Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-30
THE GAZETTE.
WEDN EsDAYEvENING, NOVEMBER 80.
ABSENCE OF M1ND-M acaulay remarks that

ABSENCE OF MIND.-M acaulay remarks that
absent mindedness is the mark of either gen,
ius or fool. We think that Lord Macaulay
was little too severe on one OF its sides. a
mans mind may be so intensely occupied with
lofty intuttions and inspirations that ms
senses, seemingly, are scarcely awake 10 the
realities of the tangible world.
A certain Scottish professor was not more re-
markable tor his writings on political economy
than Tor bis frequent unconsolousness OF "haI
passed before him. His absence OF MIND was
30 remarkable that his wife once wagered that
she would acoost him in the street, inquire al,
tar the health of herself and her family. and
that he would not recognize her. She actually
won the wager. The professor was once tax
inc solitary walk on the banks OF canal into
which. in his abstraction, he walked. When
within yard of the centre, an honest woman,
washing clothes behind him, bawled out:
ssCome GOT, come DOT, fule body. or yell be
droon't.'' These warning sounds invading the
tympanum of his professional ear, had the ct
feet of making him turn right about, and forth
with recover the dry land. The good woman
concluding him to be an idiot, athetically
exclaimed "Puir body, atweel they hae
muckle to answer for that lets ye gang yer
lane"
A young fellow employed i'll store on River
street was one day sent into the cellar TO draw
a gallon of sperm oil. While waiting he
snatched up piece of chalk, and 10 a minute
was absorbed in sketching tue proprietor 5
profile. The profile on the hogshead was capl'
ta but while the young artist was absorbed IN
its pursuit, the oil pursued its way over the
cellar floor He was informed he would not
do for a merchant, but just now he Is a h!st-
rate New York artist
It is said of Sir Isaac Newton that he often
forgot to eat his dinner, which his housekeeper
was accustomed to leave in closet near his
study door. His head was too much in the
heavens to mind the earth 50 friend know
ing his popularity, one day slipped his dinner
out OF the basket and ate it up. When at last
the philosopher came out and greeted his
friend, be asked to be excused till he took his
lunch. On looking into the basket and finding
it gone, he simply exclaimed, much to bis
friends amusement lob, forgot l had eaten
my dinncr"
An absent minded man, Mr.. A., Of Troy,
receives letter he knows the handwriting /;
be wants to read it 10 haste {: it is already dark;
be strikes light, tears paper. and lights
lamp; but the letter is goue-he has used It 10
light clamp.
There is late striking instance given of
Pere Gratry, who has Just been nominated ID
rector of the Academy in Paris. One day,
when going to the Sorbonne, where he lectured
on theology, he imagined he had forgot his
watch, and took it out Of his pocket to see II
be had time to 20 home and fetch 1t.
tt said of Neander, the learned lecturer
and ecclesiastical historian Of Germany, that
his sister had to watch him daily to see that
be did not start to the University with his
night cap 90, or with his study gown and slip
pers and it was not uncommon Tor him, when
moving aside from the jostling crowd 10 the
street, to step into the gutter where be walked
on and on, seemingly unconscious where he
was stepping.