The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-28
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CLEVER JOKES AT COURT.
There We're Some Merry Men About
The Throne of King George.
1r,o,.. 49, Tonaev, c+a.dona
From the London Standard.

From the London Standard.
A practical joke may be defined as one
in which merriment is produced or sought,
not by words, but by action, practiced up
on a fellow creature-commonly an Of
fensive or annoying action. Even if harm
less it holds up the sufferer to ridicule,
and intelligent human beings do not need
to be told that such conduct is reprehen-
sible. But if the joke be well contrived,
sufficiently humorous in idea and neatly
executed, we do not care so much as we
should if it fall under the practical"
class. Who would not have liked to be
present at the royal masquerade when
Heidegger, master of the revels to George
II, was confronted by his double? The
Duke of Montague had obtained cast of
the great mans face. From this he caused
a wax mask TO be fashioned and colored
Hedegger's tailor supplied a fac-simile
of the new and gorgeous dress he was to
wear, and the duke engaged an actor to
play the part. He told the band at the
last moment to strike up Charley over
the Water" at his majesty's appearance
instead of God Save the King" They
hesitated. But it was indutiaby Heideg-
ger--featureless,v voice, clothes and also i'm
preca tons when the conductor demurred.
So the king heard that treasona bic
air, perhaps for the first time, on enter
ing. we can Idluily Imagine the tuuult.
Heidegger rushed to the band, struck the
conductor set him playing God Save the
King" and rushed back to apologize
Next moment he returned to the Orches-
ira equally furious-that is, his double re-
turned-ordering the band 20 resume
Charley over the Water" and the be-
Wldered musicians obeyed.
There was never such a scene In the
presence Of royalty. The officers OF the
guards in attendance made dash a the
band with swords but those in the secret
blocked the way. Heidegger. dancing
round the king, made inartculate
protestations and excuses while his ma
jesty stormed and threatened, making for
the door
The situation became perilous So the
counterfeit stepped forward crying. with
passionate indignation: Sire, the devil
has taken my likeness to undo me. Look
at him" Heidegger saw his double, gasp
ed, gibbered and fell senseless. one may
think that longer and more complicated
business" might have been developed
from such an ingenious hoax. but for
dramatic situation of It's class this could
not be beaten.
In some parts Of South America good
folk store all the glass and crockery
broken N the twelve-month and at car
nival time put II into a sack attached TO
the lofty balcony by a stout cord not quite
long enough 10 reach tho ground When
desirable victim passes beneath, the
sack is quietly let COLO be arrested with
hideous crash upon his very heels II
Is credibly reported that foreigners unprc-
pared for this jest have tumblcd headlong
I'd the shock aud others have taken 10
their beds with an attack Of fever. These
are rare iriumphf.
AZ the sietnc chapel on Good Friday
each w0rshiper received a small whip on
entering Three candles only burned on
the altar when the FIRST was eXtingulah-
"a every one threw m hls coat. the next.
HE Walateo8f. tho third was e. signal 40
nog himfelf DOB pitch darkness Sir Francis
D8ahwO6d. lfierwar1 chancellor Of the
exehfquer. founder of the Dlleifanu CLUB.
and r. psrsouaTf whose name dWellF ln
history. NaH WISHING Rome. iie provided
himself With p stout riding whip and got