The Nevada Democrat., 1859-10-26
Abstraction and Presenee or Mind.


Minds habitually employed on deep theories
and abstrusc calculations must necessarily be
often rapt far above the sublunary occurrences
OF everyday life. DR.. Stukeey once went to
visit Sir Isaac ewton. He was shown into q
room, and there left. Time passed on, and as
the antiquarian was hungry, and aware how
hopeless IL was to get Newton away from his
calculations In any reasonable time, IL he hap
pened to be much absorbed. be quietly began
his dinner upon fowl that had been prepared
for his friend, and speedily demolished the
greater portion Of IL. At last the great astrono-
mer came down from his study, prepared for
his dinner but, seeing only the remnants of
the fowl, was much surprised, and excused him
self to the doctor by saying, "You see, DOCTOR
how very abstract we philosophers are; | really
imagined had not yet dinedW
DR.. Adam Smith, the great economist, was
another very absent man. Among tho anec-
dotes told OF him In this capacity Is the follow
ing: "He was o Commissioner Of the Board OF
Customs That board had in their service, as
porter, a stately person, who, dressed in scar
let cloak, covered with frogs of worsted lace.
and holding In his hand staff about seven feet
high, as an emblem of bis Office, used to mount
guard before the customhouse when board
was to be held. II was the etiquette that, as
each commissioner entered, the porter should
60 through a sort of salute with his staff of
OkICe, ana tueH InhThuhI Tue ulRUntnfY 10 the
hall of meeting. This ceremony had been per-
formed before Adam, perhaps fve hundred
times Nevertheless, one day as he was about
to enter the custom-house, the motions of this
janitor seem TO have attracted his eye, without
their character or purpose reaching his appre-
hension; and, ON sudden, be began to initiate
his gestures as O recruit does those Of his drill
sergeant The porter having drawn up In
front of the door, presented his staff; the COM
missioner, raising his cane, and holding 1t with
both hands by the middle, returned the salute
with the utmost gravity. The inferior officer,
much amazed, recovered his weapon, wheeled
to the right stepping pace back to give the
commissioner room to pass, lowering his staff
at the same time 10 token Of obedience. DR..
Smith, instead of passing on. drew up on the
opposite side, aud lowered his cane at the same
angle. The functionary, more and more bewil-
dered, next moved up stairs, with his staff In
advance, while the author Of the wealth Of
Nations" followed with his bamboo in precisely
the same POSTURE and his whole soul apparent
ly wrapped up in the purpose of placing his
foot exactly on the same spot OF each step
which had been occupied by the man who pre-
ceeded him. At the door of the hall the porter
again drew up, saluted with his stan aud bowed
reverentially the philosopher again initiated
his motions, and returned his bow with the
most profound gravity. When the doctor en-
he seemed to have been acting was entirely
broken"
Moliere, the Father of French Comedy"
being In delicate state of health, left Paris
aud retired to his villa at Auteuil, to pass
short time. One day, Boileau. accompanied
by Chapelle, Lulli, De Jousac. and Nantouillet,
came on visit to him. Moere could not join
them, on account of his Illness but be gave
the keys of the house TO Chapelle, and begged
him IN dn tha hnuoro far him, Nha IA
ted himself Of this task in such manoer, that
at supper not one Of them was sober They
began to discuss the most serious matters, aud
at last, having impiously decided that the great.
est good was never 10 have been born. aud the
next to die as coon after as possible, they re.
solved, shocking as the proposition may sound,
to go In body and drown themselves In the
Seine. In the meanwhile, Molere, who had
retired to his chamber, was informed of this
state Of affairs; and, invalid as he was he has
tened to join the mad party. Seeing how far
gone they oil were, he did not attempt to reason
them out Of their determination, but demanded
what he bad done that they should think of de-
stroying themselves without him.
"He is right" cried Chapele; tive have been
unjust towards him; he shall be drowned with
usu
"One moment. il you please. though" obser-
we'd the dramatist. "This is the last act of our
lives, aud not to be undertaken rashly; If we
drown ourselves at this hour of the night. peo-
pie will say we were drunk, and we shall lose
all merit. Let us wait until the morning; and
then in broad daylight and upon empty stom-
achs, we will throw ourselves In the river in the
face Of our fellow creatures"
This was, after some demur, approved of;
and the next morning, bad as the world was
allowed to be, no one thought it bad enough to
quit II.
Sir Thomas Moore also displayed great pres