Section 90. A Curious Instrument. III

“By a slight and momentary movement, which the owner can easily effect, he can⁠ ascertain⁠ with considerable accuracy the size, colour, shape, weight (S. 10, N. 9), and value of⁠ any article whatever. A⁠ person possessed of one is⁠ thus saved from the necessity of asking a thousand questions and⁠ trying a variety of troublesome experiments, which would otherwise be necessary; and such a slow and laborious process⁠ would, after⁠ all, not succeed⁠ half so well as a single application of this admirable instrument.”

George. “If it is such a very useful thing⁠ (S. 27, N. 8), I wonder⁠ that⁠ everybody, that can at all afford it, does not have one.”

To avoid repetition render the verb ‘can’ here by imstande sein.

bestimmen, which use in the form of a Supine and place at the end of the whole clause.

of — whatever, irgend eines Gegenstandes.

A — one = The possessor.

is — questions = needs therefore (also) not (to) ask a thousand questions. To ask a question, eine Frage stellen.

and — experiments = and to make various troublesome experiments.

Verfahren, n.

after all not, doch nicht, which must not be placed between commas. Comp. S. 15, N. 3.

gelingen.

thing = object.

I wonder, es wundert mich; we wonder, es wundert uns; you wonder, es wundert Sie.

that — one = that not everybody, who can at all (irgend) make it possible, possesses the same (to agree with ‘object’).