, together with the moon; 1913 — that is the end of the tunnel, from which we can see the new sun-bathed landscape, the year of the resurrection of French energy."
    Mme. de Thèbes predicted disaster to Germany. "Germany," she said. "has terror of the year 1913. She must stake her all. The war will be fatal to her. She knows it. She fears it." She went on to say that after the war neither Hohenzollern nor Prussia would rule — "The days of the Emperor are numbered, and after him all will be changed in Germany. I said the days of his reign, I did not say the days of his life."
    Mme. de Thebes does not stand alone. Zadkiel, who claims to base his predictions on correct astrological readings, has declared that before the year has far advanced a sensation will be created in the world because of some astounding reverses suffered by German arms.
    Another famous French soothsayer, Mlle. Couesdon, of the Rue de Paradis, who foretold with extraordinary precision the dreadful fire at the Charité Bazaar and the Martinique earthquake, has clothed a similar prediction in rhymed verse:

    Je vois d'un autre cote
    Une nation armee
    Qui est pres d'arriver
    Mais qui ne peut entrer.
    Elle voudrait s'implanter;
    Je vois des aigles deployees;
    Les armes sont graissees;
    Je vois cette nation remuer
    Et la guerre declaree.
    L' Angleterre a pousse
    A la guerre que voyez.
    La flotte est bien armee,
    La mer va s'agiter,
    Des vaisseaux vont couler.

    Translated roughly, this reads:

    I see on the other side
    A nation armed
    Which is ready to come
    But which cannot enter.
    It would like to settle here;
    I see the spreading eagles;
    The arms are shining;
    I see this nation moving
    And war declared.
    England is forced
    Into the war you behold,
    The fleet is well armed.
    The sea will be troubled,
    Ships will be sunk.

    The French papers, curiously enough, interpret the verse of this pythoness as meaning that the expected war will be provoked by England. But England is hardly a nation armed, nor is it within the realms of possibility that it is going to try and improve itself on the soil of France. The words "aigles déployées" may be a double allusion to aeroplanes, but it suggests rather the German eagles.
    The same prophetess declared that "the Turks will be chased out of Europe, and Constantinople will become Christian."
    It is said that the Kaiser is not by any means disposed to scepticism in regard to astrological predictions. A German paper admits that the Emperor is superstitious, and refers to a prediction which dates from the thirteenth century. It was uttered by Hermann the Monk, and deals almost exclusively with the Hohenzollern family in these words: "He shall have a prosperous life and enjoy more than he ever dared to hope; for wonderful things are about to be accomplished and the Prince himself will not be able to divine the astonishing growth of the new power."
    This ancient oracle paints, however, a sinister picture in regard to the thirteenth generation. The present Emperor represents that number, and here is the Latin verse, which, it is said, gives the Emperor spasms of anxiety:

    Tandem sceptra gerit
    Qui stemmatis ultimus erit.

    "At length the sceptre is in the hand of him who will be the last of the royal line."
    It is, curiously enough, corroborated by another German prediction, known as that of Mayence, in which the war of 1870 was foretold, as well as the cession to Germany of Alsace-Lorraine. But there is one prediction referred to again in both German and French newspapers more astonishing even than these. An article on this subject in The Academy, by Frank Harris, says that in the year 1829 Prince William of Prussia (the famous William I.) consulted a famous sorceress in the little village of Fiensberg. When the Prince asked her his fate she replied that it was to be drawn out of the figures of the year in question. .
    "What will be my greatest danger?" he insisted, "and what my greatest triumph, if any are to be allotted to me?"
    "Take the figures 1829," replied the sorceress, "add them together, add that result to the date, and you will have the year of your greatest peril."
    The figures 1829 added together make 20, and 1829 plus 20 gives 1849, the year of the great revolution in Germany.
    "And when will be my triumph?" persisted the Prince.
    "Again add the figures together." said she, "and add the result to 1849, and you have the date."
    1849 plus 22 equals 1871, the year when the war with France was brought to an end, the year of Germany's greatest triumph. Eager to pursue the matter, the Prince again asked:
    "What will be the date of my death?"
    "Add the figures of 1871 together, and add that to the date, and again you will find what you want."
    1871 plus 17 makes 1888. "Hurrah!" cried the future Emperor. "If I have got nearly sixty years to live I cannot complain. And now the empire you have promised me in '71 — how long will that last?"
    "It is all in the figures," repeated the sorceress. "Add the figures of 1883 together, and add the total to the date, and you will have the result."
    1888 plus 25 equals 1913.