The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20
ANECDOTES OFTHE 0
a IA OF SHORT STORIES ABOUT
WELL-KNoWN MEN.
Observation-Disclosures n Common Failing
skeptlcism ne to New Discoveries-Ths
French Academy and the CrRb-Ono
of Lord Maoaulay's Pet Diversionh.

Observation-Disclosures seems to be a common
failing among great men. An amusing story
is told Of the late Louis Pasteur. who 10 dis
tineuished himself by his discoveries In re-
gard TO bacteria. While lining at his son-in-
laws one evening. II was noticed that.he dipped
his cherries In his glass OF water and then care
fully wiped them before eating them. AZ this
caused some amusement. he held forth at
length on the dangers of. the microbes with
which the cherries were covered. Then he
leaned back in his chair. wiped his forehead.
and. unconsciously picking up his glass, drank
of the contents. microbes and all.
A friend calling upon Peter Burrowes. q
celebrated Irish barriSter. one morning in his
dressing room. found him shaving himself
with his face to the wall. and asked him WHY he
chose 30 strange an attitude. The answer was.
TO look in the glass;" WHY. there Is no glass
there" said the friend. Bless mel' exclaimed
Burrowes. II did not notice that before"
Then. ringing the bell, he called the servant
and questioned him respecting the looking
glass which had been hanging on the wall.
"Oh. sir" said the servant, 1T was broken six
weeks ago." A certain learned professor at
Cambridge is a very absent-minded man. A
friend OF his had been seriously III. When he
was oopvalescent the professor used to send
him jelies and other delicacies. One day he
I'VE thhAA - AhO eAS ~ cNeOeoS
The old friends were very pleased to see each
other. and were soon deep In q discussion.
The professor. becoming interested. began ABB
systematically picking the grapes. taking one
ut q time till they were all gone. On going out
OF tho door he called back to his friend. Now.
mind you eat those grapes they will do you all
the good In the world" A ~well-known Arch
bishop was also noted for his absent. minded
ness. Dining at home one evening. he found
fault with the flavor OF the soup. Next even
ing he dined out at q large dinner party. For
getting for tho moment that he was not in his
" house. but a guest. he observed across the
table to his wife, This soup is. my dear. again
o failure"
Nearly all great scientific discoveries have
been oombated and misunderstood. even by
great men. Admiral Sir Charles Napier fierce
~ opposed the introduction OF steam power
the royal navy and one day exclaimed in
the House OF Commons; MI. Speaker. when
we enter her Mnjesty's naval service and face
the chances OF war we go prepared to be
hacked In pieces BY outlAssss. to be riddled
bullets or be blown to bits by shot and
shell; but. Mr.. Speaker. we do not 60 prepared
to be boiled ~alive!" The last words he brought
out with tremendouS emphasis, Steam power
was . prospect the gallant sailor could
pier found himself in command Of the largest
eteam navy that the world had ever seen.
Lord Stanley subsequently. the great Lord
the House OF Commons to examine Into the
state OF steam navigation. George Stephen
s spoii enc Of 9M the probabiIIty Of T stes ans fs% oross:
say" exclaimed Lord Stanley. rising from his
eat the boiler, OF the first boat" That pledge
was never redeemed.
EVEN In a mS5e he Fsf Ssd ! sears a E the aSld t G{IhanfGs.lteFd
without candle or oil. poured ridioule on q
scheme for supplying every house in London
supplied with water by the New River Com
pany,",. Again; SO eminent e chemist and gas
eyed a 10 have ss ST. said adu On ons oo Ssxyi 1iT thss i. + was Sls
with ,wlndmills as Of lighting It with gas. It
Parliament were first lighted by gas more than
one famous LEGISLATOR was seen closely to
and then to touch i aHppreRenslSeiy.. S With thDt Tie
to burn his fingers and endanGer the neigh
OT fhs stSPS q the eomnsn. Of oeyisr, the
Of the French Academy employe d IN the Drspe
grafton Of the Academy Dictionary. Is we'll
G %alRs Sack was; oraaS So q ' d.tni ito hs Would HhiS6e e
perfect. gentlemen" said 6uvier. only for
tuTCO 04CcDllDuh. CId ID NJ y ubu. j 10
not red, and it does not walk Backyard" The
Royal Society is the English analogue OF the
FS Fra Sho AsndssiH Fl. Ies MS Ts. y Ssviss sg4 g = s ssll9s 70 who The
manner IN !, Which he had healed the %fracture. He
the limb BY falling from the top Of a mast. he
had dressed 1t with nothing but tar and oakum.
Which l had pr9vea Sc 50 wondhserfally EFF effio;a H. 3
we'll as before the accident. This remarkable
story naturally caused some excitement
had previously suspected tar and oakum of
possessing such miraculous healing power
t sSyq Eoy, I9S sS6i.t 3O S0S tPss BuB RPsse s,,I RstT SSa
continued to assert most solemnly that his bro
ken leg had been treated with tar and oakum.
Society might: have REMAINED puzzled for an
indefinite 2 . Idtfp Period r. d h e. not lot 1 tas man rs Gns6i ID
Rather a good story Is told about Prof. Hu1-
f Tx Tasn ana "a P Sfs ssaIsaia gos 9 IsS' Sexo "a tie
2i.n rto some years ag9: The subject vas
mains Of Animals" and e~onsoquentiy numer-
the porter Of the institution, and quite a dis.
the society. was assisting the professor to hang
the diagrams. Tho screen on, which the dla-
l tFa%ds do w ss he sV Would Tas could nIt y nos succeed sSeSe; dn %it h9at
the blank corner OF one diagram overlapping
the Illustration OF another one on which. he
donef The professor asked Alexander to
bring q pair Of ~scissors. The scissors were
brought, but as the Joint was somewhat loose.
tho professor was not able to cut the paper.
and he threw the scissors down in disgust,
adding that they were useless.
Vera guid. shears. professor" said Alex
ander: Il tell you they wont out" said Hux:
ley. Try again" said Alexander. they will
suit" The professor tried again. and, not sue
ceedlnR. said somewhat angrily, Bring me
another pair OF scissors" Lord then Sir Will
liam Armstrong stepped forward and ordered
Alexander to go and buy a new, pair. Vera
der. and picking up the scissors from the tn
BILE and placing his thumb and forelnRer In
the handles he stepped forward and asked
Huxley how he wanted the paper cut. Out IL
there said Huxley somewhat tartly. at the
same time indicating the place with his fore
finger, Alexander took hold Of the paper and
Inserting the scissors. pressed the blades to-
gether and cut OF the required portion as neat
turning to the professor with q rather siggpih-
ance an ART dinna ay gang theRither. profess
sor." Huxley and all present, collapsed. Hulk
ley put his hand into his pocket. and taking
out a sovereign gave 10 To Alexander. adding
at the same time, You have done me-" The
same evening Alexander related the story witt
great Gusto over q glass OF whiskey TO a friend.
When asked how he dared make so free with
such a dlstinRuished man he replied with
great emphasis: Lord, mon. they bits o. pro-
lessor bodies ken naething at n except their