A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION

New Zealand Tablet, 30 July 1908, Page 38

A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION

The scientist had given a very scientific lecture, and at the end he said, beaming down on his >audience condescendingly : 4 Now, if there is any scietific question that any of my friends would like to ask, I beg them not to hesitate. I shall be only too happy to answer any inquiry in my power.' An old lady, in spectacles that gave her a severe, stern look, rose and said : 1 Why do wet tea-leaves kill cockroaches?' The scientist did not know wet tea-leaves did anything of the-kind, much less the cause of the- phenomenon ; but, never at a loss, he replied : 1 Because, madam, when a cockroach comes across a wet 'tea-leaf, he says, "Halloa! here's a blanket!" and wraps himself up in it, catches cold, and dies.'