The Equinox (Volume I, Number I)

EDITORIAL “No,” answered the Water Man, “it can’t be impure, for we filter it.” “Oh, indeed!” replied the Inhabitant, “ but my wife died from drinking it.” “No,” said the Water Man; “I assure you that this water comes from the purest springs in Utopia; further, that water, however impure, cannot hurt anybody; further, that I have a certificate of its purity from the Water Company itself.” “The people who pay you!” sneered the Inhabitant. “ For your other points, Haeckel has proved that all water is poison, and I believe you get your water from a cesspool. Why, look at it!” “ And beautiful clear water it is!” said the Water Man. “Limpid as crystal. Worth a guinea a drop!” “ About what you charge for it!” retorted the incensed Inhabitant. “It looks fairly clear, I admit, in the twilight. But that is not the point. A poison need not cloud water.” “ But,” urged the other, ‘‘ one of our directors is a prophet, and he prophesied—clearly, in so many words—that the water would be pure this year. And besides, our first founder was a holy man, who performed a special miracle to make it pure for ever!” “Your evidence is as tainted as your water,” replied the now infuriated householder. So off they went to the Judge. The Judge heard the case carefully. ‘‘ My good friends!” said he, “ you've neither of you got a leg to stand on; for in all you say there is not one grain of proof.—The case is dismissed.” 7