Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-23
MISC A N Y.
The Canning Jew Traveller.

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The Canning Jew Traveller.
FROM THE GERMAN.
Nine persons sailed from Balse down the river
Rhine. A Jew, who Wished 10 90 To Schalampl.
was allowed To eome on board and journey with
them, On condition that he would conduct himself
with propriety, and give the captain eighteen
kreuzters Tor his passage.
Now, it is true, something jingled in the Jew s
pocket when he struck his hand against it; but
the only money therein was twelve kreut
zer piece, for the other was brass button. Not
withstanding this, he accepted the offer with
gratitude for he thought To hnseli, "somelhlng
may be earned, even upon the water. There is
many man who has grown rich uron The
Rhine"
During the first part Of the voyage, the passen-
gers were very talkattve aud merry. and the Jew
with his wallet under his arin-ior he did not lay
1t aside was the object Of much mlrth and
mockery, as alas is often the case with those oi
his nation. But as the vessel sailed onward, and
passed several villages, the passengers, one alter
another grew silent and gazed down the river,
until one spoke out:
Come, Jew, do you not know any pasime
tha, will amuse US? Your fathers must have
wilderness"
..Now is the time" thought the Jew, "to shear
my sheep!" And he proposed that they should
sit ruund in a circle, aud PROFOUND very curious
questions to each other and he. with their perlnls
sion would sit with them. Those who could not
answer the questions. should pay the one who pro
pounded the,n twelve kreuizer piece; and those
who answered them pertnenty, should receive a
twelve kreulzer piece The proposal pleased the
company ami hoping to divert themselves with
the jews wit or stupidity, each one asked, at
random, whatever entered his head.
Thus for example, the first one asked: GLOW
many suit boiled eggs could the giant Goliah eat
upon an empty stomach"
All said that it was impossible to answer that
question, and each paid his twelve kreuizers.
But the Jew said, "0ne Tor he who has eaten
one egg cannot eat a second on an empty stomach. "
Aud the other paid him twelve kreuzers.
The second thought to himself: ''Wait Jew,
will try you out Of the New Testament, and
think shall win my piece" He then asked,
why did the Apostle Paul write the second
epistle To the Corn,hiaus?"
The Jew said because he was not in Go
rinth, otherwise he would have spoken to them" "
So he won another twelve kreutzer piece.
When the third saw that the Jew was so well
versed in the Bible, he tried him in different
way. "Who proongs his work to as great a
length as possible, aud still completes itin tlneF'
'.The rope maker, il he is INDUSTRIOUS" said
the Jew.
In the meanwhile they drew near to village
aud one said to the other, That is Bamlach. p
Then the fourth asked .'In what mUath do the
people of Bamach eat The ieastP
The Jew said, ''In February, for that has only
twenty eight days"
The fifth said, There are two natural brothers
aud sill only one of them is my uncle"
The Jew said, The uncle is your fathers
brother, and your father is not your uncle"
A fish now jumped out of the water, and the
sixth asked, What fish have their eyes nearest
togetherW
The Jew said, ''The smallest"
The seventh asked, 'HOw can q man ride from
Balse to Bern in ihe shade, in the sumner tine,
when the sun ShiCes? ?"
The Jew said, .'NYhen he comes to place
where there is no shade, he must dlsmount and
90 on foot"
The eight asked, "When man rides in the
winter time from Bern to 8alSs, and has forgotten
his gloves. how tihSt he manage So that his hands
shall not freeze?"
The lew said, ale nest make fists out of
.hem"
The ninth was the last. This one asked
How can five persons divide five eggs so that
each man shall receive one, and still one remain
n the dish ?'
The Jew said "The last must take the dish
with the egg. and can let it remain there as long as
ne pleases.''
But it now came to his turn and he determined
% make good sweep. After many preliminary
compliments he asked, with an air OF mischlevOus
"How can man fly two trouts in
three pans, 50 that a trout may lie in each pan.
No one sould answer this, and one tier the
,ther gave him twelve kreutzer piece, But
when the ninth desired tnat he should answer
t himself, he frankly acknowledged that he knew
Tot how the trout could be fried in such way.
Then it was maintained that this was unfair in
he sew but he stoetly affirmed that there WAS
10 provision for it in agreement, save that he who
,ould not answer the question should pay the
and he fulfilled the agreement BY paying
hat SUN to the ninth of his comrades who had
sked him to solve it himself. But they all be-
ag rich merchants, and grateful for the amuse- ,
nent which had passed an h,ur or two very pleas
n,ly for them. lau !hel heartily over their loss
md at the jews cunaiag.
49,