The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-02-11
The Venom of Wit.

The sting of the sarcasm lies in the in
tentien of the speaker, and one may trust
that the best of the pleasantries over which
succeeding generations have made merry
were uttered with enough good humor to
take most of the venom out of them.
There was surely a genial smile on the
face of NJ. dArgenson when he congratu-
lated his ignorant nephew on his appoint
ment as librarian to the King, aud ob
served that he would now have fine OPP
portunity Of learning to read And per
haps Gen Quintus Iciius smiled little
great Frederick at q time when his Maies-
ty was not in laughing humor. Just be
fore engaging the French at Rossbach, the
King said to the General, that, if he We're
beaten, he should fly the country, 90 to
Venice, and turn doctor. Your Majesty
| would then keep to the profession of assas-
sin?" growed the old soldier OF the
same quality perhaps was the reply given
painter, Horace Nernet whether, with his
liberal ideas, he would undertake to do a
battle scene, representing a victory of
Russians over Poles. ''Why not, sire ?"
exclaimed the latter; 81 have more than
once painted Christ nailed to the crossn
Illuminated with a gracious smile must
also have been the famous retort of the
projects wife upon Napoleon. She had
been an object OF gossip, and Napoleon.
meeting her at state ball, rudely adj
dressed her, ''Wel, madame, are you as
fond of men as ever?"
The poor lady had enough presence Of
mind to answer, ''Yes, sire, when they are
polite;" upon which the Emperor turned
away rather abruptly, and illustrated the
litteness of his mind by depriving her
husband of his place, three days later.
And the alleged impertinences of the cele-
brated Abernethy must have been relieved
with grim humor and bonhomie that
took away much of their grossness The
Duke of Norfolk, who applied to him for
treatment, probably enl ,yed as we'll as
needed an heroic diagnosis, for he notori-
ously paid little attention to his person
| "Did your grace ever try a clean shirt ?''
asked the old DOCTOR and what a freema-
sonry of good fellowship is implied in the
very terms Of the question: 1t is difficult
to know where to draw the line between
what is permissible in conversation and
what is not Reflections on the moral
character of anybody while that person is
present are objectionable, however bril-
liant may be the wit in which they are
| wrapped. OF course there is a further
rule which is very comprehensive-nam
", that nothing should ever be said that
will in any way give pain to any person
| within hearing But while human nature
remains as it has been frsm the beginning.
men can hardly be expected to refrain from
| a thousand-and-one ways Of suggesting to
each other that they are fools. Tinsley's
Magazine
1t is well known that Crowned Heads
and people of that sort invariably take all
they can get in the way of earthly goods.
A knowledge Of this fact lately moved a
person in Fulton, N. Y, to prepare a half
barrel OF the soft and enticlng compound
called apple butter, and to dispatch the
same. as per address, to ''IIer Majesty
| Queen Victoria. Buckingham Palace, Eng
land" Such graceful and beautiful little
attentions as this are what cement the
bonds of humanity and shed a soft light
of tol-derol over the dreary pathway of
existence. 1t is to be hoped that this kindly
gentleman will not have an experience
like that of the Michigan farmer, who
| shipped barrel of flour to the same
| Crowned Head not long ago, and while
promising all his neighbors to show them
the autograph letter OF thanks, was slight
y amazed to learn that his barrel had
been sold at auction with some other UNI
claimed and less regal freight N. Y
| Tribune.