Section 133. Robert Dick, the Baker, Geologist, and Botanist

Not long ago, Sir Roderick Murchinson discovered at Thurso, in the far north of Scotland, a profound⁠ geologist, in the person of a baker there⁠, named Robert Dick. When (S. 4, N. 2) Sir Roderick called upon him at⁠ the bakehouse in which (S. 131, N. 4) he baked and earned his bread, Robert Dick delineated⁠ to him by⁠ means of flour upon a board, the geographical features⁠ and geological phenomena of his native country, pointing⁠ out its imperfections in⁠ the existing maps, which⁠ he had ascertained by travelling over the country in his leisure hours. On⁠ further inquiry, Sir Roderick ascertained⁠ that the humble⁠ individual before him was not only a capital baker and geologist, but also a first-rate⁠ botanist. “I found,” said the Director-General of the Geographical Society, “to my great humiliation, that this baker⁠ knew infinitely more of (S. 40, N. 9) botanical science, ay, ten times more, than I did; and that there were (S. 82, N. 7) only some twenty or thirty specimens⁠ of flowers which he had not collected. Some he had obtained⁠ as presents, some (= others) he had purchased, but the greater portion had been accumulated⁠ by his industry, in his native county of Caithness; and the specimens⁠ were all arranged⁠ in the most beautiful order, with⁠ their scientific names affixed.”—S. Smiles, “Self-Help.”

gründlich.

dortig, which use attributively before the noun ‘baker’; named, namens.

in.

entwerfen, insep. comp. str. v.

mittels eines mit Mehl bestreuten Brettes.

Umrisse.

Say ‘whereby he pointed out the imperfections’. To point out a thing, auf etwas verweisen, insep. comp. str. v.

Use the gen. of the def. art.

which — hours = of which (wovon) he had convinced himself on (auf) his travels through the country in his leisure hours (Mußestunden).

Nach weiterer Prüfung.

ascertained = learnt, erfuhr, from erfahren.

humble = modest; individual = man.

first-rate = considerable, bedeutend.

Here follow the words ‘of — science’ after which transl. the adv. ‘infinitely’, which is followed by ‘ay (ja) ten times more’ and the verb ‘knew’.

specimens of flowers, Blumenarten.

To obtain a thing as present, etwas geschenkt erhalten.

accumulated = collected. Where, and in what order, must the verbs be placed? Which voice must you use?—native, heimisch.

Exemplar, n.; pl. e.

zusam´menstellen, sep. comp. w. v.

and the scientific names everywhere (überall) affixed (hinzu´fügen), sep. comp. w. v.