The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-01-15
New NEWS Of YESTERDAY
Sly Fun Eyarts Had with a
Learned Scientist
Senator'S Problem n Natural scienee
Propounded to savant Who Was
Boring a Brilliant Company
At Dinner.

7 have been told NAM very inter
estlng anecdotes about William NJ.
Evarts. but do not know any which
illustrates the keen wit and the humor
which were 80 prominent among the
many characteristics OF Mr.. Eyarts
that compares with an incident which
came under my own observation, said
Gen Charles s Fairchild, who was sec
retary Of the treasury IN the latter
half Of President Cleyelands first ad-
ministration.
4 was a guest at dinner which
was given in 1883. when Mr.. Eyarts
was still IN the senate. by very prom
inent public official at Washington. 1t
was, In the character Of the men who
were gathered around the table, per
haps as brilliant a dinner as any in
which / participated while / was a
member or Mr. Cikveland's admins
tration. Senator Evarts was one Of the
most distinguished Of the guests pres
ent; and, as usual at dinner which
Mr. HYarts graced with his presence,
the best Of good fellowship and a true
feast Of reason. and humor and wit
We're the experiences Of the guests
There happened to be at this din
ner a man Of great achievement as a
scientist He was. however, good
deal Of dry.as-dust. and he seemed
TO be disposed to inject science into
the conversation, or to apply his own
particular knowledge to every state
ment which was made. After awhile
the persistence Of this scientific gen.
tleman palled a little upon the guests,
although he himself seemed to be un-
aware Of that fact. Not even the host.
Notwithstanding his perfect courtesy.
was able fully to conceal his annoy
auce at these learned and scientific
interpretations
AT last Senator Eyarts. who had
been apparently, q patient and earn
est listener, addressed TIE man Of sci
ence, saying
have been much interested, pro
fessor. in what you have said, and It
has occurred to me that possibly you
may be able to explain a curious law
OF nature, which |, myself have never
been able to explain or to find any
one who could explain
81 should be delighted. said the
professor What is it2"
Having attracted the attention Of
the entire company In this way. sena.
tor Eyarts took from the cooler by
his side champagne bottle which
contained perhaps a third OF its orig.
inal contents. lie placed the bottle
upon the table.
Professor, he said I wish you
would explain to US why It is that in
the lower part OF any bottle contain
ing spirituous liquors the greater
strength is 10 be found. In other
words. why the upper half Of a bot
tie Of champagne seems 10 be less
stimulating than the lower half.
The professor looked quizically at
the bottle Of champagne a few mo
ments.
That Is. indeed. very interesting
question; | never had it called to my
attention before. he said at last. I
cannot at this moment offer more than
surmise in the way Of explanation;
but should be happy to make very
careful investigation. first to estab-
lish the fact as you state It. and. sec
ond. to discover the reason.
Well. said Senator Evarts, Z
think my own experience may aid you
in establishing the accuracy of the
fact; but. as | am not learned in any
Of the sciences, am utterly at less as
to the explanation
What. then. has been your expert
enceg the professor asked.
u can state It in a few words. pro
fessor, said Mr. Evarts I have upon
many occasions observed that the first.
or upper half Of a bottle Of cham
pagne or other spirituous liquor did
not begin to have the stimulating ef-
feet upon those who drank IN my pres
ence which the second. or lower, half
OF The bottle had upon them; 50
have Inferred that there must be some
scientific law which explains why the
upper half Of bottle OF champagne.
for instance, Is less stimulating than
the lower half
That is indeed. an extraordinary
fact. the professor replied gravely. 4
am greatly indebted 10 You for having
called It to my attention ! shall pro
ceed a once to make researches
And the professor actually did not
see what an the other guests readily
perceived. that Senator Evarts was
making Sly fun Of him, or that the
reason vas selfepparent why the sec
md half Of bottle q champagne pro
iuced a far more stimulating effect
han The FIRST half
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