A Great Advantage
A professor once undertook the hard task of translating Virgil into Greek and publishing it. In the announcement of his work he said: “In gratiam corum, qui Latinam linguam non callent” (For the benefit of those who do not understand Latin).
Thorwaldsen’s Teeth
A well-known sculptor quarreled one day with Thorwaldsen, and went so far as to place his own works above those of the latter. “You may tie my hands,” said Thorwaldsen, “and I will bite the marble with my teeth better than you can chisel it!”
Gone Crazy
A scientist asserts that all effervescent drinks, such as champagne, are nothing but fluids, gone crazy over the treatment they received at the factories, and foaming with rage.
Anything But His Medicine
Gottfried Kneller, a celebrated portrait painter, had a beautiful flower-garden. His neighbor, Dr. Ratcliff’s servant, came in so often to get flowers, that Kneller grew angry, and sent word to the doctor that he felt obliged to close up the gate. Ratcliff sent answer that he could do with it what he pleased, only he would not advise him to paint on it.
“Good,” said Kneller, “I’ll take anything of his as long as it is not medicine.”