Daddies' Meteor.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4964, 6 December 1884, Page 1

Daddies' Meteor.

Daddies is in a lawyer's office in the Auckland district, and longs anxiously for some opportunity of bursting from his consequent isolation. At times D. has been seen looking heavenwards through his office window, pondering on his humble position, and musing as to the possibility of striking some untrodden path, by the aid of which the name of Daddies might become honorably known to the world. D. had often tried his hand at abstruse prob« lems, and having so far mastered mathematics as to have a half-distinct knowledge of (as he thought) that puzzler to all great minds, the pom asinorum, he tried fora solid week to upset it. As far as his idea of that theorem- went he succeeded in confuting all arguments as to its incorrect-, ness, and immediately afterwards (with the greatest ease) produced conclusive evidence of its utter fallacy. It will therefore be seen that Daddies must have been a man of deep research; he must have gone to the bottom of the subject very keenly, and produced every available argument pro et con, or he must have known very little about the subject. Let us charitably presume that the latter is the case. Implicit faith in Daddies' scientific promulgations must- be exacted previously to this, the last of his efforts, being pressed with any degree of benefit to the student. Daddies was seated with a quill in his mouth looking into the dim' distant future, peering lest the least track, that might be made an avenue to fame for his ambitious self, should-be lost. D.'s eye was on a small cloud which appeared to be chasing a larger one, with every appearance of ultimately catching it, and he immediately likened the small cloud tmto himself, and the course of its propulsion, to the ambition animating his soul. He mentally remarked, why should not I follow in the wake of some greater light, and eventually attain the same level, such as that diminutive cloud is doing with his bigger fellow. D. resolved that he would. While in the act of finishing his resolve, a sudden flash crossed his face, and nearly blinded him —this was a greater light indeed—• he had hardly recovered his sight sufficiently and re opened his eyes, when, again the same thing occurred. Daddies wondered what it could be, and again essayed a sight with a like result. The third attempt was too much, he retired backwards with his eyes closed, and after removing the abrased cuticle from his supports, which had been raised by the aid of a chair he fell over; he opened • his eyes, bat looked not ia the direction of the window suddenly. After seeing all things quiet, and ascertaining that not a soul shared the knowledge of this wonderful phenomena with him, Daddies looked towards tho window again, but the flashing had ceased. " Now," exclaimed the excited Daddies. " Something has really occurred to give me fame. Providence has heard my oft repeated prayer, and granted me that which has caused many supplications." How to account for this wonderful ebullition of nature, which he immediately concluded it was. Having 1 satisfied himself that nought but meteorological causes could produce such an effect, he then and there set his mind to propound some theory, which originating in the Daddies' mind, would be given to the world as Daddies'. He dwelt with supreme happiness on the belief that he could produce to science a heavenly phenomenon which would in after time be known as "Daddies' meteor," and chronicled as such in records of the learned societies. " Oh, joy is me!" said he, " afc last I have an opportunity to prove my worth." D. sat down and accurately described his meteor and its effects ; ho pictured what its appearance must have been; he demonstrated what * power it must have possessed to have f been so dazzling on a bright sunny day • he conclusively proved that the line

from his eye to the window sash quite precluded the "possibility of the meteor haying been at any great altitude unless it happened near the horizon, and if such had been the case, its brilliancy must indeed have been great, as the distance would weaken its effect, and yet that produced on him was far from insignificant. Several days were occupied in re-writiDg his paper and improving the line of argument to prove originality, and .Daddies sent his meteorological discovery to the philosophical Society, in the town of his location. The paper was read and evoked long and interesting discussion, the result of which was that he got a few more hints, and requested to be allowed to amend his paper, which re* quest was granted. D. took his essay to the office, and with the aid of a literary friend next day sat down to revise it after being seated, Daddies, with ,M« soul in his mouth, was again dazzled, c' his friend not being in a line with the brilliancy and D. experienced no such feeling, but seeing a brilliant spot on Daddies' ruby nose, looked out of the window, and at a window opposite saw a small boy in the sun with a piece of looking glass dazzling passers by.