The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-24

more than one famous legislator was seen
to closely scrutinize an exposed portion of
the gas piping and then to touch IL APP
prehensively, with the notion, evidently,
that 1t might be hot enough TO burn his
fingers and endangeT the neighboring wood
work.
The story of the comment OF Cuvier the
celebrated French naturalist, on the defin-
ton of the word crab" adopted by The
committee of the French Academy, en-
ployed in the preparation of the academy
dictionary, is well known, but is always
fresh and amusing. The definition was;
Grab a small red fish, which walks
backward" your definition would be
perfect, gentlemen" said Culver, only
for three exceptions. The crab Is not a
FISH, it is not red, and 1t does not walk
backward. The Royal Society is the
English analogy of the French Academy.
Many years ago sailor, who had broken
his leg was advised to send to the Royal
Society an account of the remarkable
manner in which he had healed the frac-
ture He did So His story was that, hav-
ing fractured the limb by falling from the
top of a mast he had dressed IL with
nothing but tar and oakum, which had
proved so wonderfully efiicacious that IN
three DAYS he was able to walk just as
well as before the accident. This remark
able story naturally caused some excite
ment among the members of the society.
No one had previously suspected tar and
oakum of possessing such miraculous heal
ing powers. Several letters accordingly
passed between the Royal Society and the
humble sailor, who continued to assert
most solemnly that his broken leg had
been treated with tar and oakum, and
with these two applications only. The so
ciety might have remained puzzled for an
indefinite period had not the man remark
ed in a postscript to his last letter; =
forgot 10 inform your honors, by the way,
that the leg was a wooden one"
Rather a good story is told about Prof
Huxley when he was delivering a lecture
a the literary and philosophical society
Newcastle-on-T Tyne, some years ago. The
subject was "fhe geographical distribu-
lion Of fossil remains Of animals" and
consequently numerous diagrams were re-
auired Old Alexander the porter of the
institution, and quite a distinguished char
acter among the members of the society,
was assisting the professor to hang the
diagrams. The screen on which the dia-
grams were hung was not very large, and
Huxley do as he would. could not succeed
without the blank corner of one diagram
overlapping the Illustration of another one
on which he placed great Importance.
What was to be done2 The professor
asked Alexander 10 bring a pair Of scls-
sors The scissors were brought, but as
the Joint was somewhat loose, the profess
sor was not able to cut The paper, and he
threw the scissors down in disgust, adding
that they were useless.
Vera guild shears, professor" said Al
exander II tell you they won't cut"
said Huxley. TRY again." said Aiexan-
der. They will cut" The professor tried
again, and not succeeding, said somewhat
angrily, Bring me another pair of scis-
sors" Lord dhen Sir William Arm
strong stepped forward and order Alex
ander TO go and buy a new pair 'Vera
guild shears, Sir william" persisted Alex
ander and picking up the scissors from
the table and placing his thumb and fore
finger in the handles. he stepped forward
and asked Huxley how he wanted the pa
per cut. "Cut 1t there. said Huxley, some
what tartly, at the same time indicating
the place with his forehnger. Alexander
took hold of the paper and inserting the
scissors, pressed the blades together and
cut off the required portion as neatly as
il he had used a straight edge: then turn
ing to the professor with a rather signlh-
cant leer and twinkle OF the eye. said:
"seeance an ART dlnna ay gang thegither
professor" Huxley and all present coll
lapsed Huxley put his hand into his
pocket. and taking out a sovereign, gave, Il
10 Alexander, adding az the same time
''You have done me- srhe same evening
Alexander related the story with great
gusto over a glass OF whisky 20 a friend
when asked how he dared 60 make so
free With such a distinguished man. he
replied. with great emphasis: Lord. mon.
they bits o professor bodies gen naeth.ng
at a. except their buiksw