The evening world., 1891-04-28
jokes FROM AN SINS LAND.
The Almond-Eyed Celestial Enjoys 5
Quiet Bit Of HlmoF.
But Some Of the Anecdotes Are
Strikingly Familiar.

We are accustomed, remarks the 81.
James BudJet, to think of the Chinese as
solemn-looking people, with slanting eyes
and the corners of their mouths much
drawn down. Nevertheless they have a
jest book, and its name is " Sao II Slao."
Here are translations of somo of the jests.
The reader will be struck by the similarity
Of many of them to Western Jokes:
A confirmed drupkard in his dreams
imagined that he had found cup of ex-
cellent toddy. and put It by the FIRE to
warm in order to bring It's flavor out the
better. But the moment he attempted to
taste the delicious drsught he awoke.
" Fool that l was" he cried, why could
not have drunk it cold'
A certain man had his portrait painted,
and when It was finished the painter re-
quested him to inquire OF the passers-by
might know how he had succeeded. Tho
other agreed, and asked the hrst-comeri
"Do you think this picture liker "The
hat is extremely like" replied the would-bo
critic.
He asked similar question Of q second
stranger, who answered that the clothes
seemed to be exactly reproduced. he was
about to inteTogate q third, when tho
painter stopped him and said:
"The resemblance OF the hat and clothes
is Of no Importance; ask tho gentleman
what he thinks OF the face" The stranger
hesitated very long time but at last, not
being able to escape giving an answer, he
replied THE beard and the hair are first
rate"
A man OF letters, reading late at night,
became aware that q burglar was breaking
through the wall Of his house. He hap
pened to have a teapot full OF boiling water
standing before the fire. and this he took,
placing It beside the wall while he waited
for tho burglar. When the burglar had
made on opening he thrust his legs through
first, whereupon the man OF letters grasped
them firmly and drenched them with boil
ing water. The burglar uttered piercing,
cry and begged for mercy. But the other,
gravely "only wait till | have emptied my
teapot ~
A rich man, living between the forRes Of
two blacksmiths, was continually annoyed
by the noise of their hammers AMI was In
despair at being unable TO rest either by
day or by night. At first he tried to induce
them TO hammer more quietly; then he
made them all kinds Of promises IL they
would only change their abodes. The two
blacksmiths at last fell In with his pro-
posals, aud he, transported with joy at the
prospect Of their departure, entertained
them regardless Of expense at farewell
banquet. At the end OF the feast he asked
them where they intended to set up their
smithies. "Well," said one Of them, he
- l.Ht "a -
on your right, and he who lived on your
right will 60 to that on your left"
A lady who had but lately been married,
seeing her husband return after three days
absence, stole up secretly behind and gave
him kiss The husband was angry and
told her that she had offended against all
his notions of,proprie:y;, ~ am very sorry,
she exclaimed" really didn't know 1t
was you, my love"
In certain house there was q baby that
annoyed every one by its continual sQuall-
ing. At last a physician was called In. He
admints:ereda bolus, of the soothing virtues
OF which he had a high opinion, and offered
to pats the night In the house to observe the
effects of his remedy. After few hours,
The child is cured" "Yes, " replied the
attendant, 1.-The child has indeed stopped
crying, but tho mother has begun to mourn"
A mserly host always contrived to avoid
giving his guests full glass Of liquor.
One OF these, after regarding bis tumhler
long and attentively, exclaimed: "This
tumhler is too deep; must cut II in halt"
The astonished host inquired the reason.
q" Welf," replied the guest, "since the
upper portion never holds anything to
drink, OF what use is 1t ~
Let us conclude with story well known
to our own great-grandfathers 1t is
curious that notions Of humor should run
SO much in the same grooves, from China
u Peru.
Two brothers cultivated the same plot of
land. One day the eldest, on leaving to
get the dinner ready. called to his brother
TO come with him. He, however, shouted
out at the top OF his voice: "Wait until
have hidden my spade and then l will
come" While they were having their
meal the other reproached him bitterly for
this indiscretion. "When one hides
thing" said he, "one ought to preserve
silence, or, at any rate, not to speak above
q whisper for in shouting as You did just
now one invites people 10 steal" Dinner
field, looked for his spade and found 1t
gone. So, running to his brother he whisp-
cred mysteriously In his ear; My spade
Is stolen ~
There are other Jokes in this curious
book but the average standard OF humor
does not appear TO be high. Enough has
been quoted to show the kind OF Jest which
tickles the inhabitants OF the fowery land.
II many more were given 1t is to be feared
that the readers eyes might become as
slanting and the corners of his mouth as
much depressed as those Of the sad-iaced
Chinee himself