ABSENCE OF MIND.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2992, 27 January 1881, Page 3

ABSENCE OF MIND.

A remarkably absent-minded man was the Eev. George Harvest, an English clergyman, an exceptionally fine scholar, with veiy great natural abilities, and who in spite of the inconvenience his unfortunate habit caused those with whom he happened to be associated, was welcomed in the highest circles of: society. He was twice engaged to be married, and each time forget to attend the ceremony, or rather arrived hours after the time appointed, naturally very much to the disgust of his intended, neither of whom, forgave him. It is said that the cause of the disease was his great vivacity and changef ulness of ideas, and the utter inability of his mind to rest for a moment on any particular object. Very amusing stories have been told of this curious man. He would write a letter to one person, direct it to another, and address it to a third, and then would not sign his name. Ono day, while walking with a friend on his way to a dinner-party, he picked up a pebble. Pretty soon his friend asked him what time it was. He answered, holding his watch in his hand while he talked on some fresh subject. Suddenly he threw his watch away, and deliberately put the pebble in his pocket. He would dismount a horse and lead him by the bridle. The horse would sometimes slip out, but the reverend gentleman, wrapped in his own thoughts, would drag the bridle along home. He would forget the important prayer-days, and, when he would see a crowd going to his church on such occasions, would inquire what was the cause of their assembling. If he went out visiting lie would be sure to wash his hands in the slop-pail, wipe himself with the sheets, and go to bed with his boots on. In dress he was very slovenly. He seldom wore a clean shirt, and when lie had one he had dirty boots, or wanted shaving, or had, perhaps, two odd stockings. Once ho went to see his intended during their courtship, and took in his pocket a clean cravat and shirt. He attempted to put them on at the foot of the lane leading to the lady's house, when his horse took t'rigot and landed him, in his semi-barbarous condition, before the piazza, filled with ladies and gentlemen. When going a-fishing he would buy a pennyworth of gingerbread, and put it in his pocket among tobacco, worms, and fish-ing-bait. His absent-mindedness on one occasion, however, led to very good results. Seeing a front door open, ho mistook it for the door of his o.wn residence, and walked in. After wandering all over the house, ho entered a room where there was an old lady sick with the quinsy. He stumbled over chairs, Traocked down a clothes horse, and created a racket generally, which caused the inmates to scream for help. Pretty soon the servants came with lights (for it was in the evening), and when the mistress discovered that it was Dr Harvest she laughed so heartily that it broke the quinsy in her throat, and she lived for many years afterwards.

On one occasion he had to preach before a clerical organisation. He took with hint three sermons. Some practical joker got held of them, and mixing up the leayes,

sewed them all together. Doctor Ilarrest preached out the clergy, the church-wardens, and the congregation, and would not- hare stopped then had not the sexton told him the pews were empty.