The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-13
THE DAILY EVENING Observation-Disclosures

Lnese laws, All LlkNn UOGebneIt ii buey udu HOut
into effect, would have put an end to all small
notes on the 1st day of May 1923; but to pre-
cede this blowing up of the whole of the fund
ing system, an act was passed, in the month OF
July, 1922, TO prevent these laws, and especially
that part of Peel's Bill which put an end to
small Bank OF England notes, from going into
full effect; thus the system received a respite,
but thus dld the Parliament fulfil the above pro-
phccy OF September 1919"
A large sign grldiron was actually made for
Mr.. Cobbett IL was made of dimensions sufii-
cCut for him to have lain thereon The was six
feet high); the implement was gilt and we re-
member to have seen IL displayed in the office
window in Fleet street, but ii was never hoisted
outside the office. 1t was long TO be seen on the
gable end OF building next Mr. Cobbets house
at kensington. Cobbett possessed eXtraor-
binary native vigor Of mind; but every portion
of hls history is marked by strange blunders.
Shakespeare, the British Museum, antiquity,
posterity America, France, Germany, are, one
and all, either wholly Indifferent to him,
or the objects of his bitter contempt He
absurdy designated the British Museum as a
"bundie Of dead insects" When he had a sub
iect that suited him, he is said to have handled
it not as an accomplished writer, but with the
perfect and inimitable art with which a dog
picks q bone.n
Eccentricity in men of science is not rare
The Hon. Henry Cavendish, who demonstrated, in
l7Sl, the composition of water, was remaIka.
bic instance. He was an excellent mathemati-
clan, electrician, astronomer, meteorologist
geologist, and as chemist shot far ahead OF
HIS COHlCIlpOIdIleS. buI ne was Il SOfJ OF me-
thodcal reclusc, and an enormous fortune left
him by his uncle did little to change his habits
His shyness and aversion to society bordered on
disease To be looked at or addressed by
stranger seemed TO give him positive pain, when
he would dart away as If hurt. At Sir Joseph
Banks sources he would stand for long time
on the landing, afraid TO face the company.
at one of these parties the titles and quali6ca-
tons OF Cavendish we're formally recited when
he was introduced 10 an Austrian gentleman.
The Austrian became complimentary, saying his
chief reason for coming to London was to see
and converse with Cavendish, one of the greatest
ornaments OF the age, and one OF the most Illus
trious philosophers that ever existed. Cavendish
answered not a word, but stood with his eyes
cast down, abashed, and IN misery. At last,
seeing an opening in the crowd, he flew to
the door, nor did he stop till he reached his
carriage and drove directly home. Any attempt
to draw him into conversauon was almost GER
tain to tall and Dr.. Wolaston's recipe for
treating with MIN usually answered best:-'The
way TO talk TO Cavendish Is, never to look at
him, but to talk as if it were into vacancy,
and then it is not unlikely you may set HIM
going"
Among the anecdotes which. Hoated about, it
is related that Cavendish the club Croesus, at
tended the n eetings of the Royal Society Club
with only money enough in his pocket to pay
for his dinner; that he declined taking tavern
soup, picked his teeth with a fork invariably
hung his hat upon the same peg, and always
stuck his cane in his right boot More apocry-
phal is the anecdote that one evening Caven-
dish observed pretty girl looking out from
an upper window on the opposite eide of the
street, watching the philosophers at dinner. She
attracted notice, and one by one they got up,
and mustered round the window to admire the
lair one. CaVendish, who thought they were
looking at the moon, hustled up to them in his
odd way, and when he saw the real object of
attraction, turned away with intense disgust,
and grunted out, "Pshaw !" the more amorous
conduct OF his brother philosophers having hor-
rlhed the Woman-hating Cavendish.
If men were a trOubla q him women were his
adherence. With his housekeeper he gene
rally communicated with notes deposited ON the
hall-tabe. He would never see a female ser.
want; and if an unlucky maid showed herself
she was instantly dismissed. To prevent in
evitable encounters he had second staircase
erected in his villa at Clapham. In all his
habits he was punctlliously regular, even to his
hanging his hat upon the same peg. From an
unvaryng walk he was, however, driven by
being eazed at Two ladies led gentleman on
LIS track, in order that he might obtain a sight
OF the philosopher. AS he was getting over
stile he saw, to his horror, that he was being
watched, and he never appeared in that path
again. That he was not quite merciless to the
sex was proved by his saving lady from the
pursuit of mad COW.
Cavendish's town-house was near the British
Museum, at the corner of Cover street and
Montague place. Few visitors were admitted
and those who crossed the threshold re-
ported that books and apparatus were its
chief furniture. He COLLECTED a large library
of scientific books, hired house for its re-
ception in Dean street, Solo, and kept a
librarian. When he wanted one of his own
books, he went there as to a circulating library,
and left formal receipt for whatever he took
away. Nearly the whole of his villa at Clapham
was occupied as workshops; the upper rooms
We're an observatory, the drawing-room was
laboratory On the lawn was wooden stage,
nom which access could be had to a large tree,
to the top OF which Cavendish, in the course OF
his astronomical and meteorological observa-
tions and electrical experiments, occasionally
hnh Nunn In
structed, but was always exact and accurate.
HIS household was strangely managed. He
received but little company, and the few guests
were treated on all occasions TO the same fare
leg OF mutton. One day, four scientific friends
were to dine with him; when his housekeeper
asked him what was TO be got for dinner, Caven-
dish replied, "a leg OF mutton"
Sir" said she; that will not be enough for
fve."
"Well, then, get two,n was the reply.
Cavendish extended his eccentric reception to
his own family. His heir, Lord George Caven-
dish, visited him cnce year, and was allowed
an audience of but half an hour. His great in
come was allowed to accumulate without atten-
ton. The bankers where he kept his ac-
count, finding they had In hand
balance of 9SO,OOO, apprized him of the
same The messenger was announced, and
Cavendish in great agitation, desired him to be
sent up; and, as he entered the room, the ruffled
philosopher cried, ''What do you come here for ?
what do you want with meW
"Sir, l thought 1t proper TO wait on you, as we
have a very large balance in hand OF yours, and
we wish your orders respecting it.n
''If it is any trouble to you, will take it out
of your hands. Do not come here to plague
me!o
Not the least trouble to us, sir, not the least;
but we thought you might like some of it to be
invested
'Well, we'll, what do you want TO do?"
perhaps you would ike 840 900 investedp
"Do SO, do SO! aud don't come here to trouble
me, or I'll remove it,n was the chUrlish finale of