, 1878-06-07
"Sclls." "

Itwould puzzle philosopher to give
an exact definition of the SELL Nearly
related to the hoax, it differs from it in
being more innocent in its inception and
less mischieyous in its consequences
Some little ingenuity is required to con-
coct happy sell" but any one may
perpetrate hoax who is equal to 'lend-
ing lie the confidence Of truth" The
latter is a deliberately planned deception,
oftenest attaining its end by personation
of forgery or something closely akin to
it; whereas a sell reeds no such playing
with edged tools, and may not only be
unprecedented, but even unintentional.
The Irishman who undertook to show
an exciseman private still, and intro
duced him to his brother, who had been
twelve gears in the army and was pri-
vate still, sold the guardian of the revenue
very neatly; although it is possible the
victim of the joke did not see the fun
of the thing, any more than the official Of
the North London Railway Company did,
when overhearing a thirdclass passenger
aver that any one could travel from Broad
street to Dalston junction without a
ticket, as he had done only the day be-
fore, he interviewed him when he alighted.
The traveller not proving communicative,
the jealous railway servant conveyed a
coin into his hand, and then asked :"How
did you 60 from Broad street to Dalston
Junction yesterday without a ticket ~
"Oh," was the unwelcome reply, ~
walkedp
SAs readily trapped was the ameteur
musician who responded to the advertise
ment: "Wanted, trombone player for
Barnums Balcony Band" by waiting
upon the famons Snowman without delay,
"You want trombone-player9" in
quired he.
eyes said Mr. Barnum.
"What is the place worth2" asked the
applicant.
aOh, about twenty-five dollars week,
suppose"
"Very we'll, should like it,"
GAIL right" said Mr.. Barnum; and the
trombone did frightful execution through
the week. Saturday came, and with it
Mr.. Green for his salary, instead of
drawing which, he received paper TN
which was written: "Mr. Green to Mr..
P. T. Barnum. To playing the from
bone on his balcony one week, twenty
five dollars" The recipient smiled
"It's all right, isn't it9" asked Mr..
Barnum.
"Why," said the musician, 'you've
made an odd mistake; you've made me
the debtor instead of you"
"No mistake at ALL" said Barnum.
"You see, this is how it is. There are a
great many men in this city fond of
practicing on brass Instruments; but
they cannot do so at home because OF
their neighbors objections. So I find
them room on my balcony during 80
many hours day, where the street is so
noisy it does no harm; and they give me
80 much week for my trouble in keep
ing the organization complete. You
don't think me such fool as to pay such
a wretched lot of players surelyl How
ever, as you seem to have been honestly
mistaken, you can pay me ten dollars
this week. but hereafter / can make no
reduction" There was vacancy in
the balcony band the following Monday
We take it that the shrewd Snowman
was not quite so much astonished at the
way his advertisement was msconstrued
as one A. B., who recognizing long lo.l
friend in the stalls of the theatre, but un-
able 70 catch his eye, notified in the
"agony" column of the Times: "If the
gentleman who was in the stalls at the
- Theatre on the evening of the 9th
inst, will write to the following address
be will hear from the Box above;" and
received nearly score of replies. The
first he opened, ran; my Dear Madam
l cannot express to you how delighted |
felt this morning on taking up the Time,
and reading your advertisement. How
exceedingly kind and thoughtful of you
to communicate with me in this way
Pray, let me know as quickly as possible
when aud where | may see you. Can We
meet this evenings Do send me note
or better still, telegram, here, on re
ceipt of this-Yours Most Affectionately.
The second letter, commencing "Mii
Carissima," suggested meeting at tht
Duke of York's Column, and ended
"Good. bye, pet Yours ever and day
The Gentleman in the Stalls" A thirC
deluded mortal declared that he had no
slept wink after seeing "a. B." at tn
theatre. "You know Who informed th
"Dearest Being" whose image he still
saw before him, that his passion was mucl
too much for ordinary words to tell
that after wandering all his life, mixing