Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-12-04
4 9 Il rtrI).
AN AMUSING sKETCH---A POTATO
STORY.

The following amusing Sketch of some
of the Jokes that Newspaper reporters play,
is taken from the Great Metropolis -
"About five and thirty years ago, when
only one sentence Of speech was given
on an average, every five or six minutes,
and when the reporters had to sit for many
hours at time, they were often at a loss
to what to do with themselves. On one
occasion when laborng under an attack OF
ennui, and also under the effects, Jack
Finnarty, a we'll known reporter of that
period, yawned out, "Mr. Speaker, will
you favor US with a song?" A roar Of
laughter followed from all parts of the
house. One of the officers Immediately
repaired to the gallery, and inquired who
the offender was; Jack Finnarty, without
opening bis mouth, pointed TO a Quaker, of
very diminutive stature, who was sitting in
the front seat. The officers Immediately
seized the unofending little man by the
breast Of his collarless coat without conde-
scending TO give why and wherefore,
dragged him down stairs, and transferred
him to the care of the Sergeant-at-arms.-
The latter, after keeping him in sale Gus
! tcdy during the night, and compelling him
10 pay nearly f30 for his lodgings, set him
at liberty on the following day.
About the same time the debate, which
was about English laborers, being one even
ing unusually dull, Jack Finnarty, who
had but short time before been imported
; from Tipperary, said 10 the only other re-
porter in the gallery at the time, that he
felt very drowsy and that he would be al
ter taking a little bit of nap, il he would
tell him when he awoke any thing which
might take place. The other agreed, aud
! Jack in moment was fast locked in the
arms OF Morpheus. An hour elapsed, and
after half dozen yawns Jack opened his
eyes.
"iIas any thing happened ?" was the
first question TO his friend.
"To be sure there has," said the other
+ whose name was Morgan O'Sullivan.
"Has there, by the powers 2" exclaimed
Jack, pricking up his ears in the pentitudt
OF his anxiety TO hear what il was.
eyes, Jack, and very important too"
"Then, why don't you be after telling i
: me at once what was il about 2"
!. "About the virtue OF the Irish potato
Jack"
: Was it the Irish potato you said, Nor
J., gan7"
"The Irish potato; and most eloquen
/ speech it was"
!, "Thunder, and lightning, then and VIII
don't you tell it to me?"
= "Tll read it from my note book, Jacl
,. and you'll take it down as 60 on !" sal
Morgan.
Of "Och, it's myself, sure, that's ready
any time TO write what any member say
about our praties, are you ready TO begin
= "Quite ready" answered Morgan.
~ Snow, them" said Jack with energ
that strangely contrasted with the prev
Gus langour of his manner, Snow, Mo
}. gan, affecting TO read from his noteboo
commenced thus :-"The honorable mer
Der said that if'-
"Och, be aisy little bit," interrupt
Jack, "who was the honorable member
% Morgan, hesitating for moment, "W
y it his name you asked Sure, it was N
he Wilberforce."
y. y, Morgan resumed, "Mr. Wilber!orce sa
70. that it always appeared to him beyond
question, that the great cause why
Irish laborers were, as body, SO mu
n. No stronger and capable oi enduring so mu
lso greater physical fatigue than the Engl
was the surprising virtues Of their pota
And he"