L. Frank Baum's "The Wond'rous Wise Man" humorously tells of Solomon, a man famed in his village for wisdom since childhood, though his "insights" often involved stating the obvious (like why cows drink water), using simple wordplay, or relying on specific personal knowledge rather than profound intellect. He cultivated a solemn appearance and even bested another wise man with a trick question before being chased into a bramble bush. The climax sees him mistakenly believe the brambles scratched his eyes out (when his spectacles were just pressed against them), only to jump into another bush, lose his glasses, regain sight, and convince everyone, including himself, that he miraculously "scratched his eyes back in," further solidifying his undeserved reputation for wondrous wisdom through misunderstanding and circumstance.

L. Frank Baum's "The Wond'rous Wise Man" humorously tells of Solomon, a man famed in his village for wisdom since childhood, though his "insights" often involved stating the obvious (like why cows drink water), using simple wordplay, or relying on...

The Wond’rous Wise Man | L. Frank Baum Stories