ABSENT-MINDEDNESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2394, 8 January 1909, Page 9 (Supplement)

ABSENT-MINDEDNESS.

GOOD STORIES OF NOTED MEN

Many curious stories have been told of absent-mindedness. _ Probably there is none more illustrath'c of the fits of abstraction to iiiiich some men are subject than one ivhich Sir Henry Irving used to toll of his former manager, Charles Dillon. Some years after “Tlie Bells” had made Irving famous be chanced to meet Dillon, and ivas outspoken in his delight. Dillon looked him over, finally remarking that he had no recollection of him. Irving reminded him of the tour they had -made together, and mentoned liis name. Dillon thought awhile, and recognition appearing to daivn upon him, he extended his hand. “Irving? Oh, yes, 1 remember the name,” ho declared reminiscently. “And ivliat aro you doing noiv, Irving?”

Sydney -Smith, narrated a number of stories of tho absent-mindedness of Lord Dudley, a ivarm friend and parishioner. In the street one day Smith ivas amused by Dudley overtaking him and linking his arm in that of his pastor, and telling him in all earnestness that lie should .like for him above all things to meet Sydney Smith. Without revealing liis identity Smith returned that lie had met tlie man on several oecasons, ' and -hastened -aivay.

One Sunday Dudley occupied a seat almost directly under the pulpit iihcro Smith ivas delivering one of his strongest sermons. Glancing doivn, lie sat studying tho phenomenon, and right as liis Lordship, grasping* his -heavy cane, knocked on the. floor, and ejaculated, “Hear, hear,” evidently thinking ho ii r as in the midst of a Parliamentary debate. One of the stories that Disraeli was accustomed- to tell ivitli the greatest relish Aims of an absent-minded astronomer, avlio, scanning the heavens one bright night, was puzzled by a phenomenal brightness for ivhich lie tried in vain to account. For hours lio sat studying the -phenomon, and ivhilc .lie ivas thus engaged daylight arrived. After a irhile the astronomer stumbled to bed, telling himself sleepily that if ho remained out of bed* much longer he ivould miss his night’s rest. A certain great theologian and Orientalist ivas so -absent-minded thatlie frequently foi’got his surroundings and the object of his mission to any particular locality. Having to preach in a church near Aberdeen, he set out on tlie appointed Sunday morning to ivalk to the church, a short distance out of toil'll. Somewhere on tlio -road ho reached the seventh heaven of mental exaltation, forgetful alike of time, "place, and circumstance. The road led straight to the ch-urch, and lie wandered along in his abstracted stale until it ivas-reached. Seeing -pcoplo entering, the _ divine followed-thcm-insidc. Approa cl in i g-t 11 o older, tlio -inquired who was to deliver the Sabbath cfiscour.se. When tola that lie himself ivas to preach, ho “came down to earth again.