The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-07-19
One of A. Wards Jokes.

London, which was, alasl too brief, l |
him to a very good fellow, a
great admirer of his whimsical books, |
but who was something of tuft-hunter
withal. As Lord Byron said of the poet
Tom Moore, he dearly loved lord"
or any body fourishing handle to his
name. My friend Weatherwax 1--WE viii
so call him, for as a good citizen and a
and, the father of large
family, l must not disclose his real
name) had charming house, bril-
liant drawing-room, and was fond of
entertaining artistic society. Artemus
and he were quickly sympathetic, and
became close friends, but, with his char
acteristic penetration, he was not long
discovering Weatherwax's penchant for
swell aequaintances. Calling with Ar
temus one afternoon, we were shown
into the salon, and, while awaiting our
host, we amused ourselves with looking
over the visiting cards in huge China
bowl. On the top of the pile was con-
spicuously placed the card of Lord
Cowley. The careful position of the
bit of pasteboaod plainly indicated that
it had not got there by chance. The
eye of the humorist twinkled, and in an
instant he transferred the card to the
bottom of the bowl, leaving plain
Brown, Jones, or Robinson, as the case
might be, at the top in full view.
Now" said Artemus, 60 from time to
time as we come here, we will follow
the fortunes of that card"
"Suppose we rob him of it outright, -
| said with malicious mildness, "and
break his heart forever and ever"
Not bit of it; that will defeat my
purpose"
Our host appeared; we had our inter
view and departed. A few days passed
and we called again. We were shown,
as usual, into the drawing-room, and
glancing at the bowl, found the card Of
Cowley had been fshed up from the bot
tom and restored to its old position as
''head of the heap" On this day we
dined, and during the evening Artemu;
whisked the card off the bowl and said
"By Jove, I'll secrete this where hi
will never find it," and while Weather
wax had gone to look after the ladies hi
placed it between the leaves of a mann
moth gilt-edged, gorgeously illuminated
family Bible ''There, I've securely
lodged it in the Book of job" whisper
ed Artemus; ''now We'll see how long i
abideth there. don't think he trouble.
the sacred tome very often"
A week or more passed before we saw
Weatherwax again. The card had beef
found in the meantime and proud,
beamed at us from its usual conspicuou
position. This time Artemus slipped
under the carpet, and in doing so rathe
soiled its pure enameled surface.
"Ods bodkins, as they say in old Eng
lish, think it has found a secure rest
ing-place at last He'll not see tina
surely until the carpets are taken up
shaken. My Lord Cowley, a sweet an
tender adieu."
1t must have been a month before on
next call, and we palpitated with curios
ity as we approached the house. In
few moments we were bending over tn
well-remembered china bowl, and to on
establishment there was not only tn
card in its old place, but it had bee
carefully cleaned, evidently with India
rubber, and shone with all its origini
brightness.
"That's the most Micawber-like car
, ever saw-it's always turning up.
wonder if he has started a new one,
said Artemus, and he felt under the ca
pet to see if, by any chance, the old car
was there. No, it had gone, and tt
one we pensively gazed upon was ev
IDENTIFY the same that had been col
cealed.
81 am bothered now to know whel
to hide that darned pasteboard, but
think we must give him one MOI
search" remarked the American, drill
&" A French vaudevilliste would turn tn
incident into a leUer de rtdeGu for II
Palais ROYAL, and this concealing IL
card is not unlike the main incident
Sardou's play, Les Pattes de Mouche
Now, where can l place it?' And
moved around the apartment in his e.
! deavor to light on secure spot. GA
here!" And mounting a chair he laid
carefully high away on the broad corni'
of the lofty window, entirely out
sight.
"That will bother him. Hunting Il
;. hare or Devastating is nothing to thi
. [ should like to see him on his travels
= search of the lost prize. wonder if
4 suspects us?"
At that moment our Amphytrion e
|, tered the room. He was in buoya
. spirits, having enjoyed a spin on a coac
: four-in-hand, over Hampstead and Hlg
gate, with a noble Duke.
4 "Ah, glad to see you. Had such
f glorious ride on BeaufOrt's coac
e Coaching is delightful, and His Ora
! has four handsome browns, the whet
s ers perfection of shape ard action, al
the leaders, though little raw and ne
S to their work, greatly admired. Al
r he ratified on as pleasantly as the coa'
$ which he so recently had acquitte
3 GAS my friend, Lord COwley, says
: - And as he uttered the last wor
a his eye fell, as it were unconsciously
e the bowl. He saw at glance that t
S card had gone. The quotation fro
/, Cowley was lost to the world, and
stantly he began turning up the piles
h cards to see if it had fallen beneath.
S "What are you looking for?" ask
/. Artemus with amiable innocence of ma
l.. ner and perfect imperturbability OF fe
tI1Ip