The Distinguished Stranger.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 49

The Distinguished Stranger.

Once upon a time there came to this earth a visitor from a neighbouring i^lanet. And he was met at the place of his descent by a great philosopher, who was to show him everything. First of all they came through a wood, and the sfcrariger looked upon the trees. " Whom hive we here ? " said he. " These are only vegetable?," said tho philosopher. " They are alive, but not at all inforcstmg." "I do not know about that," said thai stranger. " They seem to hwe very good manners. Do they never speak ? " " They lack the gift," said the philosopher. "Yd I think 1 bxar them sing," said the other. " That is ouly the wind among the leaves," said the philosopher. " I will explain to you the theory of winds : it is very inttr-.s.ting." "Well," said the stranger, "I wish I knew what thc-y are thinking." " They cannot think," said the philosopher. "I don't know about that," returned the stranger. And then, laying his hand upon a trunk : " I like these people," ssid be. " They are not peoplo at all," said tho philosopher. " Come along." Neocb they came through a meadow where there were cows. " These are very dirty people," said the strangfr. " They are not people at all," said the philosopher; and ho explained wbab a cow v in ecientific words which I have forgotten. " That is all cne to me," said the stranger. " But why do they never look up ? " "Because they ate graminivorous," said tre philosopher ; " and to live upon grass, which is not highly nutritious, rtquinss io close »n attention to busincrs that they havd no time to think or spesk or look at Ihe scenery ov keep themselveH cltan." " Well," said the stranger, "that is oue way to live, no doubt. But I prefer the people with the green heads." Nt-xt thoy came into a city, and the streets were full of meivand women. "These are very odd people," said tho stranger. " They are the people of the greatest nation in the world," said the philosopher. "Are they indeed?" said the stranger. " They ecarculy look ho."— From Robert Louis Stevenson's "Fables," in Longmuu'n Magazine.