[net.religion] Mark Twain on miracles

lew@ihuxr.UUCP (Lew Mammel, Jr.) (12/03/84)

In Mark Twain's OFFICIAL REPORT TO THE I.I.A.S, about Cook's claim to have
discovered the North Pole, he considers the nature of miracles. (This is
in the LETTERS FROM THE EARTH collection.)  He quotes an eyewitness report
of a mermaid from Henry Hudson's log, and cites it as an example of a miracle.
He goes on to say that:

	The difference between a Miracle and a Fact is exactly the
	difference between a mermaid and a seal. It could not be
	better expressed.

This even though Hudson gave the FULL NAMES of BOTH sailors who saw the
mermaid!

		Lew Mammel, Jr. ihnp4!ihuxr!lew