The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-15
A FABLE WITHOUT NAMES.
In which the Fish Of Paradise Overc0mes
the Big Black Fish


Once a seeker after political light
who lived in an Eastern city was told
that If he would comprehend men he
must make n study of fishes. So he
visited the great national and State and
municipal aquariums and he found out
many strange realities. In the first place
he discovered that like man. fish
was vertebrate, at least he was so
called: and also that he resembled man
in that he was endowed with COM
plete Uranium. or at any rate scientists
claimed that both men and fishes were
thus equipped.
In many respects the seeker after
political light was delighted most with
the exhibits in the national aquarium,
for here was perhaps the finest collec-
ton OF crawfish and soft shelled crab
extant. Jelly fish were also abundant.
But what perplexed him most was the
overwhelming variety of white fishes,
their scales being as pure and spot
less as the coats Of Arctic foxes But
he noted one very extraordinary habit
OF all the fish in the national aquarium,
and II was that whenever q certain
mammoth fish emerged from n white
grotto, OIL the other fishes. no matter
WHOOiSi thCS WGIo bOAt tItDS, UT INC
Jelly variety. or the crawfish, made way
In such fashion as to give the impress
sion that the whole aquarium really
belonged to the mammoth fish and to
him alone.
What is the name OF this magnifi-
cent specimen" asked the seeker after
light.
"Why. he used TO be called the Pure
-, ia
he was called by all the white Ash the
Fish of Paradise, hut now / hear many
refer to him as the Mighty Fish, be-
cause most of the minnows close their
gllls and hardly dare to breathe when
he swims out into the open"
At this some rude frogs croaked 10
such a degree that they made the tree
toads laugh
And what is the name Of that fish
with an impressive bald head that swims
at the side Of the Fish OF Paradise"
Scientists and fish cu,turists cali him
the Pilot Fish," said the attendant.
Then tho political student left for a
State aquarium. and here too ne found
predominance of white fish. Some
said that tho large increase in their
whiteness was due to species of color
protection and that they adopted white
in loyalty 10 the white grotto. The
chief fish found here wanted 10 grow
and become large. but somehow he
didn't quite know how TO do It. And
all OF q sudden, while the seeker after
light was watching. this would be large
fish topped out of his tank and swan
straight away for the national aqua
rum.
How can be magnificent like your
pure Majesty" lie asked of the Fish
of Paradise.
There is only one way in which YOU
can become n large FISH" quoth the
Pure Fish. land that is ny letting me
come over and sweep out your aqua
rum in order that may destroy all the
fishes that are not loyal to the purity
and whiteness of this grand grotto.
l say this 20 YOU candidly and cordially.
am for you If you consent 10 be large
but not great"
Lastly. the student betook himself to
the municipal aquarium IN tho Eastern
city, hut her. he found quantity OF
queer looking fish. half white and half
black, and they were making great
ado about wholly black fish. OF course
II was explained that once upon time
black tSn were tIs IhSnlpll anu loT llldt
reason a Big Black Fish had held sway
over the aquarium. one slick eel, WHO
was called the Lawyer Fish, said that
while once lie had stood for the Big
Black Fish. now 1t was high time
to let the Fish of Paradise come down
and show them all how to have clean,
white scales. and another large FISH,
called the Ambition Fish, declared he
always had admired the Pure Fish. now
called the Mighty Fish.
Accordingly the Fish Of Paradise sent
word that he would cleanse them on one
condition: that they throw out the Big
Black Fish.
Why" asked the seeker after light.
because he wants to occupy the
whole aquarium" said another at
tendant.
How very unlike the Mighty Fish
then IS the Big Black FISH" exclaimed
the student. the only thing I sec in
common between them - that each
one really has n backbone"
At which the tree toads snickered
again and the white fishes looked con
fused.
Looking Ahead TO 1910.