This section is from "Scientific American Vol II. No. 1", by Munn & Co. Also available from Amazon: Scientific American Science Desk Reference.
A gentleman having put out a candle by accident one night, ordered his waiting man (who was a simple being) to light it again in the kitchen, adding--"But take care, James, that you do not hit yourself against anything in the dark." Mindful of the caution, James stretched out both arms at length before him, but unluckily, a door that stood half open, passed between his hands and struck him a woful blow upon the nose. "Golly gracious!" muttered he, when he recovered his senses a little, "I always heard that I had a very long nose, but I never thought it was longer than my arm!"

 
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