Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-12-23
HuMoR m HISTORY.
The Introduction Into England Of The
Art Of Practical Joking.

The Introduction Into England Of TIE
Art Of Practical Joking.
The early Saxons had no humor.
I During the English heptarchy. the pet
ty Kings were never known to smile
except when infiicting punishment on
an enemy. Cutting off a mans head
was regarded as a practical joke. but
the victim did not see any mirth in the
performance. The Normans were the
| first to carry humor into England. The
conqueror was rare joker. that is, his
jokes were extremely rare. john
jokes were expensive. On one occasion
he levied fine of ten thousand marks
on a wealthy Jew of Bristol The Jew
refused to pay the sum.
"Al right" said John. at is your
business not to pay. but it is my BUSH
! ness to see that you do" Then. call
ing an officer. the King remarked:
flake this man in custody, treat him
well, but pull one of his teeth each
day until he heartily embraces my
proposition.
The next morning the officer pulled
one tooth. The rich Hebrew was noted
for his fine teeth. They had won an
extended reputation for him, and. nat
urally enough, he valued them highly
When the officer reported that he had
pulled one tooth. the King asked:
"How Gid he stand it?''
"He groaned. but said nothing G."
IAN right. feed him on tough beef
and keep up the performance.
The next morning when the officer
went into Jacobs cell, the old man
said:
why do you persist in pulling my
best teeth?''
Because, my dear sir, the King will
have none but the best. He argues
that the best is always the cheapest. :"
''It may be for him. out not for me. :"
That's all right" the officer re-
piled, ''but the King did not send me
here to argue. Open your mouth"
Another tooth was drawn, tooth
which had above all others won the
affections of the old man. The per-
Torrance was repeated every day un-
til ten teeth were extracted. On the
morning of the eleventh day the Off
Ger, upon entering the cell, found the
old man violently and painfully wor-
rying with piece of beet.
"Come. old man."
The old man put down his beef.
looked appealingly at the officer. and
said:
Cant you give man time to eat?
am nearly starved"
"You have had plenty of time. and,
aside from that, the Kings motto is:
DUTY before pleasure. -
Il can't afford 10 give up any more
teeth.
''Well then, give me an order for
the money"
The order was given and the Hebrew
gentleman, accompanied by the rest of
his teeth, was suffered to depart. Dr..
killinghopper, in his treatise on the
Rise and Progress of Dentistry says
that rich jew teeth were, in different
parts of the kingdom, hung out In
front of the dentists Offices. and that
to-day one of them may be seen in
Bristol. This tooth, the doctor goes
on TO say, is, on account of its long
roots and the CHASTITY suggestions
which it inspires, much valued by den
fists.
The private account-book. which, ac-
cording to Hume, was kept by Edward
ii. shows that crown was paid to 4
fool for making the King laugh. Ed
ward. after bestowing the piece of
money on the clown, should have felt
a warm sympathy for him. for he, like
Edward. was fool with a crown.
This King experienced great trouble in
acquiring laughs. Sometimes the most
extensive advertising failed even to
bring giggle.-Arkansaw Irare!er.