OBSERVATION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 46, 18 November 1893, Page 432

OBSERVATION.

‘ Gentlemen, you do not use your faculties of observation,’ said an old professor, addressing his class. Here he pushed forward a gallipot containing a chemical of exceedingly offensive smell. • When I was a student,’ he continued, ‘ I used my sense of taste,’ and with that he dipped his finger in the gallipot, and then put his finger in his mouth. ‘ Taste it, gentlemen, taste it,’ said the professor, * and exercise your perceptive faculties.’ The gallipot was pushed toward the reluctant class one by one. The students resolutely dipped their fingers into the concoction, and with many a wry face sucked the abomination from their fingers. • Gentlemen, gentlemen,’ said the professor, ‘I must repeat that you do not use your faculties of observation ; for, had you looked more closely at what I was doing, you would have seen that the finger which I put in my mouth was not the finger I dipped in the gallipot.’