The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-07-14
FLASHES OF REPARTEE.

=
ed, some of which we print this
morning 1t will be noticed that
most OF the bon mots are taken from
other eras than our own. Whether
this implies decadence of wit IN
public men of the present day we
cannot say, but assuredly nothing
quoted below is better than the fol-
lowing from DR.. H. V. NJ. Miller,
who, when the conflict was raging
between Wings and Democrats, ar
raigned the Democratic party with
terrible force at a big meeting. He
then said
''Is there any man in all this as
sembly, that will now dare to confess
himself a Democrat ?"
Contrary to expectation, chubby
lrishman wirh a red nose arose, and,
placing his hands on his hips, with
dllllS dkl1nDO, SalQ
"Yes, sir, | am a Democrat.
The doctor drew attention to the
queer-looking figure and said:
''My friend, if you would wrap a
few wisps of straw around you, you
would be demijohn.''
John T. Glenn wrote:
Is there anything better than what
Randolph said when he met a very
disagreeable enemy on the sidewalk?
The fellow, clustering up and oc-
cupying most of the way, said:
4 never give way for rascal"
81 always do" said Randolph,
politely stepping aside.
Judge H. B. Tompkins wrote !:
Without fully understanding the
purpolt of your inquiry, l submit
the following from Queen Elizabeth.
She became offended at Lord Bur-
leigh, and intended to point her
scorn by an allusion to his enemy
and her favorite, Lord Leicester.
She said Though burly you be,
Lord Burleigh, you shall make less
stir in my kingdom than Leicester" "
w. B. Hill, Macon, Ga, wrote:
ITO select the best among ones
tavorite legal repartees is like the at
tempt of the royal mother to select
from her children the one whose sur
render was the condition upon which
city's seige was to be raised. As
each passed in review before her
each seemed the best loved. | can
only say of the following that it is
fairly good. A client rep1oached his
counsel for having been in a semi
boozy condition when he conducted
his case in court. The lawyer re-
piled: 1t is absolutely necessary that
| should tuddle myself down TO the
capacity of the jury.
A. O. Bacon, wrote:
can excellent place of repartee is
accorded to a Mr.. Harris, of At
lanta-whose initials do new recall,
but who is named by the irreverent
as Fatty Harris. He was on the
witness stand in Fulton Superior
Court, and was being examined by
the then Attorney-General OF Geor-
gia. The witness did not reply to a
question as directly as tie Attorney
General wished. The latter repeated
his question, and added with en-
phasis: Now, Mr.. Harris, you GER
tainly understand that question, for
you are very intelligent man
Thank you, Mr.. Attorney-Generap
replied Mr.. Harris with bow. 4
would return the compliment with
great pleasure if l were not at pre-
sent on oath. -
Governor Gordon wrote:
81 give you one from Judge Un-
derwood. When he lived in Ebert
a man was abusing him roundly, and
ended in saying Yes, sir, and l un-
derstand you were a Federalist. To
this Judge Underwood replied:
In those times there we're but
two parties in this country-Feder-
alists and tools. | was a Federallst.
| never heard you, sir, accused of
being one
General Henry R. Jackson wrote:
"The best piece of reparteeI re-
member 10 have read or heard, tell
from the lips Of John Van Buren, at
one time generally known as Prince
John, under the following circum
stances: He had undertaken the re-
presentation of certain cause before
the courts, very much to the disgust
of one of his friends, who, having
vainly expostulated with him, and
losing temper, exclaimed: Van
Buren, is there a case so low, SO vile,
so filthy, that you would decline to
represent it?' L do not know re-
piled the lawyer, hesitatingly, and
quickly approaching his ear close to
the lips of the inquirer, he whis
pered: 'Whathave you been doing?'"
Judge S. B. Hoyt wrote.