The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-08-02
PRACTICAL JOKES.

Jests That Have Had Tragic Ending
Some Comparatively Harmless Decep-
tions.
The recently reported nearly fatal
result to three very funny ladies at
Clevcland-Mrs. Callahan, Mrs. Pierce
and Miss Maggie Jump-who, visiting
the house of Mrs. Maggie Burns in
her absence, disarranged the furniture,
fixed up dummy man, with his head
tied up in a white bandage, calls to
mind a number of similar practical
jokes, which have sometimes turned
out more or less disastrously. The tend
ency in some minds to perpetrate
this sort of harum-scarum follies is
irrepressible.
The late Bishop Peck became insane,
and was confined in an asylum, on ac-
count of the practical joking of some
waggish students, who, when he was
invited to deliver an address at Dicken-
son College, telegraphed to parties to
detain stout old gentleman, describing
the Bishop. until they came in-that he
was an escaped lunatic. The affair
worked more seriously than was ever
contemplated 1t made the Bishop
insane.
WHO MURDERED DOUNIEP
A young man named Dounie, of an
extremely nervous temperament, was
once student in one of the Eastern
colleges. Some of his classmates, noting
his nervousness, amounting almost to
timidity, resolved to profit by it and
have some sport. Accordingly two
masked men entered his room one night
Just after he had retired, and in solemn
tones babe him get up and dress, that
he must 90 with them to answer to
serious charges preferred against him.
He complied, and was ushered into
room draped in black. Masked men
were seated around, armed with spears,
and near the Judges stand were a
block and an eXecutioner's ak He was
led to the Judges stand, on which were
q profusion of skulls and cross bones,
and from behind black mask, in
dirgeful tones, he was asked whether
he was guilty or not guilty of some
charge A mock trial was gone
through, and he was adjudged guilty
by the assembled masks. Then fol-
lowed the sentence that he be immedi-
ately executed. His arms were pinioned
and his head laid upon the block. The
executoner raised his AKA wooden
one when it was noticed that Dounie
was intensely pale. The fun had gone
too far-the poor boy had died from
fright.
MAKING A MADMAN.
In the days of Lorenzo de Medici there
lived in Florence great practical joker
named Neri Montesi, and his especial
butt was one Master Scheggia. One
day when the two and their friends
Monaco and Pilucca were seated at a
hotel known as the Golden Spur drink
ing llagons of good old Burgundy Neri
offered Scheggia gold crown if he
would besmear his face and hands with
ink, and, going to the house of La Pelle.
grina, present her with pair OF gloves
without speaking word.
mo" retorted Scheggla; II will give
you two crowns if you will go in white
armor. with lance on your shoulder
to a certain shop, the resort of the Flor
entine gallants, and threaten to make
&mince-meat Of every one there"
Thinking this to be an easy way o.
winning Scheggia's money, of which hi
had no great amount, Neri at once &C
cepted the challenge, and without fur
,ther ado donned suit of his hosts ar
NOR and departed on his luckless err
rand. He was unaware that the two
friends Monaco and Pilucca had de
parted before him. the one to tn,
fencing-school, the other to tn,
clothier's, where they announced tina
Neri had gone mad, attempted to xii
his mother, thrown his household good
into well and now, clad in mail, wa
driving every one before him with hi
lance. AT the rendezvous of the gallants
of course, there was general stamped
for the scene Of action, and, sure enough
there was Neri crying: ''Ye are all deaf
men, and laying about him right ant
lett Scheggia meantime had run OF
SO Neri's uncle, assuring him tina
Neri had gone mad, and begged that h
at once secure him to prevent seriou
mischief; that if he were put into
dark room for two days with nobody t
speak to he would come into his RICH