Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-05-13

"What storyY
"0h, 1t was rank nonsense about
some queer animals he had discover
ed. l believe he has retracted since.
Anyhow, he has suppressed it all. He
gave an interview to a news agency,
and there was such a howl that he
saw it wouldn't do. 1t was discred-
liable business. There were one or
two folk who were inclined to take
him seriously, but he soon choked
them off,"
"HOwT
"Well, by his insufferable rudeness
and impossible behavior. There was
poor old Wadley of the Geological in
stitute. Wadley sent a message, The
| president Of the Geological institute
presents his compliments to Professor
Challenger and would take it as per-
sonal favor if he would do them the
honor to come to their next meeing.
The answer made by Professor Chal-
lenger was unprintable."
"YOu don't say?'
"Well, a bowdlerized version Of 1t
would run, Professor Challenger pre-
sents his compliments to the president
Of the Geological institute and would
take it as a personal favor if he would
go to the devil"
"GOod Lordw
eyes; expect that's what old Wad-
ley said | remember his wall at the
meeting, which began, In fifty years
experience Of scientific Intercourse
1t quite broke the old man up. He
hasn't recovered yet"
Anything more about Challenger"
"WelL I'm bacteriolOgist, you know.
live in 900 diameter microscope. l
can hardly claim to take serious notice
Of anything that | can see with my
naked eye. I'm a frOntiersman from
the extreme edge Of the movable, and
feel quite out of place when leave
my study and come into touch with all
you great, rough, hulking creatures.
I'm too detached to talk scandal, and
yet at scientific conversaziones | have
heard something of Challenger, for he
is one Of those men whom nobody can
ignore. He's as clever as they make
EN- full charged battery Of force and
vitality but a Quarrelsome, i'll cOndi-
toned faddist and INSCRIPTIONS at
that. He had gone the length of fax
ing some photographs over the South
American business"
"You say he is faddlst What is
his particular fadY
"He has a thousand but the latest is
something about Weissmann and evO-
luton. He had a fearful row about 1t
In Vienna, | believe"
Half an hour later was seated in
the newspaper Office, with huge tome
in front Of me, which had been opened
at the article "Weissmann versus Oar
wln," with the subheading: Spirited
Protest at Vienna. Lively Proceed
ingsp My scientific education having
been somewhat neglected, l was un-
able to follow the Whole argument, but
1t was evident that the English pro-
fessOr had handled his subject in a
very aggressive fashion and had thor
'Oughly annoyed his continental col
leagues. Protests" "Uproar" and
General appeal to the chairman were
three Of the first brackets which
caught my eye. Most of the matter
might have been written in Chinese
for any definite meaning that it con
veyed to my BRAIN
81 wish you could translate it into
English for me" said pathetlcally to
my helpmate.
"Well, it is a translation. That is
the trouble"
"Then I'd better try my luck with
the original"
ut Is certainly rather deep for a lay
man."
''If I could only get a single good,
meaty sentence which seemed to con.
vey some sort Of definite human idea
1t would serve my turn. All, yes, this
one will do. | seem in vague way al
most to understand it. I'll copy 1t out.
This shall be my link with the terrible
professor"
Nothing else / can dO?"
"Well, yes; propose to write to him.
II could frame the letter here and
use your address It would give atmos-
phere,"
oven have the fellow around here
making row aud breaking the furni.
ture."
"No no; youll see the Eetter-nothing
contentious, assure you"
"Well, that's my chair and desk.
You'll find paper there, I'd like to cen
sor 1t before 1t goes"
1t took some time doing, but I hatter
myself that 1t wasn't such bad Job
when it was finished. read It aloud
TO the critical bacteriologist with some
pride In my hmdwork This is the
way worded It,
Dear Professor Chanenger-As a humble
student OF nature. have always taken the
most profound interes. in your specua-
uous as to the differences between Dar-
win and Welssmann. have recently had
occasion to refresh my memory by re-
reading
'You Internal llar~ murmured Tarp
Henry.
by re-readlng your mastery address at
Vienna. That lucid and admirable state
ment seems TO be the last word In the
matter There Is one sentence in IT, how
eVer-namely, 81 protest strongly against