24 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE, 
she had recently obtained. The pure stock may now be con- 
sidered secure for the future. In evidence of the extreme 
beauty of the species, it may be stated that private parties paid 
for specimens twenty times the weight of the fish in gold. 
When the young “globes” are first hatched, they appear ex- 
actly like the common goldfish. They rest upon the water- 
plants or other supports for a couple of days, at the end of 
which time the yolk-bag is absorbed; then begins the struggle 
for existence. The double tail which is even then large enough 
to be ‘distinguished, hinders the tiny creatures (but one-quarter 
of an inch in length) in their movements in the water. Should 
they find sufficient food to make a bountiful meal, matters be- 
come still worse, they lose their balance and can not go at all 
until digestion is completed, in the meanwhile falling an easy 
and welcome prey to numerous enemies. 
THE DRAGON EYES. 
This class contains the “curios” of the genus. Fish with 
large-sized eyes, set in abnormal fashion, are certainly odd, 
whether they are beautiful is a matter of taste. What is 
beauty, anyway? Is there anything beautiful to be seen in 
the face of a bull—or pug dog, or in the shape and propor- 
tions of a dachshund? Still their masters think there is. 
Beautiful is what affords pleasure! 
A minister once preached a sermon, wherein he said that 
everything the Lord had made was perfect. A little hunch- 
back, who was among his audience, did not approve of that 
assertion a bit. He concluded to approach the minister on 
that subject. After service he stepped up to him, asking him: 
“Do you think, sir, that the Lord made me perfect?’ Where- 
upon the minister looked him over, and replied: “As a 
