Page:Stories Translated from the German.djvu/198

 of the occurrence must be immediately connected with the air. And this must really be the case; if not in the air, then in some fine, imperceptible fluid. Can we not extend this idea to sensations, inclinations, whims, and persuasions of different periods?

It really appears, that even the wise man during some period of his life, cannot avoid some act of foolishness, which is afterwards adopted by the crowd. My friend, the Professor, has therefore a custom to note down in a book every thing remarkable that he has witnessed himself, or has learnt from others. This book has already attained a considerable size, and contains nothing but rare occurrences, which are too little observed by the company or by learned men.

Sometimes he trusts this collection to me, or even reads a few chapters to me himself when he is in a cheerful humour.

In one of our late conversations, he said, "Is it possible that the moon, whose humid rays have so injurious an effect upon many plants, should act equally injuriously upon the brain of man?" And, continued the old Professor in his zeal, "Let no one believe himself so secure, that this goblin does not