Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-04-05
PRACTICAL JOKES,

-
the opportunity given to enjoy the ply
steal or mental suffering Of the victim.
OF course. such enjoyment is cruel in a
greater or less degree, AID just So far -
civilization grows toward perfection. tho
disposition to eE5oy The pain of others
disappears. Practical jokes will always
probably be enjoyed by boys-Hho are
naturally young savages, and delight in
tormensing all weaker animak-but, we
are glad to see. are ceasmg to be popuIas.
among grown.up people" Chambers
Journal has a collection Of practical
Jokes, which are, for the most part. quite
new:
The aheients USED to insufge IL prat-
tical jokes to q considerable extent, rs
for instance, the Thracians, at their
drinking parties, sometimes played Che
game of hanging. They Fixed a round
moose to TIE bousk Of tree, and placed
underneath it a stone of s5eh shape
that !. would easily turn around when
any one stood on it Then they drew
lots, and he who drew the lot took n
sickel in his hand. stood on the Stone and
put his neck in the halter. Then the
stone was kicked away if lie could cut
himself down with hi, sickle, well and
good hut if he was not quick enough
he was hanged outright, and the rest
laughed; thinking it good sport.
Nero's jests were likewise vely prxe-
teal What fa. fellow that Senator
is" he observed one day to courtier.
"see me cat him in two," and did it IN
the most faeetious manner.
A French Auditor Of Accounts, IN the
seventeenth century, was a good practf-
cal joker all his life, and even played
trick after be had lost the power Of en-
ioying it, for he left four large candles to
be carried at his funeral, which lad not
been burning fifteen minutes before tEey
wen: off as fireworks
When a lady condescends to practi-
cal joke it is generally a very neat one.
VI. Bonco!t, the rich inancier, was very
s,ingy to his wife in th. matter of pin
money. One day lady; closely veiled,
and very anxious not to be recognized.
called upon him and borrowed large
sum, leaving her diamond as a pledge
1t was his wife.
The French thieves sometimes used to
steal so funnily that even their victims
were half inclined to pardon them.
The Duke of Fronsac, nephew to Mar
shall Richelieu, was coming ont Of the
opera one night, IN splendid dress en-
broidered with pearls, when two thieves
managed to cut OF his coat tails. Hc
turned into his club whete everybody
laughed at him, and go he found out
what had happened, and went home
Early the next morning q well-dressed
man called at the Dukes hotel, and de-
manded to see him at once on a matter
of most vital Importance. Monsieur de
Fronsac was awakened. Monsietfr,"
said the visitor, II am an officer of the
police. Monsieur, the Lieutenant of the
police has learned the accident which
happened to you yesterday on leaving the
opera; and / have been sent by him 70
request you to order the coat to be placed
in my hands, that we may eonvic. the
offender by comparing it with the mutt
lated tails" The dress was given up.
and the Duke was in raptufes with the
vigilance Of the police but il was new
trick of the rogue who had stolen the
tails; by which he possessed himself Of
the entire garment.