The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

OF course, the sea serpent affects the
authors Imagination. He believes in this
monster and has this 10 say about it:
The sea serpent is no longer counted a
chimera. In 1756 one of them was shot by
a master of a ship. Its head resembled
that of a horse: the mouth was large and
black, as were the eyes; white name
hung from the neck; it floated on the sur
face of the water and held its head at least
two feet out of the sea; between the head
and neck were seven or eight folds which
were very thick, and the length of this
snake was more than a hundred yards.
some say 'fathoms. They nave a remark
able aversion to the smell of castor, for
which reason ship masters provide them
selves with quantities OF that drug. Egede.
a very reputable author, says that on July
6, 1874. large and frightful sea monster
raised itself on high so that its head
reached above the topmast of the ship;
that 1t had long. sharp snout, broad
paws, and spouted water like whale. The
body of this monster is said to be as thick
as a hogshead.'
But the author has an even more amaZ-
ing story than the one about sea serpents.
He describes sea monster that is mile
and one-half in circumference. He says:
II should be under great difficulty in
not its existence proved so strongly. 1t
resembles a number OF small islands and
sandbanks on which fishes disport them
selves. When he sinks, which he does
gradually, a dangerous swell of the sea
succeeds and kind OF whirlpool is
naturally formed in the water. In 1850 a
young Kraken persisted among the rocks OF
the parish OF Alstalong's, and his death
was attended by such stencil that the
Chan nal tt.ha in1 aGGah 10
The author is little skeptical about
the mermaids. whom he calls mer- women.
IT is evident he believes they exist, but he
does not believe all that is said OF them.
The Norwegians, the author believes
are "middling class of people" He
says: The lowest peasant is an artist
and a gentleman and even poet. A Nor
wegian of hundred years is not ac-
counted past his labor, and in 1888 four
couples were married and danced before
his Danish majesty whose combined ages
reached eight hundred years"
In describing the rigor of the winters
in Llpland the author says: I'm winter
it is no unusual thing when mems lips
are frozen to cups while attempting TO
drink; spirits of wine are converted into
ice" The description OF the manners and
customs of the Laplanders is interesting.
THE women" he says ARE complaisant,
chaste, often well made, and extremely
nervous. 1t frequently happens that a
Lapland woman will faint way, or even
fall into fit of frenzy, On a spark of fire
flying toward her, or an unexpected noise
During these paroxysms of terror they
deal about blows with the first thing that
presents itself; and, on coming to them
selves, are utterly ignorant of all that has
passed. When a Laplander intends 10
marry he or his friends court her father
with brandy; when, with some difficulty,
he gains admittance to the fair one. he
offers her beavers tongue, or some other
eatable, which she rejects before company,
but accepts in private. Every admittance
to the fair one is purchased from the
father by her lover with a bottle of bran
dy, and he prolongs the courtship some
times for three years.
"a Frenchman," the author says,
in consequence of his mingling with
females from his infancy. not only becomes
acquainted with all their customs and hu-
mors, but grows wonderfully alert in per
forming a thousand little offices which are
overlooked by other men, whose time is
spent in making more valuable acquls'-
lions. He attends lady at her toilette,
regulates the distribution of her patches
and advises her where 10 lay on her paint.
II he visits her when she is dressed and
sees the least impropriety in her eoinure
he insists on adjusting it with his own
hands. II he sees a curl, or even single
hair amiss, he produces his comb, his scis-