A Philosopher. ,

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 60

A Philosopher. ,

TWO GOOD STORIES,

There is a good story of the Hon. Henry Cavendish, the " Newton of chemistry." He was distinguished, like many other philosophers, by his entire disregard of money, although ho had enough of that necessary article. On one occasion the bankers with whom, ho kept his acount, finding that his balance had accumulated to over ££Q,GOO, commissioned one of the partners to wait upon him to apk what should be done with it. On icaching the house after considerable difficulty and delay, he succeeded in obtaining an audience with the abstracted chemist, who, instead of being pleased with the attention, exclaimed, on hearing of the amount of his balance;

" Oh, if it is any trouble to you, I will take it out of your hands. Do not come to plague me about money."

"It is not," replied the banker, "any trouble to us, but we thought you might like some of it turned to account and invested." " Well, what do you want to do?" " Perhaps you would like to have £40,000 invested?"

" Yes, do so if you like ; but do not come here to trouble me any more, or I will remove my balance." Cavendish very seldom -invited friends to dinner, and when he did they had to put up with the simplest fare. Once his housekeeper ventured to remind him that, as five friends: were coming to dinner, one leg of "mutton would not be enough. " Well, then, have two," said the philosopher. When he died, in 1810, he left a fortune of £1,300,000.— Fr0m. "The Parks and Open Space 3of London."