The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-09-23
The Fool and
the Savant
Fall Afoul of Each Other and Be-
come Quite Entangled on
Hens and Eggs.

"Alasw cried the fool as he stepped
from the gutter to the curb, "must al
ways be just what am, no more or no
less 7"
"Aye, fool" bawled the uniformed
policeman, who stood near by and heard
the fools last words, "you don't know
that two and two is four"
swell, is it?" asked a voice at the
policeman's elbow.
AS the officer looked up his eyes met
those of an elderly gentleman who
wore long, black gown and carried
several books under his right arm.
"Sure, two and two is four" answered
the officer, "but what reason have y.,u
for asking such simple question, Pro-
fessor Smart?"
"Oh, no reason at all, only I had al
ways been of the opinion that two and
are four"
"Tee-he-he," giggled the fool, zone
person says two and two is four, and
the other says two and two are four"
"Be on your way, fool, and don't track
any more dirt from the gutter onto the
curb," cautioned the officer.
The fool, drawing his coat sleeve
across his face, turned on his heel and
started to walk away. Ere he had TAX
en- many PAGES, Professor Smart was
| walking by his side.
$50 they call you the fool, eh ?" asked
the Professor as they strolled along.
Eyes, am called fool because people
say don't know much"
"What caused you to laugh, then
when said two and two are fourp"
because" said the fool, 81 think two
and two equal four"
"Ah, then you are able to think? ?"
sometimes" answered the fool, az
he turned his head to repress smile.
"Then," said the Professor, 81 will
give you little problem to solve-one
that has baff1ed the wise men for ages.
"Well, sir, will try" What is the
problem?"
(which was created first, the hen OF
the egg?" asked the Professor.
"That surely seems to be very diff
icult to answer" replied the fool, "yet
l venture to say that can do SO an(
do it correctly"
"Perhaps," said the Professor, "bu
you must expound your reasons for be
lieving which one of the two was ere
ated first"
"That is precisely what ] intend tt
do. But first, let me ask you one o
two minor questions"
/ swell, fire away"
"Then sir, do you believe in history T
"Yes, authentic history" replied tn
J Professor.
"Who was created first, man or VIC
man?"
"Why-er, man, of course"
"Good," said the fool, "but what au
thority have you for saying man wa
, created first?"
! "Why, everybody knows that; be
sides, it is written thus in the Bible.
> "Then," said the fool, "the hen wa
created first"
!, "Ah! bahp' exclaimed the Professor
"Well, sir, wher, you have time jus
! turn to the book of Genesis and Sc
s what Moses has to say about it."
j "What does he say ?" asked the Prt
fessor.
"Well. to paraphrase," said the foo
Q sGod created all the creatures that liv
: in the water and all the winged fow
t on the fourth day, and when God sa'
they were good He told them to multi
8 ply. So you see, there is nothing sai
about eggs or multiplying until afte
t the fowls were created"
AS the Professor turned to go tn
fool added that, "if the egg was crea
4 cd first there would have been no he
to proclaim the fact to the public"
u "And they call you fool" muttere
|, the Professor as they separated.
ACROBATUS.