The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-02-05
PRACTICAL JOKES AT COURT.
There We're Some Merry Souls In the
Time of King George.

Time OF King George.
A practical joke may be defined as
one in which merriment is produced or
sought, not by words, but by action,
practiced upon a fellow-creature-com-
monty an offensive or annoying action.
Even if harmless, it holds up the suffer
er to ridicuie, and intelligent human be
ings do not need to be told that such
conduct is reprehensible. But if the
joke be we'll contrived, sufficiently hui
morous 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 Heideg-
ger, master of the revels to George H.,
was confronted by his double? The
duke OF Mantagu had obtained cast of
the great mans face, from this he
caused a wax mask to be fashioned
and oolored. Heidegger's tailor sup
piled the fac-simile of the new and gor-
geo6s 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 undeniably Heidegger-fea-
lures, voice, clothes, and also impre
cations when the conductor demurred.
So the king heard that treasonable air,
r,at.ha Gov. N Er~Cf fiV,Nn
We can family imagine the tumult.
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 orchestra, equally furious-that
is, his double misunderstanding the
band to resume Charley Over the Wa
ter" and the bewildered musicians
obeyed. There was never such scene
in the presence of royalty. The officers
of the guard in attendance made dash
at the band with swords, but those iu
the secret blocked the way. Heideg-
ger, dancing around the king, made in
articulate protestations and excuses,
whilst his majesty stormed and threat
ened, making for the door. The situa-
ton became perilous. So the coun-
terfeit stepped forward, crying, with
passionate Indignation: "Sire, the devil
has taken my likeness to undo me. Look
at him!" Heidegger saw his double
gasped, 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. 4
In some parts of South America god
folks store all the glass and crocl
broken in the twelvemonth, and al
nival time put it into a sack attA
to the lofty balcony by q stout 4
not quite long enough to reach
ground. When q desirable victiI'
passes beneath, the sack is quietly lei
go-to be arrested with a hideou.
crash, upon his very heels. 1t is cred
IDLY reported that foreigners unpre
pared for this jest have tumbled head
long at the shock, and others have
taken to their beds with an attack O.
fever. These are rare triumphs.
No time or place is sacred to the ell
thusiastic joker. Duclos tells, in hi
memoirs, how the prince Archbishop
of Cologne asked license to preach il
the royal chapel at Versailles, whei
visiting Louis XIV. himself All th
court assembled. 1t was April l. Tn,
prince archbishop mounted the pulpi
in stately fashion, bowed from side Il
side, and stood a moment as if collec,
ing his thoughts, then shouted: "Apri
fools!" picked up his skirts and ran.
At the Sistine chapel on Good Frida.
each worshiper received a small whil
on entering. Three candles only burn
on the altar. When the first was eN
tinguished everyone threw of his coat
the next his waistcoat; the third was
signal to fog himself in pitch darkness
Sir Francis Eastwood, afte1ward chan
cellor of the eXcbequer, founder of tn
| I'llSuOoIpI VIAL, anu tb PNLEciANeoS " HN'
name dwclls in history, was visitin:
Rome. He provided himself with
stout riding whip and pot admittanc
to the Sistine; when the fogging be
gan, instead of titillating MS own shogl
ders dcl.cately, he slashcd his neigh
bors right and left, with British whip
cord, consciertiously laid on. Th
scene is not yet forgotten in Rome
Eastwood had made his arrangenent
to escape. Horses and seryants stool
ready in a by-street-he mounted ant
rode for his life, but some Of his follow
ers were captured, rT+~i for sacrIe2t
and sent to the galleys, if we remember
right. 1t may be hoped that when th'
reckless youth became power IN En
rope he did not forget those poor Tel
lows.-London Standard.
|
Voluntary Testimony.