Smyrna times., 1901-09-11
The
AbSentminded
Doctor.

one of the most abSentminded of men.
He was engaged the other evening
stufIing a trunk and dress suit case
with clothing and manuscripts prepar-
atory to starting immediate for a
western city where he was L lecture
before a convention of patholol : on
that branch of therapeutics which ad
brought him fame. A number of his
professional friends who were to ac-
company him were in waiting The lug
gage was well on its 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, 'I've forgot to
bring any money with me. It's one on
me- Come back to the office minute,
and We'll have a drop of that Scotch
you all know so we'll" 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 1.-The loss of memory,
its causes and remedy" Seated in his
study, he said:
Boys, we are a bit early for the
train, and while we're waiting I'll tell
you of an embarrassing experience
which happened Lie as a result of my
treacherOus memory on my last tour
through the west.
1.-TWO of us started from New York,
DR. Blank, a 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 we'll as my
manuscripts were at home in trunk
waiting for the eXpressman l had for
gotten to send for. A few days before
starting l 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
nearly 10 hours ahead 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 1 was in travelling
costume of linen, covered with dust
and not fit to be presented to an au-
dience who were anticipating much.
even in the way of dress, from n New
York specialist. My linen was thor
oughly soiled on the trip, and l didn't
have time to buy new shirts, collars oil
cuffs. DR.. Blank had brought several
suits of clothes with him as well as 4
good supply of linen, so we overcamC
this obstacle and thought little more
about it. But linen and outside wear
ing apparel weren't the only things
found needed when | began to takt
advantage of Blanks generous offer Il
clOthe myself from skin to head cover
ing. | only wore my own shoes be
cause Blanks were one size smalle
and Il trife narrower than mine. Blu
other than furnishing me with foot
wear | was clothed throughout il
Blanks wardrobe. 1t was not evenin
dress, but suit of the frOck cut, whic
answered very well, and | considere
it at least semiappropriate for the OF
casiOn.
The lecture hall was but a shol
way from the hotel. and told Blank t
20 ahead and | would follow imm'
diately. as we were now some minute
late. Blank Obeyed and announced til;
l would soon be there, as | was the
dressing. After dressing | discovered
was low in funds, very low, and
course, desiring to keep up the reput
tion Of the profession in the metropOli
] didn't care to go among stranSe
without enough money to sustain tn
reputation in case of An emergency.
81 searched through the pockets
the clothing had discarded and. wr
ing a check for 500, rushed to the de-
of the hotel to have it cashed. | pass
1t to the clerk with that request. su
pose he mistook my haste for eXcit
ment and looked at me susplclously
he read the signature on the check.
requested that he would not delay L
and showed him my name on the reg
Ter, Where Blank had registered Tor II
l quickly discerned the expression
suspicion in the clerks face, and
made me angry. Again demand
that he grant my request at once.
How are we to know you are
person whose signature is on II
checkT he asked.
Il told him l didn't know how
was to know 1t, but that was a gu
In the hotel.
Have you anything about you Il
will Identify your he inquired.
81 have letters addressed to n
said /, forgetting l had on Blan
clothes, and thrust my hand in
inside pocket and threw him wh
bundle without looking at them.
Il saw the clerk read the name
hn - T.. Il