Maclaurin

: Miscellaneous.

This celebrated Professor of Mathematics in Edinburgh College,
and the able expounder of Newton's _Principia_, always dislocated his jaw,

and was unable to shut his mouth, when he yawned. At the same time his

instinct of imitation was so strong, that he could not resist yawning when

he witnessed that act in others. His pupils were not slow in discovering,

and taking advantage of this physical weakness. When tired of his lecture,

they either began to yawn, or open their mouths in imitation of that act,

and the prelection was interrupted. The Professor stood before them with

his mouth wide open, and could not proceed till he rang for his servant to

come and shut it. In the meantime the mischievous disciples of Euclid had

effected their escape.



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