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Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 20

("Aute" Talks to Old Man Sea.7

I pulled out my notebook and pencil j and stepped down to the gentleman; who was wearing a light grefen;.suit flecked with while. Introducing: my-j self, I said: ■ *; ■ ; (

"Sir, I am a reporter from the 'Fairy, Ring.' Would you grant me an interview, please?" "Why, with pleasure," ''replied the Sea, jovially, "but.you must ask the questions and I'll*' answer them." (He rejoiced in rolling his r's.)

"Thank you, Sir, Sea. Are there really mermaids and are they as beautiful as poets say?"

"Mermaids? Of course—they attend to the forming 'of wondrous shells. Beautiful did you say? Bah! Like those foolish mortals who paint their faces, my mermaids use dyes and powders extracted from sea plants. Their hair is seldom golden or long, either. They sit by the shore to copy the latest fashions in hairdressing from landdwellers. Silly, vain creatures!"

"And,;, Sir Sea, what knowledge would man gain by digging up the sea floor?"

"He would gain: invaluable information of the features- of-the World over ten million years ago. • He would find the bones of animals-and people far stranger than he even; dreamed; structures pf homes of -unknown ■ designs; buried' cities, and an exceptionally low standard of'civilisation:.1' But," he added,, "it will.be another'"thousand years or more before^: that knowledge is revealedrta mankind."- '~ • There was a pause .while we thought on his last words;:'then I ventured to inquire: "Is it true that seaweed has medicinal properties?" : : . . ' "Yes, for sure. Half of Man's diseases could be cured and prevented by seaweed. -Bufcr—"■>'■. "Yes?" '.:;i- '.: ■;■'.-;. "Your scientists must discover, their correct uses first. That will take many years, too." ■ ' • ■ " "What a wicked old scoundrel- you are!" I laughed. ■ "I don't suppose you want your secrets wrested from you." "No, I'll hate it. Yet, unless I entirely disappear from the world,, I'll retain some at least." This'sentence he emphasised with the loud boom of a tremendous wave.

"I suppose you see many small foreign children. Which race do you love best?"

"Now, that's hardly a fair question? However, I see the South Sea babies mostly. Yes—Oh! I'm sorry, but I have to leave you. : The Man in the Moon has comedo .visit me. : We have to arrange the future tides together. Good-evening."

"Good-evening. Thank you very much." '

And as I strolled away across the beach I saw the Moon hanging just above the horizon, talking, I presume, to the Sea. Was it only my fancy that I heard a wavelet, whisper: "Pass if. oh—'full- tide at'n'ooii "tomorrow1?"

AUTB (13)'.

... Jsland-Sax, a