Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29
FOR. MARCH 49, 1914
ECCENTRICITIES OF THE GREAT
BY EDWIN TARRISSE

inclined to think them valuable bits of evil
dence that the house was haunted At last,
by mere chance, the drawer was opened, and
the racoon emerged, rather thinner than at
his entry
The animals upon which the poet spent
his warmest affection were wonbat and
woodchuck. He would sit with these fat,
lumpish quadrupeds in his arms by the hour,
dandling them, gently scratching at their
cheeks or noses, or making the woodchuck's
head and hind paws meet. Each of them
was his houSemate for time, and each ex-
pired without warning.
His peacock is remembered as having
been the victim of a very painful experience.
One day the bird was making great dis
play of his train, and deer began following
him about the grounds, and, possibly with
moral purpose, Systematically trampled all
his tail feathers, one after another.
One of the animals turned unwelcome at
tention toward Rossetti himself. This was
a zebu, or small Brahman bull, which was
bought at show, brought home, and teth-
cred to tree. There, in day or two, Ros-
setti went to inspect him; but the animal,
naturally irritated by confinement, plunged
at the intruder, who was forced to dodge
round the treetrunk.
IKE many other great men, Humboldt
the scientist was greatly disappointed
when he was not permitted to have all the
talk to himself. In such circumstances he
would indulge himself in the most extraor-
binary actions calculated to impress his COM
panions with his displeasure.
On one occasion Humboldt had been CIV
ing one of his famous readings at the Royal
Palace of Prussia. Somebody took up the
conversation, and said SO many interesting
things that everybody was glad to listen in
silence; that is, everyone but Humboldt
The scientist was beside himself Growing
he filed his plate with pile of goose liver
pie, fat eels, lobster tails, and other indigest-
ible substances, a real mountain of food.
When he could positively eat no more he
could no longer keep quiet, and SO he made
an attempt to take the conversation into his
own hands.
Upon the peak Of Popocatepetl-" he be-
gan.
But it was no use. The narrator would
not be cut short in his story. -
Upon the peak of Popocatepetl, seven
thousand yards above" Humboldt dog
gedly resumed, after violently coughing to
attract attention.
Again he failed to obtain hearing, and
the narrator went calmly on.
Upon the peak of Popocatepetl, seven
thousand yards above the level of the Pa
ciic Ocean" the scientist exclaimed, in a
loud, agitated voice, shaken bygrief and in
dignation.
But to no purpose. The other man talked
steadily on, and the company listened to
him, and him only !.
Whereupon the great Humboldt, in fury,
lapsed into silence, meditating upon the in
gratitude Of courtiers.
THE innocent ignorance of much-en-
crossed men of science as to ordinary
matters is illustrated by an amusing anec-
dote of Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire the younger.
Saint Hilaire was accustomed to bury him.
self in his laboratory, where he did not allow
the affairs of his household to disturb him;
and Madame Saint-Hi1aire was careful to
guard him against all worry of domestic
matters.
In his laboratory he was accustomed, be-
ing naturalist, to have various strange ami
mails, after the fashion of Rossetti. OF these,
a monkey was his favorite. His wife pos
sessed a necklace of diamonds, of which she
was naturally proud. One day this neck
lace was missing. Madame was in despair,
and had the house searched, with the excep-
ton of Saint Hilaire's room. She knew his
dislike of being disturbed, and moreover she
had not entered this room for long time,