The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-12-16
OLD JESTBOOkS.

Jokes Current Among Our Ancestors.
Few plays were anciently considered
complete without q clown, and he was
much more important and privileged
person in his day than IN orr own. He
not only entered upon the stage at the
proper times, but continually mixed
with the company, and attempted to
excite merriment by any species of buff
foonery that occurred to him. Richard
Tarlton, who played between 1870 and
1888. was one of the most popular and
notorious of these extemporlZlngciown
Always on the lookout for joke, he
was not content with confirming his at
tentions to the company on the stage,
but constantly spared with the aud
fence. Nor were the lattet backward
in melting him to rhyme on themes
which were generally concocted before
hand in order to puzzle Tarlton when
be appeared before them. Thus is re-
lated ''Tarlton's Jest of Gridiron, !"
which we give In its original quaint
style for to translate it into modern
language would destroy the best part
and in IRE the rest
"While the queens players lay in
Worcester city to get money, it was his
custom for to sing eXtempore OF themes
gived him: amongst which they were
appointed go play the next day. Now
one fellow of the city, among the rest,
that seemed quaint of conceit to lead
other youths with his fine wit, gave out
that tho next day he would give him
theme to put him to nonplus. Divers
of his friends acquainted with the same,
expected some rare concert. Well, the
next day came, and my gallant gave
him his invention in two lines, which
was this:
"' Metbinks it ia thing unfit
To gridiron turn the spit.
The people laughed at this. thinking
his wit knew no answer, which angered
Tarlton exceedingly, and presently with
smile, looking about, when they ex-
pected wonders, he put it off thus:
"'Methinks it is a thing unfit
To see an ass have any wit.
Gan old painter, at the repairing of
church, was writing sentences of
Scripture upon the walls. By chance a
friend of mine came into the church
and reading them perceived much false
English. 'Old man, said my friend,
why do you not write true English B;
Alas, sir, said the painter, 'tbev are
poor, simple people in this parish, and
they will not go to the cost of it.,
"a justice of peace being angry with
pilfering knaye, said, 'Sirrah, if thou
/ dost not mend thy manners, thou wilt
be shortly hanged, or else / will be
hanged for thee The bold knave re.
piled, i thank your worship for that
kind offer, and | beseech your worship
not to be out of the way when [ shall
! have occasion to use you.
GA cardinal kept a knavish fool for
/ his recreation, to whom he said, 'Sirrah
! fool suppose that all the world were
dead but thou and !, and that one of us
should be turned to a horse, and the
other of US to an ass, say which of the
| two wouldst thou choose to be The
! fool answered, Sir, you are my master
and for that respect it is fit that your
lordship should choose first, and [ will
| be contented to take that which you
! leave Why, then, said the cardinal,
! would be 4 horse NO, said the
! fool, let me entreat your woIship to
be an ass, for [ would choose to be an
ass above all things, Why Quoth
the cardinal Marry, said the fool,
because that / have known many asses
come to be justices, but / never knew
any horse TO come to the like prefer
ment.
These and similar anecdotes supplied
our ancestors with food for many a
| hearty laugh, and filled the place of
! Punch, III the eating houses of the
seventeenth century,-ColtegC RGrjciO.