OUR VALUED CORRESPONDENTS.

FROM TIME TO time Dr. Boli receives comments that deserve a fuller and more public answer than would be appropriate for the comments section. Two such correspondents he is delighted to be able to answer here.

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The entry in the Comprehensive Herbal dealing with the Jack-in-the-Pulpit attracted the attention of an herbalist named “gcman,” who very politely took exception to the evolutionary theory contained in the article:

Evolution? I just think that all things in this world is not a product of evolution. I believe that everything is exist on it’s form from the beginning.

Sorry! no offense.

Doubtless, sir, you are correct, at least in a Platonic sense. It seems unreasonable to suppose that mere random forces could have directed the development of living creatures to the summit of perfection—viz., Dr. Boli—had not the form or εἶδος of that perfection been already present in the mind of the Creator. Only a cavilling spoilsport would venture to suggest that the ultimate outcome of evolution could have been something other than Dr. Boli.

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The story of the Little Dutch Boy Who Saved Holland has achieved a gratifying success, and continues to be a favorite among Dr. Boli’s esteemed readers—especially those who light on it all unsuspecting from various search engines and seem not to know quite what to make of it. Tyla Jazmin asks (in three separate comments):

yooooh dat is laka awe he is a famouse little boy.. bt wat hes name?? hw old was he? n hw old nw? wat was the day date n month u mst pt mre info>>>>!!!1

hw old was he n nw wat name n ay date n month it happend

year

If Dr. Boli understands correctly, his correspondent is asking for more specific information about the time, place, and circumstances of the story. He is delighted to have this excuse to give his readers an update. The little Dutch boy, whose name is Hans Christian Anderson (note the spelling), is still there, having grown a good bit older and larger, but still gallantly holding back the North Sea. He has become a popular tourist attraction, and is now surrounded by souvenir booths selling postcards and bronze miniatures of the boy. A refreshment stand sells pastries, which visitors enjoy hand-feeding to the boy, who always accepts them with gratitude. The only complaint he has voiced is that his shoes are growing uncomfortably tight.