Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1862-07-16
Living by ones wits.

II
Living by ones wits. =
Nine persons sailed from Basle down
he Rhine A Jew, who wished to 20 to
Schlamni, was allowed to come on
board and journey with them. On cOndi-
ion that he would conduct himself with
prOpriety and give The captain eighteen
zreutzers for hispassege,
Now II truo, something jiDgled in
HI JsWsg pockets Wien N straek hiR
hand against Il bitthe only money
therein was a twelve kreutzer piece, for
The other was brass button. Notwith-
this, be accepted the offer with
for he thought to himself,
Something may be earned even upon
the water. There is many a man who
has grown rich on the Rhine" During
the first part Of the voyage, the passen-
gers we're very talkative and merry and
the Jew, with wallet under his arm-for
he did not lay it aside-was the object
Of much mirth and mockery, as alas is
often tho case with those ofhis nation
But as the vessel sailed onward. and
passed Huntington and St Welt, the pas
sengers. one after the other grew SILENT
gazed down the river until one spoke
out;
Come, Jew, do you know any pas
time that will amuse us7 Your fathers
must have contrived many one during
their long stay in the wilderness /"
"Now is the time" thought the Jew
"to shear my sheep;" and he proposed
that they should sit round in a circle
and PROFOUND curious questions to each
\ other, and he with their permission
wOnld sit down by them. Those who
could not answer the question. should
pay the one who propounded them
twelve kreutzer piece, and those who
answered them pertinently, should re
ceiye twelve kreutzer piece.
The proposal pleased the company
and hoping to divert themselves will
i the Jews wit or stupidity each one ask
cd at random whatever entered his head
Thus, for example, the first one ask
D ed:
Chow many soft boiled eggs could {
. giant eat upon an empty stomach Z"
: All said it was impossible to ansWe
i that question. and each paid over thei
!. twelve kreutEers.
Z. But the Jew said, "One, for he VIII
|. has eaten one egg, cannot eat a secou
1. on an empty stomach" and the otht
'. paid him twelve kreutzers.
% The second thought, wait Jew, | vi
a. trv YOU out Of the New Testament, an
4 | think | shall win my piece.
"Why did the Apostle Paul write Il
Second Epistle to the Corinthians y
to The Jew said, because he was n
.; in Corintb, otherwise be would ha'
/. spoken to them. So he won anoth
Of twelve kreulzer piece.
When the third found the Jew so We
0. yersed in the Bible, be tried him in
ds different way
to Who prolOngs bis work to as great
.ic length as possible, an yet completes
in time ?"
!, "The rope maker. ifhc Is indust'
be Gus. \ said the Jew.
j. ID the meanwhile they drew ne
the village. and one said to the otht
an athat Is Bamlach..
,,a Then he fourth said, ''in what mon
bel do the people Of Bamlach eat the least
anl The jew said, ''in February for d
.th has only twenty eight days.
Tho fifth said, there are two natul
oeIbrothcTs. and still only one Of them
Il, my unole?"
,ot The Jew said, "the uncle is your
IL Ithsr's brother, and your father y :
yous uncle :"
Il, 4 fsh now jumped out Of the wAs'
\ and the sixth asked what fish have th'
ng eyes nearest together 7
bS The Jew said, "the smallest"
to Tho seventh man asked, "how can
i man ride from Basle 70 Befne in Il
s, shade ii the summer time, when che y
ii shines I"
\. The Jew said, when he comes g
n nIaoe whore there is no shade. be mu
W diamount and Don l0os.
Il. Tho eighth, asked when : man rid
]. /. IN winter from Bsrns e Basle y
IssIhsn toreotlon hIs gIovss hoT lnast !