The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-09-20
About Repartees.

A repartee we presume to be an imme-
date and appropriate reply to an 0bServ-
alton. depending upon the rapidity OF the
working Of the mental powers, which
seem to work rather faster with some
people than with others. We were once
riding in an old stage coach with worthy
farmer; the mud was very deep, and our
progress at the rate of LAO miles per hour.
To our impatient inquiries as to when We
should reach our destination, the old man
replied in slow tone, which did not be-
lie his words, e. never allow my mind to
travel any faster than my body"
Some persons, however, seem to have
an electric current of wit, which flashes
the moment it meetS Az opposing one
and it is our purpose here to give from
memory few specimens Of this sort OF
~t.>, iOr which we would give the authors
proper credit if we knew their names; be-
ginning with the two OF Lambs, which can
not be left out of such a catalogue, famil-
iar as they are. First, his reply when he
was reSuked for coming in to business at
the India H00Sc SO very lnte in the morn.
ing" YOU know | always go away very
carly in the afternoon )" and that still old
cr one to the anxious passengers query
on entering a crowded omnibus" All
full insidel" al don't know how it is
with the other passengers, but that last
piece of oyster pie did the business for
me-" 1t is related Of some friends OF
Campbell, the author of Hohenlinden, v
in leaving his room after gay supper,
that one Of the number had the mislor-
tune to fail down a long flight Of stairs
The poet, alarmed at the noise, opened his
door and inquired" What's that ~
'TiS / sir, rolling rapidly" was the im-
mediate reply OF his fallen friend. Sheri-
dan is said to have remarked, on entering
crowded committec-room, in parliament
tary language" Will some member move
that may take scat!" Also on being
asked how ;he sensitive Fox would take a
salary provided for him by his charitable
friends, replied "Quarterly." A poor
poet, desiring compliment, asked Curran
(referring to his recently published poem
of that name)-" Have you read my De-
scent into Hell?" No; should like to
see il, replied the wit. AproSy member
Of parliament having asked him--" Have
you read my last speech ?" he repled--"l
hope have" Two New England minis
ters were riding by gallowS, when the
older one asked the othci--"N here would
you be if that tree bore It's proper iruit!'
" Riding alone, sir" was the immediate
reply. An Irish girl at play On Sunday
was accosted by the Priest" Good NOR
ming, daughter Of the devil, and meekly
repiicd--" Good morning, father" Two
friends meeting, one remarked" | have
just met man who told me looked eX-
actly like you" Tell me who it was,
that may knock him down." replied the
friend. Don't trouble yourself, said he,
IL did that myself, at once" The ccle-
brated David Crockett, ON visiting me-
nagcrie, was comparing the countenancr
of Il monkey to that OF one of his fellow
members OF Congress. Turning, he saw
the gentleman had overheard his remarks ;
SO, tn make matters pleasant, he said-"l
don't know which to apologize to, you or
the monkey" Two deacons We're once
disputing about the proposed site Of new
graveyard swhen the first rcmarked-"rll
never be buried in that ground as long as
| live" "What an obstinate man, said
the second. "If my life is spared will y