The Successful Inventor

Nikola Tesla was talking to an interviewer about inventors and their odd ways.

"The successful inventor." said Mr. Tesla, smiling, "has an odd, quaint mind, a mind full of surprises. Thus Smerhurst, I am convinced, was an inventor at heart, though circumstances had made a grocer of him.

"Smethurst, during his seaside holiday, was seen upon the board walk with a large bottle under bis arm.

"'Smethurst,' said an acquaintance, what have you got in that bottle that I see you carrying about with you day and night?"

"'Chloroform,' said Smethurst.

"'What the deuce are you doing with chloroform here on the board walk?'

"'That big dub of a Jones,' said Smethurst, 'has threatened to give me a sound thrashing the first time he meets me, and as soon as I see him coming I'm going to take a dose. I don't propose to suffer if I can help it.'"