The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-10
MADE THE JOKER WEEP.
How Cruel Practical Jest Was Once
Played Upon Dan Dawson.

Played Upon Dan Dawson.
From the New York Mail and Express.
In several of the obituary notices and
biographical sketches of the late Dam
Dawson, of Philadelphia, who was dis
tinguished alike as poet and an amateur
pugilist, mention was made of that side
OF his loveable nature which displayed
the greatest confidence which he had in
the worth of his verses. 1t was a conf
dence which often struck strangers meet
ing him for the first time, or those but
slightly acquainted with him, as being
egotism of a pronounced type. 1t was
this feeling of belief in his position in the
world of letters, which is the text of this
little story, for he was extremely sensi-
tive if any fun was poked at his poetry
1t was for this reason that he took so
keenly to heart a joke that was played
upon him about two years ago by a man
who was a member of his closest circle of
friends, and whose name need not be given
here, since he, too, has passed away, leay-
ing a memory that is still green in the
hearts of great many men, both in
Philadelphia and in this city, where he
was favorite member of the Lambs
Club and of one or two of the alumnae So
cieties Of Harvard.
THE LETTER FROM PARIS.
One evening, in the smoking room of
the Art Club in Philadelphia, Dawson was
sitting with half dozen men. among
Others the author of the joke, when a SER
want brought him a letter in a large square
envelope Of thin blue paper. 1t was ad-
dressed:
M Daniel Dawson.
Philadelphia
Etat Unis,
Was stamped with a French stamp, and
bore the postmark Paris. It was also
sealed with red wax, in which was i'm
pressed an elaborate design, somewhat
blurred and undecipherable.
g Dawson excused himself from the dis
cussion that was going on, opened the i'm
pressive-lOOking letter carefully, and for
some minutes examined its contents with
great attention, flushing as he did so
Then he walked across the room to a cor
ner, where a man was seated alone read
ing an evening paper, and whispered to
him The two read the letter together
or, rather to be quite correct, the man
read the letter carefully to Dawson, whose
knowledge OF French was but slight, and
at the end shook him warmly by the
hand. In the mean time, three of the
group he had left were watching the pro-
ceedings with breathless interest Their
eyes twinkled with fun, but they gave no
other sign Of their enjoyment or mirth
Dawson walked back, his splendid chest
expanded and his eyes blazing with sur
prised excitement
Gentlemen" he said, II want YOUR
congratulations, l have been made an
honorary member of the French Academy
on account of my poetry, several of my
poems having been translated into French
and attracted the attention of the great
est literary men of France. Here is the
letter notifying me of the fact and
medal is now on the way, together with
the official opltifpa q on rab tr,prt VI bsab
is signed by all the immortals who now
sit in the Academy. 1t is the proudest
and happiest moment of my life"
\ There was a hum of appreciation and
CONGRATULATIONS were showered upon him
from all sides.
THE letter was passed about, and while
itNwas being looked over by his club
MATES, Dawson hurried up stairs to tell
several other friends of the great honor
conferred upon him.
THE SELL DISCOVERED. E
Suddenly one man who understood
French, exclaimed, Why, great Scott,
this is a SELL it is signed Moulin Rouge
honorary secretary; don't you fellows
know that Moulin Rouge is one of the
fastest and most disreputable music halls
and dance houses in Paris.
At this there was a roar of laughter
and while it was still echoing through the
lower part of the club Dawson reappeared.
The effect was curious. in an instant
every one seemed to feel that the fact of
his having been sold would hurt him and
hurt him hard, and a hush fell over the
crowd as he proudly walked over to the
table and picked up the false misSiye
which had given him such 10y Then
when he ordered waiter to bring cham
payne for every one dawson never drank
any ether beveragel there was a shame
faced look on every face, but he, of
course. did not notice il, and was fairly
bubbling with good humor.
The man who had caused the letter to
be sent and those who had been with him
in the plot were particularly unhappy,
ana consulted as 10 wnvthel they Should
break the news of the Joke to its victim
at once. As other men were coming in
from other parts Of the club every mo-
ment TO congratulate Dawson the situa-
ton became embarrassing, and they de-
cided to wait until the next day. Then
they went away in spite of their victims
remonstrances, and as not a soul had the
heart to tell him of the true state Of af-
fairs he remained in ignorance of the
hoax, and left for his rooms about /
O'Clock in the morning, the very happest
man in Philadelphia
BREAKING THE NEWS.
In the morning note of confession told
him the truth, and it was written in the
humolest spirit Of friendly sorrow at the
over success Of the joke which had been
intended to last but a moment or so.
The effect on Dawson was such that
even has nearest friends were astounGed.
he ragged like lion thrust into a cage
fresh from his kingdom in the forest. and
his eyes blazed with anger as they had
the night before blazed with triumph.
The man who had played the Joke was as
% "a ra1 -. 1,s- T.