The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-11-26
WIT WAS SPARKLING.
come OF THE GOOD THINGS
SAID 1Y JOHN CURRAN.
Daniel O'Connelrs aarcasm-Hls Descrlp-
tion OF a Woman Whose Aasnners
Were Coldly stiR aud Fornal-0thsE
Happy Exa mpios OF Humor.

"GxO E0E01Ak--OG8SOE
Happy Examples OF Humor.
John Philrot Curran was noted for
his powers Of repartee. and sarcasm.
Many OF his good things In that line
have come down to US through the
century. says the London Telegraph.
There could not be q better testimony
to their worth, but e6 1aost OF them
are too we'll known to need repeating
here I will simply give a few that
have picked up in out-of-the-way
places.
At dinner table in London the
conversation turned on public speak
ing. Curran stated that he could
never address an audience for a quar-
ter OF an hour without moistening his
lips. II have the advantage OF you
there, C1rran." said Sir Thomas Tur-
ton, ponpous and prctentious men,
he- OF parliament. Il spoke tho other
night in the house OF commons for Ave
hours on the nabcb OF Dude, and never
fo't in the least thirsty" ehat is
very remarkable indeed" replied Cur
ran. "for every one agrees that it was
the dr.est speech of the session"
One day Curran we4o walking past the
Parliament house in College Green, be-
fore the Bank of Ireland got possession
Of it, with noblemau who had pro-
noted the legislative union by his
votes. II wonder what they intend to
do with that useless building?" said
the noblcncan. ''For Eiy part, I hate
the sight of it," Il dent wonder at
that, my lord returned Curran, who
was an anti-un;or!st, Il never yet
heard OF a. murderer who was not
afraid OF a ghost"
Cmrran, as will be seen from these
anecdo.c.. could say mordant and cut
ting things, but perhaps no man was
ever insuited with spch dia3ectical
neatness and righteousness as Curran
was by the famous maker OF "buils,''
Sir Boyle Roche, in the Irish house OF
commons. "The honorable gentleman
says he is the guardian of his own
honor said Roche in reply to q speech
Of Curran. but on other occasions
have heard him boast that he was an
enemy OF sir ecures.'
Curran was defeated in, a conversa-
ticnal contest with Lady Morgan, the
Irish novelist, one evening in that Ia
dy's drawing room, when, exaggerating
the prevailing fashion il short sleeves,
she wore merely straps over her Shout
dcrs. Curan was walking away from
the little party who witnessed the con-
gan called out: "Ah, come back, MI.
Curran, and acknowledge that you are
fairly beaten" ext any rate" said he,
turning round. II have this eonsola-
ton, Lady Morgan, that you can't
laugh, at. ne il your sleeve"
Daniel O'Conncifs sarcastic and
Graphic descripti ion OF a lady Of stiff,
Geld and formal manners is very hap
py. she has ali tho characteristics Of
noker-ezceIt its occasional
warmth"
This recalls the story OF the two Irish
servants who. discussing the stiff and
unbending II anners OF the young lady
OF the family. agreed that when she
Afss baby her mother must have fed
her upon boiled rokers, underdone."
Another happy and humorous exam
pie OF sa area sIl-as apart from repartee
is afforded by the following anecdote.
quote it on the authority OF q friend,
who. ed, afraid. wac the villain of the
Incident most imperturbab1e man
was followed from Westmoreland
street. Dublin, over the OConnell
bridge to the general postof1ce by two
little street arabs. who importuned
him for the end OF his cigar. Throw us
the butt, sir! All, sir, throw us the
butt" cried the youths; but as the
an ala LOt GetIaE the Sl1sHlest COLI
ec!ousn ESQ OF their existence they gave |
him up at last in despair and disgust. |
ATrah. let him alone" said one, with |
the most scorchiny scorn, 'shure, it's |
u butt he's picked UP himGelf.'
CAGE heard n bumrtious little man. !
who. acting as E. steward at athletic |
sro:;5 in Dublio. was very essertive in |
i:eening back the crowd, thus address |
sed ~ an angry spectator: III the |
wac taken out OF yea, ye'd be |
10 bigger than a green gooseberry and |
we're as sour as wan already"
british battle Flags.
The names Of no fewer than 105 bat |