The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-01-31
HE KNEW IT ALL
Men Of Science Sometimes Make Mis-
takes-Some Curious Instances.

takes-SOme Curious Instances.
The ROYAL society Of London has
for lis motto a Latin phrase which
means prove everything-take
nothing for granted" This, in gen.,
eral, is the attitude Of science all over
the world. Every new discovery isl
received on probation, its claims tol
merit carefully vestigated, and only
accepted when the facts in its favor
are Overwhelming. The doubters and
carpers in the scientific world are the
benefaetors of the race, since they
will allow nothing to be believed IN
til it is proven.
OF course, says Golden Days, since
scientists are but human beings after
all, there are many who do jump at
conclusions, and indorse new beliefs
that are a%fterward proved to be base
less. OF these are the medical men
who indorsed the blue grass cure; the
electricians who proved to their own
satisfaction that the E-fel tower
would become an immense magnet, so
powerful that all trains approaching
Paris would be attracted to such an
extent that they would be dashed to
pieces; and the engineers who were
certain that no steamship could carry
enough coal to steam across the At
lantic.
Such scientists, who do not know
enough to keep their mouths shut UNI
til they are sure, upon investigation
would be found to be mere pretend
ers, and, most likely, they are know
alls" who, in the attempt to master
everything, learn nothing completely.
Joseph Jefferson, the celebrated ac-
TOR, told in the Century an amusing
anecdote about one of these would
be scientists.
A certain John Rice had among his
ncquaintances a gentleman Mr.. JEFF
ferson called c., who posed as a
know-all, and was also so extremely
garrulous as to be tiresome.
One afternoon Rice and a party Of
his friends were sitting on the back
porch Of his house, listening to some
Of C-'s marvellous experiences,
when the host said quietly:
"You seem to be an authority on
most matters. Now l want your solu-
ton Of a curious fact that is staring
US in the face. Look at that apple
tree over the fence -pointingto one
in the orchard at the back Of the
house. y GU see it has no apples on
it, and all the rest of the trees are
full OF fruit. Now how can you ac-
count for that?"
C-ran his eyes over the orchard
with a profound look, and, rising
from his seat, mounted the fence, let
himself down on the other side with
as scientific an air as the performance
would admit Of, and, going down on
his knees, began to examine the roots
Of the barren tree, the company mean
while watching the proceeding with
becoming gravity.
Having cut off a piece of the bark
from the tree, the scientist wiped his
Eyeglasses and examined the speci.
men with a placid kind of triumph,
md exclaimed:
"Ahl Thought sou
Again climbing the fence, he re-
turned to the group who had been
watching him, and said:
"Now, observed You see that gray
color on the edge Of the bark?" They
did. "Well, that is called fungi NOR
tenn, and whenever that deadly sign
appears at the root of an apple tree
it never bears fruit
81 don't think YOU are quite right"
said Rice, calmly, "for that tree was
full of apples Yesterday, but the own
er came this morning and gathered
them ALL"
There was a shout of laughter and
thescientist was dumfounded. 1t was
a dredful blow, and it had the effect
of curtailing scientific discourses for
some time.