Failed to Appreciate the Laugh
When the celebrated Professor Gesenius announced a lecture on the first book of Moses (Genesis) his always well-filled auditorium was crowded. All the students were waiting impatiently for what was to come. Punctual to the minute, Gesenius appeared, and opened his lecture with these words: “Gentlemen, the Genesis is not as old as you think.” This was the signal for shouts of laughter from his entire audience, but which was not meant to offend their honored lecturer, and we do not know whether he ever heard the reason for this merriment. Gesenius had five daughters, whom the students designated by the names of the five books of Moses—Genesis, Exodus, etc. The oldest was Genesis. Hinc ille risus! (Hence that laughter.)
Crebillon’s Choice
Crebillon was once asked why he chose the terrifying for the subjects of his tragedies. “I had no other choice left,” he replied. “Corneille took Heaven from me; Racine the Earth (world); so all that was left for me was Hades.”
Absent-minded
Neander, the great church historian, wanted a book that was on top of a high book shelf in his study. The step-ladder was not high enough, so he climbed from that to the top of the high, square porcelain stove to reach the coveted treasure. He dived into it at once, and grew so absorbed in the contents that he forgot to come down from his perch. His sister, Neander’s Hannchen, waited in vain for him to come to the afternoon coffee. Anxiously she hurried to the study but she did not discover him. Seeing the step-ladder leaning against the stove, and being of an orderly turn of mind, she put it in its place. Concluding that her brother must have gone out, she went back to her room.
But when hour after hour went by, and evening came, and Neander had not appeared, she grew quite alarmed. What dreadful thing might have happened to him! In the meantime he—who was so painfully missed—found that it was getting too dark on top of the stove to read any longer, so he concluded to come down from his high seat. But, alas! his retreat was cut off! In a distressed voice he called for his Hannchen, who delightedly hurried to his relief.
A Hard “Not”
A young author once handed to Professor Engel a drama, whose title was, “Such is Humanity,” asking him to give his opinion of it. Engel returned it shortly, saying: “I wrote my opinion down on it.” The author for some time looked in vain for the written criticism, but at last he found that Engel had added to the title the little word “not.”