The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-09-22

ABSENT MINDED GENIUS.

ABSENT MINDED eENfCS.
". wsuenss sod 0st whsse Ne NOD Mses
wssey Dse pssw.
PANS, Aug. 7s.-since the days when
Dio9enes kept house comfortably In Q tub
and Socrates ruined xantippe's disposition
by his neglect Of the necessities OF existsnce
philosophers and scientists have rejoic d
in a faculty which enables them to become
20 absorbed In the calculations and deduc-
tons Of their new theories and discoveries
, that they can forget their surrounding.
An example Of this quito recently has
bean NJ. Msuchot. to whom the world ~
much Of its present day knowledge OF the
effects Of solar heat. All PARIS wa hor-
| rifed to learn that the dear Old man 'k
ptre Meuchot.' a his pupils a~fectionatsly
call him. was in dire straits. IL sssms he
came out Of a profound revsry n day
10 find that his household effects were being
sold over his head. and he watched In be-
wilderment tho various articles Of fur
niture being carried Oh 10 satisfy creditors
while his weeping fanSly crested esrh
well loved piece with fresh tears. He
! thought himself in the depths Of poverty.
hut refused all offers OF help. However.
friends looked into his affairs and found
| that he had three years back pension that
he had forgotten all about and eight years
ROYALTIES which had also escaped his
memory. so they have taken him in hand
and are doing their best to get back his
furniture and settle his financial Affairs.
MANY stories are told Of the eminent
s~cientist Ampere. whose capacity Tor blind
reflection, 90 deep IL mad him absolutely
oblivious to all around him. was q sOurce
OF mingled amusement and concern to his
friends. One day when he wal walking
along the street absorbed in seeking the
solution Of a problem which had been oocu-
1 pying his attention for some time he saw q
watering cart ahead Of him. Taking q
piece II chalk from his pocket he COM
mencsd to cover the end Of the barrel with
figures. The cart moved slowly of and the
professor walked after it. still busy with his
calculations. till a sudden cold douche
brought him TO his senses.
Another time he was invited TO a large
dinner party at the house of NJ. De Fontsne,
grand master of the university. IL IVES
shortly after Ampere's election to the Insti-
tuteof France and some OF his acquaintance
persuaded him he ought to 60 in his uni
10TH 10 nC8oCAitCi8u. EOUT hEuPcI0 tOOh
them seriously and acting on their advice
was much embarrassed on his arrival to
and that he was the only guest thus at
tired. He felt himself 90 ridiculous with
his sword clankirg about his legs that he
determined TO get rid Of that enoumbrance
anyhow. and taking IL OF he managed to
slip over to a sofa INC hide It behind some
Of tho cushions.
BY the time the dinner wa finished the
old gentleman had quite regained his self
POSSESSION ana with 1t his interest in his
work. and he suddenly commenced to make
some calculations. Walking over to the
fireplace he remained there quite uncon-
scious Of the people round him or. in fact
Of anything except his problem. In duo
time the guests all ook their departure and
M. De Fontane wont upstairs. while his wife
agreed to wait down in the drawing room
till Ampere should have finished. 20 that she
could spare him any extra embarrassment.
However. the time wa long and the dinner
had been q firing affair. 20 the amiable lady
dozod Cd on the sofa. In the meantime the
scientist finished his figuring. woke. to a
knowledge OF his surroundings and was
Mortified TO find all the guests had gone
The only person visible was madam and she
sleeping at her post. He resolved to clip out
unnoticed. but wishing 70 secure his sword.
no WAlhSu OH LApJOo Dcnluu m8O0m D8 fOn-
tame and tried to draw IL gently from its
hiding place under her head, but alas. he
succeeded only In pulling Il out Of its ecab-
bard. h slight movement awakened the
lady. who was terrified to zee AmpAre bcnd.
ing over her with q naked sword In hand.
Her shrleks aroused the household. and
though tho explanation was only q matter
Of seconds tho scientist was 90 mortified
that II was with the greatest difhculty that
he could ever again b persuaded 70 accept
q dinner invitation.
Tho late M. Berthelot was also q vicHe
OF acute absent mindedness. He was walk
ing to his laboratory ono day through a
crowded street whom ono foot slipped from
he curbing into the gutter. He did not
notice the misstep and continued walking
slowly along. one foot on the sidewalk, one
in the gutter, deep in thought until a friend
passing him said:
why, M Berthelot, what 10 the matter3
Why are you walking in this unusual
fashion,"
-Ah," murnured the savnnt. looking at
him dreamiiy. Il. too. nave noticed that
this morning I nm slightly lame. I cannot
imagine from what cause"
It 10 generally believed tina: tho death
Of the famous Prof. Currie happened on
account Of his being engroased In some
problem and neelsctang 70 vaSoh where
no was going. His onc Of inattsntion
and e~hstfaption cost him dear, for b. alipped
and tel between Tho Wheels d adrv. "