The Noticeable Conduct of Professor Chadd by G. K. Chesterton

A respected professor abruptly abandons his scholarly pursuits to dance in public parks, startling his colleagues and friends. As Basil Grant investigates, he finds that Chadd's erratic behavior has a deeper, philosophical motive. The plot satirizes academic pretensions and social rigidity. Chesterton defends creative madness against dull respectability. It’s a whimsical and thoughtful story about the value of joy and the absurd.