The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-12-27
Some Amusing Mistakes.

A writer in Chambers journal narrates
some curious instances of mistakes with ludi-
crous endings.
Before the Paris Exhibition was open to the
public, and when the building contained only
the cases which were being ranged for the re-
spective exhibits, quite a crowd one Sunday
fattened their noses against the glass entrance
door to look at the contents of a case conts in
ing pair of boots, battered hat, an overcoat
much the worse for wear, and necktie of
many color s, the report being circulated that
the objects belonged to King Dagobert Ro-
bespierre, or Charles X. The enigma was
solved by painter arriving and throwing off
his blouse and slippers, and commencing to
dress himself amid, what was puzzle to him,
loud laughter, in which the police joined.
Referring to mistaken ideas about relics, re-
calls the story in German paper about GER
tain Professor, which is parallel to the Bill
StumpS adventure of Pickwick. This German
antiquary made the delighted discovery that
stone placed over stable door bore the inscrip-
tion 1851. 81 must have this stone in my col
lection, cost what it may" thought the savant.
Calling tenant farmer, who was the proprie-
tor, the Professor said to him eagerly; ibid
you not obtain this stone from the castle ruin
on the hill yonder?"
''It may be that my grandfather fetched it
thence when he built the stable" was the
reply n
The antiquary then asked what he would
take for the stone. Ere a
''Since you appear to have fancy for it."
said the farmer, "give me forty guldens and
will bring it to your house."
"Rather large sum- said the Professor;
shut bring it to my residence and you shall
have the money" -
When in due course the farmer brought the
stone upon truck the Jealous antiquary
turned it over to refresh his eyes with sight
of its venerable chronological inscription, not
without anxiety that it might have been dam
aged in its removal.
is not the right stone. On the stone 1 bought
from you was thu date 1881, while this bears
the very modern date 1901; which proves that
the other was exactly seven hundred and twen-
ty years older than this.
"Do not trouble about that" said the peas
ant. "The masons, you see, sir, turned the
stone upside down when they set it in the door
way because it fitted better that way. You can
turn it whichever way you like; but of course
must have the money agreed upon"
The Professor it is said at once paid the
whole sum, and gave the men present beside
to take away the stone and say no more about
the matter. A+
There is an amusing account of French
lady who was very Jealous OF her husband and
determined to watch his movements. On one
occasion when he told her he was going to Ver-
sailles, she followed him, keeping him in
sight until she missed him in q passage leading
to the railway station. Looking about her for
few minutes, she saw a man coming out of a
glove shop with rather over-dressed lady.
Making sure from the distance that this man
was her husband, she came suddenly up, and,
without word of warning, gave him three or
four boxes on the ear. The instant the gen.
tleman turned round she discovered her mis-
take, and at the same time caught sight of her
husband, who had merely called at a tobac-
conist's, and was crossing the street. There
was nothing for it but to faint in the arms of
the gentleman whose ears she had boxed,
while the other lady moved away to avoid a
scene. The stranger astonished to find an un-
known lady in his arms, was further startled
by gentleman seizing him by the collar and
demanding whas he meant by embracing that
lady.
'sWhy, she boxed my ears, and then
tainted" exclaimed the aggrieved gentleman
s'She is my wife!" shouted the angry hus-
band land would never have struck you with
out a cause" And worse than angry words
would probably have followed, had not the
cause of the whole misunderstanding recov-
cred sufficiently to explain how it happened
A Dublin youth was at party in the Irish
capital, and joined with great spirit in a game
of forfets. Amid the fun and merriment it
was proposed that to regain his forfeit he
should pay visit to the turf stacks on the ad-
jacent canal bank and bring some turf into the
room. Thinking only of the diversion which
his return with an armful of turf would create,
he Immediately hastsned to the place indicated
and filling his arms was in the act OF return
J ing, when to his horror he became aware that