The Delta independent., 1916-05-26
challenger He gathered hi.

SudlltuSCIt ne SdLucTeO Ills
brows in scientific disapproval. "Chal-
lenger was the man who came with
some cock and bull story from South
America.
What kfory?"
"Oh. it was rank nonsense about
some queer animals he had discover
ed. believe he has retracted since.
Anyhow. he has suppressed 1t all. He
gave an interview to a news agency.
and there was such a howl that he
saw it wouldn't do. 1t was a discred
table business. There were one or
two folk who were inclined to take
him seriously. but he soon choked
them off,"
"How?"
well. by his insufferable rudeness
and impossible behavior. There was
poor old Wadley of the Geological in
stitute. Wadley sent message. The
president of the Geological institute
presents his compliments to Professor
Challenger and would take it as a per
sonal favor If he would do them the
honor to come to their next meeting.
The answer made by Professor Chal-
lenger was unprintable."
You don't say?"
"Well. bowdlerized version of IL
would run, Professor Challenger pre-
sents his compliments to the president
of the Geological institute and would
take it as personal favor If he would
go to the devil"
Good Lordr'
Yes; expect that's what old wad-
ley said remember his wall at the
meeting. which began. In fifty years
experience Of scientific intercourse
It quite broke the old man up. He
hasn't recovered yet" f7
Anything more about Challenger
We'll. I'm bacteriologist, you know.
l live in a 900 diameter microscope.
can hardly claim to take serious notice
Of anything that l can see with my
naked eye. I'm a frontiersman from
the extreme edge of the movable. and
/ feel quite out of place when l 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 Conversations l 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 quarrelsome. Ill 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 a faddist- What is
his particular fadT'
He has thousand but the latest Is
luton. He had a fearful row about II
in Vienna. believe"
Half an hour later I was seated In
the newspaper Office. with a huge tome
in front of me. which had been opened
at the article "Weissmann versus OAR
win." with the subheading: Spirited
Protest at Vienna. Lively Proceed
ings." My scientific education having
been somewhat neglected. l was un-
able to follow the whole argument, but
It was evident that the English pro
lessor 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 II con-
veyed to my brain.
81 wish you could translate II into
English for me-" l said pathetically 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.
EFF ! could only get a single good.
menty 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 a vague way al.
most to understand It, I'll copy 1t out
This shall be my link with the terrible
professor
Nothing else can dor
"Well, yes; / propose to write to him.
II ] could frame the letter here and
use your address 1t would give atmos-
pierre
wen have the fellow around here
making n row and breaking the furni
ture.''
mo. no; you'll see the letter-nothing
contentious. assure you
well. that's my chair and desk.
You'll find paper there. I'd like to cen
sor II before 1t goes