io FROM AN EASY CHAIR 



to the control of the disease, or to knowledge which 

 enables man to avoid the disease altogether. Some 

 striking examples of this have occurred of late years. 



5. The Sea Serpent 



The sea-serpent rarely puts in an appearance now, 

 though a Cornish " manifestation " was reported last 

 year. A recent account of a strange marine monster, 

 declared by some to be, of course, the sea-serpent, seen 

 but to disappear, was that given by Lord Crawford's 

 companions two years ago. In that case, and in 

 others in which a huge fin-like structure, supported by 

 fin-rays, has been seen projecting from the mysterious 

 animal, it is not improbable that what was seen was a 

 large seal of the " eared " kind, raising one of its long, 

 webbed hind-feet from the water, a trick which some of 

 them are known to have. Other reputed sea-serpents 

 have been, in reality, a school of porpoises, or a line-like 

 flight of sea-birds, or a mass of seaweed, or a whale in 

 association with one or other of these or, again, a real 

 marine snake 5ft. long (such are well known and very 

 poisonous), or a ribbon-fish 12ft. long. There is "no 

 reason why there should not be " a huge and seldom- 

 seen kind of animal living in the sea like a serpent in 

 appearance. No one can say, as the result of observation, 

 that there is not, since no one has thoroughly explored 

 the dark, unfathomed depths of ocean. Yet we gain 

 very little when we have admitted our ignorance, and 

 agreed that there is no reason why something should not 

 be. The real question is, " Does the thing in question 

 exist ? " not " Could it possibly exist ? " Does the great 

 sea-serpent exist ? The answer to that is, There is not 

 much evidence to show that it does. Most persons who 

 have looked into the matter would be willing to bet 

 100,000 to 1 against its being captured, dead or alive, 



