Then there is the story of David Hume, who, when he began to be known in the world as a philosopher, was admonished by a Mr. White, a decent rich merchant of London: "I am surprised, Mr. Hume, that a man of your good sense should think of being a philosopher. Why, I did take it into my head to be a philosopher for some time, but tired of it most confoundedly, and very soon gave it up." "Pray, sir", said Mr. Hume, "in what branch of philosophy did you employ your researches? What books did you read? "Books?" said Mr. White; "nay sir, I read no books, but I used to sit whole forenoons a-yawning and poking the fire."2