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James Clerk Maxwell
   
 
DOCUMENTI 
 
Lettere al Padre -Aprile 1842.
 
MY DEAR PAPA—The day you went away Lizzy and I went to the Zoological Gardens, and they have got an elephant, and Lizzy was frightened for its ugly face. One gentleman had a boy that asked if the Indian cow was he.Asky thinks he is a scholar, and was for going with me to the school, and came into the dancing to-day.
On Friday there was great fun with Hunt the Gowk; we could believe nothing, for the clocks were all "stopped," and everybody had a "hole in his jacket." Does Margaret play on the trump still? and what are the great works? Does Bobby sail in the tub?— I am, your obedient servant,

                                                                                               JAMES CLERK MAXWEL

MY DEAR MR. MAXWELL—I saw your son to-day, when he told me that you could not make out his riddles. Now,  if you mean the Greek jokes, I have another for you. A simpleton wishing to swim was nearly drowned. As soon as he got out he swore that he would never touch water till he had learned to swim; but if you mean the curious letters on the last page, they are at Glenlair.—Your aff. Nephew,

                                                                                               JAMES CLERK MAXWELL.


 
 
I have cut a puggy nut(18), and some of the oil came upon my fingers, and it smelt like linseed Oil, but it did not hurt. There wasa boy that brought Sea fyke(19) to the school, and put it down the boys' backs, for which he was condemned to learn 12 lines for 3 days. Talking about places, I am 14 to-day, but I hope to get up. Ovid prophesies very well when the thing is over, but lately he has prophesied a victory which never came to pass. I send you a Bagpiper to astonish the natives with(20). I have got a jumping paddock and a boortree gun(21). When are you coming?—Your most obedient Sarvent,


                                                                                            JAS. ALEX. M'MERKWELL(22)

 
        
 note:

(18) i.e. Cashew nut. This is characteristic. Compare the description of the boy-genius in Fo'c's'le Yarns:—

     " Bless ye! the pisons was just like mate
     To Tommy, that liked to feel the strong
     They were, and rowlin' them on his tongue. "

(19) A substance often found on the sea-shore. It is of a honey-combed structure, and consists, in fact, of the egg-capsules of the common whelk (Buccinum undatum). When dried and pulverised, it has an irritating effect upon the skin. Hence the local
name:—"Fyke"=fidget. See Jamieson's Dictioncary.

(20) This fantastic and elaborately-coloured illustration is certainly sufficiently astonishing.
(21) i.e. A pop-gun of elder-wood.
22) Anagramma di  James Clerk Maxwell.