38 HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT 



we never showed any but impassible faces and 

 stupid indifference, in the presence of the sub- 

 limest wonders a guide has to display. We found 

 their weak point. We have made good use of it 

 ever since. 



" ' Come wis me, gentlemen ! come ! I show 

 you ze letter writing Christopher Colombo ! write 

 it himself ! write it with his own hand ! come ! ' 



" He took us to the municipal palace. After 

 much impressive fumbling of keys and opening of 

 lock, the stained and aged document was spread 

 before us. The guide's eyes sparkled. He 

 danced about us and tapped the parchment with 

 his finger: 



"' What I tell you, gentlemen ! Is it not so? 

 See! Handwriting Christopher Colombo ! Write 

 it himself ! ' 



"We looked indifferent, unconcerned. The 

 doctor examined the document very deliberately, 

 during a painful pause. Then he said, without 

 any show of interest : ' Ah, Ferguson, what did 

 you say was the name of the party who wrote 

 this ? ' 



" ' Christopher Colombo ! ze great Christopher 

 Colombo ! ' 



" Another deliberate examination. 



