The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-06-22
LIVING BY ONES WITS.


journey with them, on condition that he
would conduct himself with propriety, and
give the captain eighteen kreuisers for his
passage. Now, 1t Is true, something jinglcd
n the jews pocket when ho struck his
hand against it but the only money he had
therein was twelve krcutscr piece, for the
other was brass button. Notwithstanding
thi. he accepted the offer with gratitude !:
for he thought to himself, something may
be earned, even upon the water. There is
many man who has grown rich upon the
Rhine ? 10 o.. .t-..e ,-.--
During the first part Of our voyage, the
passengers were very laxative and merry
and the jew, with his wallet under his arm
for no did no,'lay It aside-was the object
Of muchmirth and mockery, as alas il of
ten the case with those Of his nation. But
as the vessel sailed onward and passed
Huntington and Saint Veit, the passengers,
one after another, grew silent and gazed
down the river, until one spoke out:
Come, Jew, do you not know any pas
time that will amuse US Your fathers must
have contrived many ono during their
long stay in the wilderness p
Now is the time, thought the Jew, to
shear my sheep!' And he proposed that
they shouli sit round in circle, and pro.
pound very curious questions to each other,
and he, with their permission would sit down
with them. Those who could not answer
the questions, should pay the one PROFOUND
ed them twelve kreutzer piece and those
who answered them pcrtiuently, should re
ceivc twelvc.kreutzer piece.
The proposal pleased the company, and
hoping to divert themselves with tho Jews
wit or stupidity, each one asked, at random,
whatever entered his head. Thus for exam.
pie, the first one askel:
How many solt.boiled eggs could the
giant Goliah eat upon an empty stomach
All said that il was impossible to answer
that question, and each paid his twelvc-kre
utzcrs.
But tho Jew said, One; for he who has
eaten one egg cannot eat second on an emp
ty stomach And the other paid him
twelve-kreutzers.
The second thought, wait, Jew, and I
will try you out Of the New Testament. and
think I shall win my piece. why did the
Apostle Paul write the second cpisils to the
Corinthiansl'
Because he was no, in Corin,h,' said the
jew, otherwise he would have spoken Ia
them So he won another twelve.kreutzer
piece.
When the third saw that the Jew was SC
we'll verscd in the Bible, hc tried him in q
different way. 'Who prolongs his work "a
as great length as possible, and yet com
pletes it in iimel
'The rope maker, II ho is industrious,
said the Jew.
In the meanwhile they drew near to n
village and one said to the other, THAT Is
Bamalach.' Then the fourth asked in what
month do the people Of Bamalach eat the
least
The jew said, In February, for that has
only twcnty.csht days.
The fifth said, There are two natural
brothers, and still only one Of them is M
uncle.
The jew said, The uncle is your athcr's
brother, and your father is not your uncle
A fish now jumped out of the water, md
the sixth asked, What fsh have their eye.
nearest logethcr''
The Jaw said. The smallest
The seventh asked, How can man rid,
from Balsc to Bern in the shade, In the sum
mer time, when the sun shines =
The jew said, When he comes to place
where there is no shade he must dismoun
and 60 on foot
Tho eighth asked, 'Whcn man rides il
the winter time from Bern to Base and ha'
forgotten his gloves, how must he manage s,
that his hands shall not freeze''
The Jew said, He must make lists out o
them
The ninth was the last. This ono asked
How can Eve persons divide FIVE eggs SC
that each man shall receive one, and still
oae remain in tho dish!'
The jew Said, The last must take th'
dish with the cs;, and can let 1t remain it
the dish as long as he pleasss.'
But now il came his turn, and he deter
mined to make good sweep. After man.
preliminary compliments he asked with III
mir Of mischievious friendliness. How can
man Fry two trouts in three pans, SO that
trout may lie in each panp
No one could answer this, and ono ate
the other gave him twelve.kreurzer piece
But when The ninth desired that he shoul,
answer himself, ho frankly acknowledge,
that he knew not how the trout could b
tried in such wayr
Then it was maintained that this was IN
fair in the Jew; but bo stoutly allirme,
that there was no provision for It in th,
agreement save that he who could not answer
the question should pay the kcutzer, and h
fulfilled the agreement by paying that SUI
to the ninth Of his comrades who had asket
him to sovc II himself. But they all bein,
rich merchants, and grateful for the amuse
ment which had pa,'e1 very pleasantly fol
them, laughed heartily over their loss and
at the jews cunning.
~ An old rag picker died in Paris, ia
u slate Of the most abjeci poverty. His only
,.I,,;c,, ,,,,s /, nae, ,rbn I;va.l "a s,rvani