356 CHAPTER L. 



The speculative man wonders what the bite 

 would be like if a Mosquito were the size of a barn- 

 door fowl. 



The taciturn man scratches persistently, but 

 makes no remark. 



The nonchalant man pretends that his bites don't 

 itch ; but he has a good scratch when no one is looking. 



The mysterious man has no curtains to his bed ; 

 he scorns pyre thrum and pellitory powder ; will have 

 nothing to say to elder leaves, " fidibus," or any other 

 remedy ; yet he is never bitten. 



The sensible man does not trouble himself much 

 about Mosquitos ; nevertheless he uses a strong 

 expression now and then, when they pitch upon a 

 tender spot. 



I may as well mention that these persons were 

 living under one roof in a villa on the Cimiez hill 

 in the year 1882. I had the pleasure of meeting the 

 " vindictive man " quite lately. He is a most good- 

 natured person (when not dealing with mosquitos), 

 and is head of a business firm in the Midlands. The 

 " nonchalant man " has gone to Australia. Others, 

 perhaps, have taken a still longer journey. 



Every one is anxious to hear of a remedy for 

 Mosquito bites. Alas ! I do not know of any cure ; 

 but sufferers may comfort themselves with the hope 

 that medical men, such is their insight into the secrets 

 of Nature, will in due time find out a lymph or virus 

 or pus or putridity of some sort, which, inoculated 

 upon our bodies, may preserve us against Mosquito 

 bites ; just as we are now guaranteed against all 

 danger from small-pox, phthisis, rabies, cholera, and 

 many other diseases. 



