"Nebulous obscurity occupies space. Through the drifting fog without the gramophone blares over coughs and feetshuffling.)" (15.2167)
"THE GRAMOPHONE
Jerusalem!
Open your gates and sing
Hosanna..." (U15.2170)
"(A rocket rushes up the sky and bursts. A white star falls from it, proclaiming the consummation of all things and second coming of Elijah." (U15.2174)

On May 19th 1910, the Earth was (accurately) predicted to pass through the tail of Halley's Comet, the most intimate contact between Earth and a comet in recorded history. As the poisonous gas cyanogen had been recently detected in Moorehouse's comet (1908), there was widespread panic, and dire predictions that the end of the world was coming.
"Along an infinite invisible tightrope taut from zenith to nadir the End of the World," (U15.2176)
"a twoheaded octopus in gillie's kilts, busby and tartan filibegs, whirls through the murk, head over heels, in the form of the Three Legs of Man.)

THE END OF THE WORLD
(With a Scotch accent.) Wha'll dance the keel row, the keel row, the keel row?" (U15.2177)
"(Over the possing drift and choking breathcoughs, Elijah's voice, harsh as a corncrake's, jars on high. Perspiring in a loose lawn surplice with funnel sleeves he is seen, vergerfaced, above a rostrum about which the banner of old glory is draped. He thumps the parapet.)" (U15.2183)
"ELIJAH
No yapping, if you please, in this booth. Jake Crane, Creole Sue, Dove Campbell, Abe Kirschner, do your coughing with your mouths shut. Say, I 1 am operating all this trunk line." (U15.2188)
"Boys, do it now." (U15.2191)
"If the second advent came to Coney Island are we ready? Florry Christ, Stephen Christ, Zoe Christ, Bloom Christ, Kitty Christ, Lynch Christ, it's up to you to sense that cosmic force." (U15.2194)
"Have we cold feet about the cosmos? No. Be on the side of the angels. Be a prism. You have that something within, the higher self. You can rub shoulders with a Jesus, a Gautama, an Ingersoll. Are you all in this vibration? I say you are. You once nobble that, congregation, and a buck joyride to heaven becomes a back number. You got me? It's a lifebrightener, sure. The hottest stuff ever was. It's the whole pie with jam in. It's just the cutest snappiest line out. It is immense, supersumptuous. It restores. It vibrates. I know and I am some vibrator." (U15.2197)
"You call me up by sunphone any old time. Bumboosers, save your stamps. (He shouts.)" (U15.2206)
"Now then our glory song. All join heartily in the singing. Encore! (He sings.) Jeru..." (U15.2208)
"THE GRAMOPHONE
(Drowning his voice.) Whorusalaminyourhighhohhhh... (The disc rasps gratingly against the needle.)

THE THREE WHORES
(Covering their ears, squawk.) Ahhkkk!" (15.2210)
"Big Brother up there, Mr President, you hear what I done just been saying to you. Certainly," (U15.2217)
"I sort of believe strong in you, Mr President. I certainly am thinking now Miss Higgins and Miss Ricketts got religion way inside them. Certainly seems to me I don't never see no wusser scared female than the way you been, Miss Florry, just now as I done seed you. Mr President, you come long and help me save our sisters dear. (He winks at his audience.)" (U5.2218)
"Our Mr President, he twig the whole lot and he ain't saying nothing." (U15.2223)
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