The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-09-24
A REPORTERS JOKE.

got out OF IdYOr VIII MN, ne lnfhidDiJ
retaliated in the way of some practical
joke that generally placed his antagonist
in very ridiculous position, and afforded
the humorist satisfaction.
In this way he once got even with two
individuals at the same time, who had ex-
cited his ire-namely, the celebrated Will
berforce, then leading member in the OPP
position in Parliament, and one Jack Fin
nerty, a Parliamentary reporter of the
Morning Herald Finnerty was fresh
from Tipperary, and quite unacquainted
with the characteristics of the different
members, but he received good deal OF
generous professional assistance at the out
set of his career from Morgan OSullivan.
On the occasion now referred to, finnerty
came into the reporters gallery at period
of the night when the debates seemed to
have slackened he concluded to take a
doze on one of the benches, requesting his
friend to wake him up if anything lively
came before the House, and thereupon went
off to sleep. Presently Mr.. Wilberforce
got upon his legs, and addressed very
thrilling speech before the House.
| AS he progressed, mischievous idea
seized Morgan O'Sullivan, which, as soon
as he (Wilberforce) sat down, he proceed
ed to put in practice, thus: Rousing Fin
nerty from his slumber on the benches,
OSullivan exclaimed, "Jack, Wilberforce
has iustmade an extraordinary speech"
"What about? ?" returned Finnerty, rub
bing his eyes.
About the potato; the effect of it on
national vivacity-the great virtues of it
as an article of popular diet; proved that
the finest kind of men were re ared on it,
far superior to the English"
Wherefore said that, did he?" ex-
claimed Finnerty; "come, let me take his
remarks in full from your notes"
With pleasure, my dear fellow" re-
piled O'Sullivan, who commenced as if
reading from notebook, whilst Finnerty
eagerly wrote after him in the following
vein:
I" Mr.. Wilberforce then emphatically re-
marked that it always appeared to him be-
yond question, that the great cause why
the Irish laborers, as body, were so much
stronger and capable of enduring so much
more fatigue than the English, arose from
the surprising virtues of their potato"
That's what | call eloquenc," interrupt
ed Jack Finnerty.
Morgan resumed, "And have no doubt
| Continued Mr.. Wilberforce) that had it
been my lot to have been born and reared
in Ireland, where my food would have con-'
sisted principally of that inestimable root,
instead of being the poor, infrm, shriveled
and stunted creature you, sir, and the hon
orable gentlemen now behold me, | would
have been stout, athletic, handsome man,
able to carry an enormous weight"
"Well done, Wilberforce," exclaimed
Jack, rubbing his hands in high glee; go
on, Morgan"
Sullivan then proceeded in the same vein
of pathos and absurdity, but adroitly keep
ing within the bounds that Finnerty's Gre
dulity would swallow, until he had placed
most whimsical speech in the mouth of
the grave and earnest Wilberforce Fin
nerty, with many expressions of thanks to
his brother reporter, started for the Herald
Office
On his way, turning into tavern close
Der of reporters of the different morning
papers were regaling themselves, here Jack
furnished them all with copies of " Wilber-
forces speech and the hoax found its
way the next morning into every paper IN
London, with the exception of the B" Morn
ing Chronicle" to which, as matter OF
course, the correct report was furnished by
OSullivan The public were astounded
by the extraordinary speech which, accord
ing to all the papers, Mr.. Wilberforce had
made, and the general opinion was express
ed that he was candidate for Bedlam.
The following evening, on the speakertak-
ing the chair, Wilberforce arose and claim
ed the indulgence of the House. Every
honorable member" he observed, has
doubtless read the speech which am rep
resented as having made on the previous
night. With the permission of the House
/ will read it, Here the honorable gen.
tleman read the speech amidst the most
deafening roars of laughter) g can as
sure the honorable members that no one
could have read this speech with more sur
prise than / myself did this morning when
I found the paper on the breakfast table.
For myself, personally, l care but little
about it, though if l were capable of utter
ing such nonsense as is here put into my
mouth, it is high time that, instead of be-
ing member of this House, were an in
mate of some luntic asylum. 1t is for the
dignity of this House that feel concerned,
for if the honorable members were capable
of listening to such nonsense, supposing me
capable of giving expression to it, it were
much more appropriate to call this thea
tire for the performance of farces, than a
place for the legislative deliberations of the
representatives of the people"
This was only one of the many instan-
ces in which Morgan O'Sullivan paid off to
his hearts content, members of Parliament
and other potential personages, who had in
some manner or other provoked the wag-
gish propensities of this incurable humor-