s to
Ampere, the famous mathematician, who was noted for his
absent-mindedness. On one occasion, it is stated that while walking
along the street he mistook the back of a cab for a blackboard, and as a
blackboard was just the thing he needed at the time, to solve a problem
which had been vexing his mind for some moments during his walk, he made
use of it. Taking a piece of chalk out of his pocket he proceeded to
trace out a number of algebraical formulas on the cab's back, and
followed the moving "board" for the space of a quarter of an hour
without noticing the progress of the conveyance. As to whether the
cabman charged him by the course or by the hour, or even at all, the
item does not inform us.

From the same source we have the following item: They have a good joke
just at present on a well-known lawyer who is noted for his
absent-mindedness. He went up his own stairs the other day, and seeing a
notice on his own door, "Back at two," sat down to wait for himself.

TEACHER. "Can any one explain how the earth is divided?"

WILLIE (_with very important air_). "Between them that's got it and them
that would like to have it."

"No, Willie dear," said mamma, "no more cakes to-night. Don't you know
you cannot sleep on a full stomach?"

"Well," replied Willie, "I can sleep on my back."

FRED. "What does the grocer do with the things he sells?"

BEN. "Ties them up."

FRED. "No; gives them a _weigh_."

THE ICE CART

I love to drink a glass of milk,
Or cider from the flagon,
But best of all I like to munch
Cracked ice behind the wagon.

TEACHER (_to class in geography_). "Can any one tell me the principal
products of the Sandwich Islands?"

JOHNNIE (_confidently_). "Sandwiches."

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, October 8, 1895, by Various

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARPER'S ROUND TABLE ***

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