Cause and Effect.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 37

Cause and Effect.

Buffon, the great naturalist» one day entertained a company of distinguished savants to dinner. At its conclusion they all went out into the garden. It -was a very hot summer's day* In the centre of the grounds there stood on a pedestal a large glass globe, which one of the guests happened to touch with his hand, when he found, to his astonishment, that it was wanner on the shady side than on the side turned towards the sun. He communicated this discovery to the other guests, who at once proceeded to j verify the statement. What could be :the j cause ? An animated discussion ensued, in i. the course of which every imaginable law of ' physics was made to account for the strange paradox. At length our scientists agreed that it must he^so^owjng,.to,( the laws of reflection, repulsion, or exhalation, &c., &o. The host was, however, not quite convinced, and calling the gardener he said.to tiiin':!": \, "'Fray, tell us why tb'iaijriobtf'j|j.waiiaer

on the shady side than on the side turned to the sun."

The man replied: "Because just now I turned it round for fear of its cracking with the great heat."

An Anecdote of iC Lord Dundreary," Sothern was probably one of the greatest practical jokers of his time. The following is one of the many he indulged in :— 1 He had invited a number of celebrities and friends to dine with him, and they all 1 44 turned up " in time, except one. After waiting some time, they began without him. Just as the second course was being brought on there came a rat-a-tat-tat at the door. 44 There he is at last I " ejaculated several of the guests, glad he had arrived, for he was a great favourite with all. ■• Sothern, ever ready for his joke, at once saw his chance. 11 All you fellows get under the table," said Sothern. " We'll have such a lark." Time brooked of no delay, for the delinquent guest's footsteps were already audible in the passage ; so under the table they all went. By this time the latest arrival was at the dining room door — and, looking at the vacant chairs, and then at his host, exclaimed : 11 Where are all the other chaps ? " To which Sothern replied, with that inimitable stutter of his : "They're all under the t-t-table. What the d-d-devil they're doing there I don't know 1 " The amusement caused by their creeping out, one after the other, on their hands and knees, is said to have been immense.