[TO THE EDITOR ON TEl " SPECTATOR:']
Sal,—The late Silvanus Thompson was an expert in the manufacture of French Limericks. In tho spring of 1897 he was staying at the Tote d'Or at Dinant (now, alas ! a heap of rubble), and quickly made friends with all the party there. Most of us wont with him one afternoon to Givet, and after tea at the hotel he started a French Limerick com- petition. His own was easily the best, but unfortunately I remember only my own effort, which ran :- " A l'hatel do Mont d'Or h Civet J'ai demands uno vorre de ` pecque.• L'on m'a donne Schiedam, Qai me bride commo une &alms. Kra demandoz jamais le ` poeque.' " Peequt is an old-time local spirit of great repute, but is now almost unobtainable. A short time after several of the party met without
prearrangement at Laroche, and here Thompson met with a reveres. Sitting down to make a water-colour drawing of the steep little street which leads up to the chapel, he was soon surrounded by children and some " grown-ups." To the uninstructed eye of the writer, the drawing seemed to possess some charm, but a workman passing by asked a bystander, " Is it any good ? " " Oh, no I " was the answer, given with decision and a shrug of the shoulders. At Houffalize the next day he fell in with a mother and daughter whose principal interest was music. Mademoieelle had some talent and desired training. They were both at his feet in a very few minutes, while ho explained the way to musical fame, and criticized the performance of Mademoiselle. As we drove back in the dark to Laroche, through the woods, the owls wen very noisy. Some one.in the carriage started the fable :-
" Maitre Hibou, sur un arbre perch6, Tenait en son bee un fromage—" The driver at once leant back from his seat and supplied the correction " Maitre Corbeau, Bur un arbre perch6—."
Thompson produced another fable, then the driver his in turn, and it was Thompson whose memory lasted tho longer. Well, Sir, I have travelled a goOd way from French Limericks, but it may bo that thew recollections of the versatility of a distinguished man of science may interest some of his friends who are your readers, and will call up many similar memories of their own.—I am, Sir, &c., OLIM DESIPIENS.
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