Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Pollution, Chemistry, Sanitation, Pharmaceuticals, Amusement, Class, Invention

Institutions mentioned:

Army

    Describes a proposal by a correspondent in The Times to replace the foul liquid of the Serpentine with fresh salt water from Brighton. Questions why 'chemical science' cannot stop the Serpentine turning into a 'cesspool' 'by a combination of its resources with the scheme of the Artesian well'. Believes the 'sanitary revolution' may be 'made with rose-water', so that the Serpentine could be 'imbued' with perfumes. In the meantime, suggests that the 'superior classes' and the 'British Public' would benefit from fresh water being conveyed into the lake, and thinks 'any philosophical propounder of a plan for the replacement of the Serpentine slush by salt-water, would quietly accept the advice to describe his invention to the Marines'.