Section 90. A CURIOUS INSTRUMENT. III.
Reading edition
“By a slight and momentary movement, which the owner can easily effect, he can[1] ascertain[2] with considerable accuracy the size, colour, shape, weight (S. 10, N. 9), and value of[3] any article whatever. A[4] person possessed of one is[5] thus saved from the necessity of asking a thousand questions and[6] trying a variety of troublesome experiments, which would otherwise be necessary; and such a slow and laborious process[7] would, after[8] all, not succeed[9] half so well as a single application of this admirable instrument.”
George. “If it is such a very useful thing[10] (S. 27, N. 8), I wonder[11] that[12] everybody, that can at all afford it, does not have one.”
Notes in this chapter
Note 9 · Freiheit des Handelns. Repeat the article before the two following nouns. In German the articles, possessive adjective pronouns, and other dNote 8 · When a subordinate clause, beginning with one of the conjunctions da, obgleich, weil, and wenn, precedes a principal clause, which is often Note 1 · To avoid repetition render the verb ‘can’ here by imstande sein.Note 2 · bestimmen, which use in the form of a Supine and place at the end of the whole clause.Note 3 · of — whatever, irgend eines Gegenstandes.Note 4 · A — one = The possessor.Note 5 · is — questions = needs therefore (also) not (to) ask a thousand questions. To ask a question, eine Frage stellen.Note 6 · and — experiments = and to make various troublesome experiments.Note 7 · Verfahren, n.Note 8 · after all not, doch nicht, which must not be placed between commas. Comp. S. 15, N. 3.Note 9 · gelingen.Note 10 · thing = object.Note 11 · I wonder, es wundert mich; we wonder, es wundert uns; you wonder, es wundert Sie.Note 12 · that — one = that not everybody, who can at all (irgend) make it possible, possesses the same (to agree with ‘object’).