Life of Count Rumford. 563 



as the story goes, the light issuing from one of the lamps of his 

 invention was so vivid that the -workman, in taking it home to 

 show it, got his eyes so injured and became so blinded that he 

 could not see his way home, and had to stay out all night 

 in the Bois de Boulogne. Even Cuvier relates the joke. 



" The ban-mot^ at the Count's expense., likewise originated in 

 Paris at this time, making fun of his ways for securing an 

 economical feeding of the poor and the troops. The soldiers, 

 when partaking of an indifferent meal, called it l d la Rum- 

 ford ! ' 



" People in society have a part to act, in giving and accepting 

 from others entertainments. The Count in either case could 

 not set himself down in a corner pursuing his investigations into 

 things as he wished to do. He must make himself agreeable, 

 and could do so. He was one of the smallest eaters, and one 

 who drinks less than he did is seldom met with. Thus at ban- 

 quets, while others would be sipping their fine nectar, smacking 

 their lips at choice viands, cutting their eyes to see what was 

 coming next, discussing eatables, or praising them by eating 

 enormously of what was presented to them, the Count would 

 set down his glass brimming full, from its not having once 

 approached his lips, or he would move away his plate after it 

 had the tiniest piece of some simple food upon it. But upon 

 him would devolve most of the mental honors of the feast. 

 The writer remembers an occasion of this kind, when, as all the 

 guests were eating, he discoursed upon the bread-fruit." 



The Count had prepared his daughter in his last 

 quoted letter to hear of his separation from his wife. 

 In another, soon succeeding it, he told her that the 

 separation was to be brought about by the arbitration 

 of friends. He intimates, however, that he did not 

 expect to remain permanently in the house which he 

 proposed to take at Auteuil, and that he did not look 

 to find perfect peace by himself there, for he should 

 there be surrounded by Madame's friends and adhe- 



