GEOLOGIST'S HUMOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 38, 8 November 1919, Page 8

GEOLOGIST'S HUMOUR

PEOFESSOR DAVID AS A GLOOMDISPELLER. When passing through Sydney, Mr. Ernest Joyce, who is leaving for Wellington for England shortly to join up with the Cope Antarctic Expedition, met Professor David the doyen of Scientists in Australia, who. visited the Antarctio barrier with the Mawson expedition. Professor David, who lias crowned a life of useful work in the domain of science by serving the Empire in France during the war, is still ns energetic and interesting as ever, and so anxious was he to talk about Hie Cope expedition with his friend that he canto down to the wharf in Sydney to see him off. Mr. said that'when in Franco Professor David had a severe fall down a mining shaft, falling 'some 60 or 70ft. The result was that several ribs were broken, and ho was- injured internally. It was thought that he would never get over the fall, l>iit in six weeks he was about again. A. story is told that as he was being brought tin the shaft after his fall, the sufferer asked his bearers to pause for a. few minutes at one stage in order to allow him to examine a strata, in the rocks, a thing he had not besn able to do during his descent. Mr. Joyce asked liiin whether there was anything in the story, and Professor David admitted with a quiet smile that be had to say something to cheer them up at the mouth of the shaft as they all looked so glum.