The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-10-05
The Reporters Joke.

| one offended Morgan, or got out of favol
with him, he invariably realiated in the
way of some practical joke, that generally
placed his antagonist in very ridiculous
position, and afforded the humorist satisfac
ton.
In this way he once "got even" with two
individuals at the same time, who had ex.
cited his ire namely the celebrated Will
bertorce, then leading member in the op.
position in Parliament, and one Jack FIN
nerly, Parliamentary reporter of the Nor.
ming Herald. Finnerly was fresh from Tip.
perary, and quite unacquaiuted with the
characteristics of the different members,
but he received good deal of generous pro.
lessiona assistance at the outset of his ca
reer from Morgan O'Sullivan On the oc.
casion now referred 10, Finnerty came into
the reporters gallery at period of the night
when the debates seemed to have slacken.
ed he concluded to take dose on one OF
the benches; and requested his friend to
wake him up if anything lively came be.
fore the House, and thereupon went off to
sleep. Presently Mr.. WiIberforce got upon
his legs, and addressed very thrilling
speech before the House.
AS he progressed, mischievous idea
seized Morgan OSullvan, which as soon as
he (Wilberforce) sat down, he proceeded
to put in practice, thus: Ronsing Fnnerty
from his slumber on the benches, O'Sulli-
van exclaimed, "Jack, Wlberforce has JUS;
made an extraordinary speech" "What
about" returned Finnerty, rubbing his
eyes. "About the potato; the effect of it
on national vlvacty-the great virtues of it
as an article Of popular diet; proved that
the finest kind of men were reared on it,
far superior to the English" "Wilbersorce
said that, did he q exclaimed he "come let
me take his remarks in full from your
notes." "With pleasure, my dear fellow"
replied O'Sullivan, who commenced as if
reading from note book, whilst Finnerty
eagerly wrote after him in the following
vein: "Mr. Wilberforce then emphaticaIlY
remarked that it always appeared 10 him,
beyond question, that the great cause why
the Irish la5orers, as body were so much
stronger and capable of enduring so much
rieEe fatigue than the Esgi:ss, asoec-- .fso,.l
the surprising virtues OF their potato."-
"That's what call eloquence," Interrupted
Jack Finnerty. Morgan resumed, "and |
have no doubt CONTINUED Mr.. Wilberforce)
that had il been my lot 10 have been born
and reared in Ireland, where my food would
have principally consisted of that inestima-
bic root, instead of being the poor, infirm,
shrivelled and stunted creature you, sir, and
the honorable gentlemen now behold me, |
would have been Stout athletic, hand
some man, able TO carry an enormous
weight" "Well done, Wlloerforce," ex-
claimed Jack, rubbing his hands in high
glee; Ego on, Morgan" O'Sullivan then
proceeded in the same vein of pathos and
absurdty, but adroitIy keeping within the
bounds that Finnerty's credulity would
swallow, until he had placed most whim,
sical speech in the mouth OF The grave and
earnest Wilberforce. Finnerty, with many
expressions of thanks TO his brother repor.
Ter, started for the Herald Office.
On his way, turning into tavern close
by the House of Commons, where a mum.
ber of reporters of the different morning
papers were regaling themselves, here Jack
furnished them all with copies of "Wilber.
force's Speech" and the hoax found its way
the next morning into every paper in Lon.
don, with the exception of the Morning
Chronicle, TO which, as matter of course,
correct report was furnished by O'Sullivan.
The public were astounded by the extraor-
dinary speech which, according 10 all the
papers, MIR Wiberiorce had made, and the
general opinion was expressed that he was
candidate Tor Bedlam. The following
evening, on the speaker taking the chair,
Wilberforce rose and claimed the indul.
gence of the House. "Every honorable
MEMBER" he observed, "has doubtless read
the speech which am represented as hav'
ing made on The previous night. With the
permission of the House will read it."-
(Here the honorable gentleman read the
speech amidst the most deafening roars oil
laughter.) "I can assure honorable members
that no one could have read this speech
with more surprise than | myself did this
morning, when | found the paper on the
breakfast table. For myself, personally, ]
care but little about it, though if were
capable of uttering such nonsense as is
here put into my mouth, it is high time that
instead o. being a member of this House,
were an inmate oil some lunitic asylum. II
is for the dignity Of this House that feel
concerned, for if the honorable members
were capable of giving expression 10 it, il
were much more appropriate TO call this q
theatre for the performance of farces, than
place for the legislative deliberations o.
the representatives of the people.
This was only one of the many instances
in which Morgan O'Sullivan paid off TO hi'
hearts content, members of Parliament ant
other potential personages, who had ir
some manner or other. provoked the wag
gish propensities Of this incurable humorist
y 4. A.