PRESENCE OF MIND.
The illustrious but unfortunate Sir Thomas More (the Chancellor of Homy VIII.) at all times displayed great presence of mind. "It happened one day," says the antiquary Aubrey, 44 that a Mad Tom of Bedlam came up to him, as he was contemplating, according to his custom, on the leadß of the gatehouse of his palace at Chelsea, ana had a mind to have thrown him trom the battlements, crying,' Leap, Tom, leap H The Chancellor was in his gown, and besides, ancient and unable to straggle with such a strong fellow. My Lord bad a little dog with him. 'Now,' said he, 'let us first throw the doe down, and Bee what sport that will be. So the dog was thrown over. 'lb not this fine sport ?' said his lordship, 4 let us fetch him up, and try again.' As the madman was going down, my lord fastened the door, and called for help." % With the above anecdote may be connected that of a physician who, when the patients of a lunatic asylum which he attended found him on the top of | the building, and proposed as good sport to make him jump down to life bottom, saved his life by recommending as an improvement on the idea that they should walk down stain with him, ■ and see him jump from the bottom of the building to the top 1 To this they agreed j and thus their intended victim - / ww permitted to escape. iS * - JKH3I
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LWM18860319.2.21
Bibliographic details
Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1523, 19 March 1886, Page 3
Word Count
250PRESENCE OF MIND. Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1523, 19 March 1886, Page 3
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