The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-15

A REPORTERS Joke

Morgan 0'Sullivan, an Irishman, and celebrated
Parliamentary reporter, attached to the London
Morning Chronicle some fifty years ago. was as re-
markable for his honor as his professional abi ty
Whenever any one offended Morgan or got out of
favor with him, he invariably retaliated in the
way OF some practical joke, that generally placed
hls 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 excited his ire-namely, the cele-
DRAFTED Wiib enforce, then lsadiDg member of the
opposition in Parliament, and Jack Finnerty
Parliamentary reporter of the Morning Herald.
Finnerty was fresh from Tipperary, and quite I'M
acquainted with the characteristics of the different
members of Parliament, but he received good
deal OF generous professional assistance at the out
set OF his career from Morgan O'Sullivan. On the
occasion now referred to, Finnerty came into the
reporters gallery, at q period of the night when
the debates seemed to have sackened; he concluded
to take ADOBE 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.. Wilberforce got upon his legs, and
addressed very thrilling speech before the house
AS he progressed, mischevous idea seized Nor
gan o'Sullivan, which, as as Wilberforce sat
down, he proceeded to put in practice thus Rous-
ing Finnerty from his slumber on the benches,
O'Sullivan exclaimed, "Jack, Wilberforce has
just made extraordinary Speech ssWbat
about?" returned Finnerty, rubbing his ewes.
"About the potato; the effect of it on national vi
vacity-the great virtues of it an article of pop
uar Diet pro: ed that the finest kind of men were
IL
berforce said that, did he" exclaimed Finperty:
"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 a
notebook, whilst Finnerty eagerly wrote after him.
in the following vein: 'fMr. Wilberforce then EN-.
phaticaly remarked, that it always appeared to
him beyond question, that the great cause why the
lrlsh laborers, as a body, were so much stronger
the English, arose from the surprising yir-
tues Of their potato. "That's what | call elo-
quence, interrupted Jack Finnerty. Morgan re-
sumed, ''And have no doubt Continued Mr.. vii
beorce) that had it been my lot to have been born
and reared IN Ireland, where my food would have
principally consisted of that inestimable root in
stead of being the poor, infrm, shrivelled and
stunted creature you, sir, and honorable gentlemen
behold me, would have been a stout, athletic
handsome man, able to carry an enormous weight"
"Well done, Wilberfcrce," exclaimed Jack, in high
glee; ego on, Morgan" O'Sulivan then proceeded
in the same vein of pathos and absurdity but
adrotly keeping within the bounds that Finnerty's
credullty would swallow, until he had placed a
most whimsical speech in the mouth of the grave
and earnest Wilberforce. Finnerty, with MANY
expressions of thanks to his brother reporter,
started for the Herald office.
On his way, turning into tavern close by the
House OF Commons, where number of reporters of
the different morning papers RECALLING them
selves, here Jack furnished them all with copies of
W iiberforces speech" and the hoax found its way
the next morning into every paper in London, with
the exception of the Morning Chronicle to which as
matter OF course the correct report was furnished
by o'Sullivan. The public were astounded at the
extraordinary speech which, according to all the
papers, Mr.. Wibeforce had made, and the general
opinion was expressed that he was a candidate for
Bedlam. The following evening, on the speaker
taking the chair Wilberforce rose and claimed the
indulgence of the house. ''Every honorable mem
ber," he observed, ''has doubtless read the speech
which am represented as having made on the pre-
7lous night With the permission of the house, |
VIII read 1t" (Here the honorable gentleman read
gnpnpb fbn =
laughter. ~ can assure honorable members that |
no one could have read this speech with more sur
prise than myself did this morning when found |
me paper on the breakfast table. For myself, per-
'onally, care but little about it, though, if | |
we're capable of uttering such nonsense as is here
put into my mouth, it is high time that, instead of
being member of this house, / were an inmate of |
ZONE lunatic asylum. 1t is for the dignity of this
house that feel concerned, for if the honorable
members were capable oflistening to such nonsense
'upposlng incapable of giving expression to it,
! were much more appropriate to call this theatre
or the performance offarces than place for the leo
slatlye deliberations of the representatives Of tb
people. This was only of the many instances
a wnlch Morgan oSuliyan paid off, to his hearts
'oh.ent ihelnoers OF Pa Lament and other poten-
ial personages who had, in some manner or other
provoked the waggish propensities of this incu,
able humorst.
A MATRIMONIAL FAILURE.-The Utica Herald
ellis an astonishing story, in effect as follows: Mr.
,leld is clergyman in the village of huntsville N
T. For three or four weeks it was reported that he
vas to marry himself to lady, perhaps young,
member of his church all this time was spent by
ne lady in active preparation for the nuptials:
resses were made, cake and pastry were prepared;
ne day was fixed for the wedding, which rumor
AID was to take place on Sunday in the meeting
ouse. mere was no wedding under that roof, but
he Rev. Mr.. Field preached sermon which caused
ne ears OF his crowded congregation to Jingle. He
hose Tor his text the passage-HButtheyt thought to
me mischief'-and took advantage ofthe occasion
administer the discipline of wholesome truth to
he tatlers of the village of Munnsyille There is
ystery hanging about the affair, the clergyman
eclares that he never gave the slightest Ground
n a matrimonial idea to blossom in the mind of
he disappointed spinster. The better informed
ortion of the population believe that the whole
ling was a. trap to catch sunbeam, or what
ould have been sunbeam in the vacant life of
ISIS Blank.