Isaac Newton could read the secret of creation; but, tired of rising from his chair to open the door for a cat and her kitten, he had two holes cut through the panels for them to pass at will, a large hole for the cat, and a small one for the kitten.

Beethoven was a great musician, but he sent three hundred florins to pay for six shirts and half a dozen handkerchiefs.

He paid his tailor as large a sum in advance, and yet he was so poor at times that he had only a biscuit and a glass of water for dinner.

He did not know enough of business to cut the coupon from a bond when he wanted money, but sold the whole instrument.

Dean Swift nearly starved in a country parish where his more practical classmate Stafford became rich.