The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-01-10
ODD LAPSES OF MIND.
SCHOLARS AND OTHERS NOTED
FOR EccEATRIclTY.
Forgetfulness Ono Of the "strong
Points" Of Many Able and Accom-
plished Men-Sometimes tho
Result Of Self-Hypnotism.

Some years ago ] had to speak at
Work" Have you any fads Z" IN
quired my host. THE last parson we
had here refused to sleep In a bed.
When every one had retired to rest
the whole house was reused by ham,
mering on the wall of our visitors
bedroom. Come and seew
entered the bedroom.
See those excavations He point
ed out two large holes in the wall,
where the paper had been torn away
and the plaster disturbed. 'Well, the
parsen we had here last hammered
two huge hooked nails into those
walls to support hammock"
had the qualified pleasure Of meet
ing this eccentric at dinner some
years after. "Can I serve you some
soup?" inquired our hostess. Never
take SOUP" was the reply. Then,
later: "You will take some fish ?"- The
cleric simply shook his head. So he
declined dish after dish.
"But what will you have?" inquired
the now desperate hostess.
II should like five raisins, one apple,
few nuts and some OIL"
By this time every one was uncom-
Portable. A whisper went around that
there were no raisins in the house. /
suggested that he should go on with
the oil and the apple. His face as
sumed look of eloquent resignation.
The next moment he sprang to his
feet and rushed from the room.
The intelligent under-footman had
brought in bicycle oil!
A delightful old clergyman, pro-
fessor of Greek at my own university,
had habit Of forgetting to put on
his clothes. Once he walked into col
lege chapel in an old-fashioned night
shirt. It was misty morning early
in February. An undergraduate was
reading the first lesson, when this
silent, ghost-like figure moved along
in the him dawn which crept in
through the stained-glass windows.
One of the dons took his arm and led
him out.
On another occasion it was his turn
to preach In the cathedral. Instead of
stepping into the pulpit, he walked out
altogether. and things came to stand
still.
Another old college don was a
dreamer. One day he met me in the
town. my boy" he said, II came out
to go somewhere, butsit's gone gone!
Can you tell me where I meant to GO?
suggested that he should go back to
his college. What is more, saw him
safely there.
Later in the evening he sent for me.
There was the light Of great dis
covery in his eyes. my boy" he said,
ut has all come back to me In fash.
never meant to go anywhere at all.
wanted to write a letter, and must
have missed my way to my library.
You will have glass Of wine?" But
he forgot to ring the bell. Presently
he said: do have some more. Now,
what have done with the decanter?"
Many mems eccentricities are the
result of seff-hypnotism. I remember
once seeing well-known clergyman
walking calmly along during a down
pour Of rain, holding his walking stick
up. under the impression it was an
umbrella.
Absentmindedness is responsible for
much amusement. An elderly clergy
man, on arrival in Rome, was positive
that he had lost some of his luggage,
and gave notice at the Office: but he
was unable to say what the package
was like, or even what 1t was.
It transpired, in the course Of next
day, that 1t was his wife he had lost.
shall not forget the interview be-
tween husband and wife.-Exchange.