The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-01
PRACTICAL JOKES.


.... PRACTICAL JOKES. .....
Jests That Have Had a Tragic Ending
some Comparatively Harmless Decep-
tions.
The recently reported nearly fatal
result to three very funny ladies at
Cleveland-Mrs. Callahan. Mrs. Pierce
and Miss Maggie Jump-who, visiting
her absence, disarranged the furniture.
fixed up dummy man, with his head
tied up in 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 DOUNIE?
A young man named Dounie, of an
extremely nervous temperament. was
once a 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 60 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
. a profGSion of skulls and cross bones.
. aad from behind black mask. in
dirgeful tones, he was asked whether
be was guilty or not guilty of some
e charge. A mock trial was gone
through, and he was adjudged guilty
by the assembled masks. Then fol-
lowed the sentence that he be immeGi-
ately executed. His arms were pinioned
and his head laid upon the block. The
executioner 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. r....
MAKING A MADMAN.
In the days of Lorenzo de Medici there
lived in Florence a 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 fiagons 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 Scheggia; Il will give
you two crowns if you will 60 in white
srmor, with a lance on your shoulder,
to certain shop, the resort of the Flor
ertine gallants, and threaten to make
mince-meat of every one there"
Thinking this to be an easy way of
winning Scheggia's money, of which he
had no great amount, Neri at once ac-
cepted the challenge, and without fur
Their ado donned suit of his hosts ar
NOR and departed on his luckless er-
rand. He was unaware that the two
friends Monaco and Pilucca had de-
parted before him. the one 20 the
fencing school, the other to the
ciothier's, where they announced that
Neri had gone mad, attempted to kill
his mother, thrown his household goods
into a well and now, clad in mail, was
driving every one before him with his
lance. At the rendezvous of the gallants,
OF course, there was general stampede
for the scene of action, and, sure enough,
there was Neri crying: .'Ye are all dead
men" and laying ABOUT him right and
left Scheggia meantime had run off
10 Neri'S uncle, assuring him that
Neri had gone mad. and begged that he
at once secure him to prevent serious
mischief; that if he were put into a
dark room for two days with nobody to
speak to he would come into his right
mind. The uncle, Angelo. who was an
unsuspicious wool-comber, called half
dozen of his workmen, whom he pro-
vided with stout ropes, and they all
proceeded to the place, where, sure
enough, they found Neri clearing all
before him with his lance Angelo
came behind his nephew, seized him,
threw him down and. despite his re-
monstrances, tied him to litter, and,
with cloak thrown over his body. car
ried him to his house, where Lis Weep
ing mother was waiting to receive him.
He was carried to the best room. which
was darkened, and, bound as he was,
lad upon bed. When alone in the
dark, Neri, upon thinking it over, made
up his mind that Scheggia was paying
OF old scores, and became mad with
rexation He grew hungry. and shout
ed to his mother to bring him meat and
drink, but deaf ear was turned upon
his cries. Next morning, when his un-
Gle entered the room with two physi-
clans, he was lying as meek as lamb, |
and quietly told his visitors of his WAGER
with Scheggia, and if they would 90 to
the Golden Spur they would find two
crowns awaiting him, which the propri-
setor was holding as stakeholder. Act
ing upon this suggestion, the uncle
found this to be true, and learning that
Scbeggia and his friends had been re-
calling themselves with supper over
fhe Joke, regretted the part he had been