Catoctin clarion., 1918-10-10
ODD LAPSES OF MIND
SCHOLARS AND OTHERS NOTED
FOR EccENTRlcITY.
Forgetfulness Ono OF the "Strono
Points" Of Many Able and Accom-
plished Men-Sometlmes the
Result Of seIf-Hypnotism.

Some years ago had to speak at
Work" Have you any fads?" in.
quired my host "The last parson we
had here refused to sleep In 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 see!"
] 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. We'll, the
parson 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 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 raisns in the house II
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 hadI
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 oldfashioned night
shirt 1t was a 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 1t 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, 81 came out
to go somewhere, but It's gone-gone!
Can you tell me where | 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 flash.
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 self-hypnotism. | remember
once seeing well-known clergyman
walking calmly along during a down
pour of rain. holding his walking stick
up, under the impression 1t was an
umbrella
Observation-Disclosures 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.
1t 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.