Theodor Mommsen, the genial historian, when working, was oblivious to everything that happened about him. Once he had a servant who knew well how to take advantage of this. He served his master’s dinner in the study, and asked him to come to the table, but the professor paid not the slightest attention to him. A bright idea came to the man. He served the second course, took away the first, and ate it himself. He did the same with the second and third courses. A few hours later, the professor began to feel the want of food, and going to the kitchen he asked, angrily: “Am I not to have anything to eat to-day?” “Why the professor has dined long ago,” answers the servant unblushingly, and Mommsen, cursing his absent-mindedness, went back to his work again. Force of Habit There are absent-minded physicians too. The physician of one of the princes was so busy, that he never found time to take care of his own health. Finally a virulent fever took hold of him. Absent-mindedly he felt his own pulse and muttered: “The fellow is lost; that comes from the stupidity of people who never will call in a doctor till it is too late.” Will Call Again The great Lessing too was often absent-minded in the last years of his life. One evening he knocked at his own house door. The servant not recognizing him in the dark called from a window: “The professor is not at home.” “All right, it does not matter,” returned Lessing, “I’ll call again some other time.” Saphiriana (_How the great humorist came by his name._) Saphir’s grandfather’s name was Israel Israel. Emperor Joseph ordered that all Jews should take a permanent surname. Old Israel, when summoned before the magistrate was very undecided, so the man of law and justice, in order to make short work of it, said: “You are wearing a ring with a sapphire. Your name shall be Saphir. That settles it. No contradicting or——” This “or” was accompanied by a certain look at two policemen. So this “or” is the cause of the humorist’s name. Lend and Forget Saphir was once asked by Baron Rothschild to write something in his album. Saphir wrote: “Lend me 100 Louis d’or and forget, forever your friend, M. G. SAPHIR.” Saphir’s Witty Reply An indifferent, but very arrogant author said once:—“My works will be read when Schiller and Goethe are long forgotten.” “Certainly, not before that,” was Saphir’s quick reply. Case Not Parallel Once an author came to Saphir with the manuscript of a comedy he wished to read to him, and said:—“You know, sir, that whenever Molière finished one of his comedies, he read it to an old woman in his service, thinking that whatever would make her laugh, would have the same effect on an audience. So in reading mine to you, I have no doubt that if it pleases you, it will please the public.” “Thanks for your compliment, but since you are not Molière, permit me to decline to play your old woman,” was Saphir’s reply.