Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-04-10

Two t1s;tSfs Are Beaten a: Their own

l.
| C:afsc.
= professor of mathematics i'm one OF
our colleges. whose head Is - foll of
sober mathematical problems hat YOU
/ would never suppose him capable of n
/ Joke, went one summer 10 the Adiron-
dack mountains for scientific purposes.
Rc took with him, as n companion, a
Younger brothc-. who had just Erhdss-
ated. and an old hunter for a guide,
cook and Provi'ler-generak
Passing one day n clearing in which
some fine peas " ~ growing. they pur-
chased = small quantity TO give relish
IL their dinner in the forest. Not Ions,
after. fatigucd by u hard forehoon's
work. they pitched their camp on the
borders of a lovely lake, and the r-o-
fessor said:
Come, now, let's have those peas"
While hs was taking some ciserva-
tions down by the lake. the old hunter
and the young graduate prepared tn
dinner.
After awhile the professor noticed I'm
unusual chucliihg between the student
and the backwcodsman.
Suspecting son.a trickery. he strolled
quietly toward the fire, as IL endeavor-
ing TO get new point OF observation, to
watch narrowly their proceedings.
Surprising that the professor was deep
in equations and angles and mathe-
NAUTICAL lines, they relaxed their cnu-
ton, and he observed that they were
making wooden spoons with their pen.
knives TO eat the peas with, and that
here was conspiracy to rob him OF his
sharte
Saying nothing. he walked back 10 tie
lake shore, and, picking up one of those
large mussel shells which are found i'm
all our fresh-wnter lakes and rivers AMI
viii hold more than an ordinary Spool
he fitted split stick 10 IL for a handle
mid cl'tpped them both in his pocke..
Then sauhtering back. i'm order TO pre-
vent them making very extensive prepa-
rations, nc kept around until the dinner
was cooked.
His presence restricted very much
their operations. and they were able TO
finish bu: very shallow Spoons, after All.
The peas being at length done, thev
were poured into the common dish. and
10. il was soup.
To prevent the possibility OF the pro-
fossors getting even small portion.
they had cooked them so that the peas
were swimming i'm water.
Seated on the gro1ud. they each corn.
mcrccd stabbing with his pcnknife at
'hc peas. After this ridiculous process
had been carried on awhile. TO the III
suppressed mer-imcnt of the strticni
aud hunter. the latter whipped gu.
their wooden spoons. ard nourshin,c
them over their heads with Il loud
"llurrah'" made a dive at the peas.
The professor looked at them n mo
ment; then, coolly drawing forth HIS
hinge Eussel shell and stick. and fittirp
them together, began 10 ladle up tl.r
soup.
The hunter and graduate stopped at
this rcft dcvcloplne,. .Nt'i ',eir spoons
suspended half wa - IL. r. moutha.
and gazrd, with J.. AK .rantenancrS.
ut the quiet profcsSg,-. :. -. ,.ithout ut-
tering word or changing feature.
diligently piled his shell
by his accurate and mathematics. !
mode of ladling, lac was enabled TO tal.a
up an enormous quantity NJ every dip.
nrd in a few moments every pea had
vanished.
The whole operation had Eeen carried
on with the soEricty with which lac
would have rcdIccC an cqration.
When the last pea disappeared, he
looked mp as much rs to say:
us there anything more 10 eat. Gen
uemenc''
This was carrying out tho joke SO
capitally that the two conspirator,
burst into laughter. and the old hunter.
II" he licked his empty spoon. confessed
that for once he had been outwitted.
Golden Days.