The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-09-12
The
Absentrninded
Doctor.
Observation-Disclosures

One of New York's best known ply
sicians has also the reputation of being
one of the most absentminded of men.
He was engaged the other evening
stuffing a trunk and dress suit case
with clothing and manuscripts prepar-
atory to starting Immediately for a
western city where he was to lecture
before a convention Of Psychologists on
that branch of therapeutics which had
brought him fame. A number of his
professional friends who were to ac-
company him were in waiting. The lug
gage was we'll on it's way to the rail
way station, the doctor and his friends
following, when his friends were sur
prised to see the doctor start suddenly
as though he had suffered a cardiac
shock and clasp his breast on the left
side. They threw their arms about him
to support him and prevent him from
falling, but the doctor waved them off
and smiled.
Boys" he exclaimed, 1--we forgot to
bring any money with me. It's one on
me. Come back to the Office a minute,
and We'll have a drop of that Scotch
you all know so WELL" The invitation
was readily accepted by his fellows,
who were hilarious at the joke on the
man who was to devote one of his Sc
ries of lectures to s'the loss of memory,
its causes and remedy" Seated in his
study, he said:
Boys, we are bit early for the
train, and while we're waiting I'll tell
you of an embarrassing experience
which happened me as result of my
treacherous memory on my last tour
through the west.
1.-TWO of us started from New York,
DIR. Blank, tall fellow, like myself,
but great deal more thoughtful of lit
tie things that make life's pathway a
bit smoother at times. He had arrang-
ed everything, not forgetting even ex-
ira collar buttons. We had nearly
reached Buffalo when l remembered
that all my clothing as well as my
manuscripts were at home in a trunk
waiting for the expressman l had for
gotten to send for. A few days before
starting | managed to think to express
duplicate copies of my addresses ahead
to the city where l was to begin the
course Of lectures.
81 telegraphed to New York to send
on my clothing. but we were already
nearly 10 hours aheae of the next eX-
press and had figured to arrive in town
just in time to snatch a mouthful of
food and get to the lecture room
My manuscripts had arrived all
right, but there | was in a travelling
costume of linen. covered with dust
and not fit to presented to an au-
dience who were anticipating much.
even in the way of dress, from a New
York specialist. My linen was thor
oughly soiled on the trip, and l didn't
have time to buy new shirts. collars or
cuffs. DR.. Blank had brought several
suits of clothes with him as well as a
good supply of linen, so we overcame
this obstacle and thought little more
about it. But linen and outside wear
ing apparel weren't the only things
found l needed when 1 began to take
advantage of Blanks generous offer to
clothe myself from skin to head cover
ing. l only wore my own shoes be-
cause Blanks were one size smaller
and a trifie narrower than mine. But
other than furnishing me with foot
wear l was clothed throughout in
Blanks wardrobe. 1t was not evening
answered very well, and l considered
ii at least semiappropriate for the oc-
casion.
1.-THE lecture hall was but a short
way from the hotel. anG told Blank to
go ahead and l would follow imme-
dia tely, as we were now some minutes
late Blank obeyed and announced that
would soon be there. as | was then
dressing. After dressing discovered
was low in funds, very low. and of
course. desiring to keep up the >reputa-
ton of the profession in the metropolis.
/ didn't care to go among strangers
without enough money to sustain this
reputation in case of an emergency.
Il searched through the pockets of
the clothing | had discarded and. writ
ing check for 500, rushed to the desk
of the hotel to have it cashed. passed
It to the clerk with that request. l sup
pose he mistook my haste for excite
ment and looked at me suspiciously as
he read the signature on the check |
requested that he would not delay me
and showed him my name on the regis
ter. where Blank had registered for me.
quickly discerned the expression OF
suspicion in the clerks face. and it
made me angry. Again | demanded
that he grant my request at once.
How are we to know you are the
person whose signature is on this
che exp he asked