The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-23
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 90. 1895
Practical Jokes,
I For The Free Lsnce.

Some time ago there appeared in The
Free Lance what was called joke.
perpetrated by Genera Custer on man
named Osborne. 1t seems that Osborne
was very wealthy. and was a warm
and intimate friend of Custer, whom
he visited every year in his camp On
one of these visits Osborne, being alone
in o tent at night, by Clusters order a
false alarm was raised Of an attack by
Indians. There was q great noise, o.
ders Of officers. tramping OF horses,
shouting Of men, blowing Of bugles,
and all the indications of immediate
conflict In the midst Of the confusion.
Custer. wearing his uniform and with
q sword ct his side. entered the tent in
which Osborne was sitting and said to
him she was very sorry, but he could
give him no help" as his first duty
was to his command. Osborne was ter
ribly alarmed, fell on his knees and
begged Custer to protect him.
After sometime everything became
quiet, and Custer entered Osborne S
tent TO laugh az him for his fears. All
this may have appeared to Gen. Custer
to be very funny and very smart; to
me 10 seerus to have been very mean.
To subject any guest, and especially a
warm and intimate friend. to humila-
tion and alarm is fragrant violation
Of hospitality and propriety. OF which
! cannot conceive gentleman TO be
guilty. True hospitality seeks the COM
fort and enjoyment. not the annoyance
and distress Of guest. With few or
no exceptions. practical jokes are low
bred and contemplate. The point OF
suoh jokes is found in the chagrin, ap-
prehsnsi or pain they inflict. A
person who can enjoy the sufferings in
duced by such infections on others
is utterly lacking in generosity Of
spirit and kindness Of heart. II is said
the Prince Of Wales is very fond OF
perpstrating practical jokes, and that
the funkies ne keeps around him
submit without remonstrance or COM
plant to be the instruments or the
butts Of his jokes. as he may direct. A
fayorite joke with his Royal Highness
is to direct one Of his Jacques to get be-
hind q guest or q caller and seizing his
coat shirts in each hand to tear the
coat from the buttons on the back mp
to the collar. This joke is particularly
relished il the coat is new and costly
On one occasion, at least, the tables were
happily turned on the jokers. A guest
of the Prince, going TO his room to
dress for dinner. found a new coat ly-
ing on the bed Knowing the propens-
ity Of the Prince for tear coats. and
correctly supposing this coat to belong
to one Of Ibis set. :" the guest took of
his own coat and put on that lying on
the bed. The change was not noticed.
After dinner, when the wine was cir
culating, freely one Of the Princes
creatures. according to orders, went be-
hind the guest and tore the coat
up to the collar. There was great
merriment until it was found that
the torn coat belonged to the very
man who had torn it. Then the only
laugher left was the man who had worn
the coat.
All practical jokes are not so rude
and foolish as that which has been de-
scribed. but all Of them are more or
less discourteous, and many Of them are
mean and cruel. Let them be left to
those who can find pleasure in such
sport. whether they occupy exalted
or humble positions.
A Broaddus.
Sept 18th, 1899. Sparta, Va.