The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-18
Practical Jokes.

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tical, and stady llow4to become more
so with daily increasing success, yet
practical Joking is at a discount.
Practical Jokes are now voted vulgar,
witless, stupid, ill-natured and it is
really impossible toe deny that the
popular verdict is a correct one; but
they are, nevertheless, often 2quite
amusing -as witness the following:
In the year Z 776, anephew of the
Emperor Of Morocco visited Paris as
his uncles ambassador. He was re-
ceived with great pomp at the court,
and al the nobility Wed with one
another in giving him fetes. Certain
young men thought this afforded
them q good opportunity for playing
a trick upon o very apretentious man
named Septenville. Hla- rich horse
dealer: They began by persuading
him TINT he 9ought TO invite the
Moorish prince TO b fete at his coun-
try house, which was one OF the most
beautiful In tho environs of Paris;
they assured, him that they had suf-
ficient influence to persuade his ex-
cellency to accept the invitation and
honor5the affair with his presence.
They pointed out to him that the
money it, cost would be we'll spent
in the end, that q connection of this
description would give great notorie-
ty to his business, and enable him to
extend ditlconside derably, and that very
likely his excellency would, out Of gra-
titude, send him some Barbs. Sep
tenviHe calculated all these advan-
tages, and decided without much
struggle to receive the ambassador
with all the expense and show proper
on the occasion. Some days after.
wards, he was informed that his ex-
ceilency consented to do him the
honor of passing day at his place,
to yhich he would come on such
day, at such an hour The merchant
Immediately began doing all he could
think of to render his house worthy
of receiving such guest. He order
ed fireworks of Tore, the great
man OF the age in that line; he had
his grounds and the front of his house
brilliantly illuminated; he engaged
the most celebrated musicians at
great expense; he sent out invitations
to all the nobility and people of
fashion whose names and addresses
he could get hold of, to the court, to
the most distinguished foreigners, to
all the handsomest actresses. OF
course, the arrangements for the
banquet were on scale correspond
ing with all the other preparations.
On the appointed day, after hav-
ing allowed himself to be waited for
for some time, the ambassador, ac-
companied by all his court, arrived
in O magnificent carriage. He was
received with fattering address, to
which he replied by means of an in
terpreter. He was asked to sing,
and consented with the utmost affa-
bility. The fete went on capitally,
and Septenville was out OF his wits
with Joy. At the banquet, he refused
to sit at table with SO illustrious a
guest, but insisted ION standing be-
hind his chair, with napkin under
his arm. The ball opened, and the
guests enjoyed themselves thorough
ly, without suspecting any trick, till
3 o'clock in.7the morning, when q
body Of soldiers and police appeared
in the ballroom. They had come to
take the sham ambassador into Gus
tody, and Septenville found he had
been duped. The man who played
the part of the ambassador was the
son of Q ibookseller named Prault.
He was precisely OF the saa.e age and
shape as the Moorish prince, and
was 80 we'll got up as to deceive every
body. aiiYo0 oia of
The idee OF sending innumerable
cofins, hearses. wedding carriages,
pictures. beds, tables, &c. ;, at b given
day and ohours 20 an unfortunate
Individuals house, il was originally
But, after ali, these eiabofatSs q. e Jokes
are not 30 humorous as those which
are spontaneous, such KS the follow
ing: i sQt i,i't .s5,is5,Ti ID ~ ~,
A young French gentleman, who
led o very gay ife,i going TO bed late
and getting up late, lodged In an
entreSol. A milk-wonaan took mn her
position under his window. and the
chattering of her customers, with the
braying of her donkey, efEectuaIly
destroyed his slumbefs. In vain he
remonstreted; the milk-worne.... s:;s:;s
she had right to the pavement, and
that place suited her. He got no,