Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-19
ABSENT MINDED GENIUS
Some of the Stories Told
About Famous Savants
in the Paris Salons.

Since the days when Dioconcs
kept house comfortably in u tuh
and Socrates ruined Iantippc's dis
position by his neglect of the
noc"ssitics of existence philoso
pliers and scientists have rcjoicci
in faculty which enables them
To become SO absorbed In the
calculations and deductions of their
now theories and discoveries that
| they can forget their SURROUNDINGS
An example of this quite recently
has been NJ Mouchoi. to whom Tho
world owes much OF its present day
knowledge OF the effects of solar
heat MI Paris was mortified to
learn that the dear old man al, pcrc
Mcuchot." MS his pupils afroctionntclv
call him. was in dire straits II seems
ho came out of a profound ravery
one day 10 find that his household
effects were being sold over his
head and he watched in hcwilder.
ncnt the various ARTICLES of furniture
being carried off To satisfy creditors
while his weeping family greeted each
well loved piece with fresh tears. lie
thought himself IN tho depths OF poy
orty. hut refused all offers OF HELM.
However, friends looked into his az.
fairs ana found that he had three
years back pension that he had for.
rottcn all about and eight years roy
aitios which had also ESCAPED his
memory. SO they have taken him in
hand aud are doing their host To rot
back his furniture and settle his Fl.
nancial affairs.
Many, stories are told of the Ont
ncnt scientist Amporc whose cana
city for hird reflection SO deep II
made him absolute ohllyiuus to all
around him was source of mingled
amusement ana concern to his
friends. One day when he was walk
ing along the street absorbed In seek
ng the solution OF problem which
had ben occupying his attention for
some time he saw watering cart
ahead of him. Taking piece of
chalk from his pocket he commenced
to cover the end of the barrel with
figures. Tho cart moved slowly Off
and the professor walked after II. siill
busy with his calculations. till n sud
den cold douchc brought him TO his
senses.
Another time he vas invited to n
large dinner party at the house of VI.
De Fontancc grand master or the uni
versity. II was shortly after Am
perc's election To the Institute of
France AMI some of his acqualntances
persuaded him he ought to 20 In his
uniform rs academician. Poor Am.
pcre took them seriously and acting
on their advice was much cmbarras.
sed on his arrival to find that he was
the only guest thus attirod. He felt
himself so ridiculous with his sword
clanking abont his legs that he deter.
mined 10 gel rid of that encuml rance
anyhow, and taking il off he managed
TO slip over to Il sofa and hida il he
hind some OF the cushions.
BY the time The dinner was finish
cd the old gentleman had uuito re.
gained his scf-posscssion ana with II
his interest IN his work. and he SUD
denly commenced to make some cal
culations. Walking over to the fire.
place he remained there quite uncon
scous of the people around him or.
in fact. OF anything except his prob.
| lem. In due time the guests all fool;
| their departure and NJ. De Fontape
went upstairs while his wife agreed
tn wait down in the drawing room til
Ampcrc should have finished. so that
: She could spare h'2l any extra ombar.
I rassmcnt. However. the time was
long and the dinner had been firing
one, SO the amiabe lady dozed off ON
the sofa. In the meantime tho scicn-
list finished his figuring, woke 10 Il
knowledge OF his surroundings and
was Mortified to find all the guests
had gone. The only person visible
was madam ana she sleeping nj her
post He resolved TO slip out unno.
ticed. but wishing to secure his
sword. he walked on tiptoc behind
| Madam De IIontane and tried To gent
ly draw ii from It's hiding place nm
| der her head but alas. he succeeded