New-York tribune., 1902-12-25
EXAMPLES OF READY WIT.
ANSWERS THAT TURN AWAY WRATH
JOHN BRIGHT IN REPARTEE-
From The Baltimore Sun


From The Baltimore Sun
A. a specimen of ready wit 1t would be difficult
10 beat the retort Of Charles Burleigh. the great
opponent OF the slave trade He was in the mid
when d wei aimed and rotten egg struck him fuil
This" he said. calmly, as he produced his hand
kerchief and wiped his face. lis striking evidence
OF what have always maintained, that pro-slavery
The late John Bright frequently happy in
was punctuated by interruptions. he was saying
Personally, / do not feel disposed to wage war
against these Philistines" when an unruly mem
Der Of the audience shouted ''He-hawi'' If how
ever Mr.. Bright continued without a pause, my
friend at the back of the hall VIII lend one
OF his jaws, ! shall be encouraged reconsider
my attitude, in view of the historic success Of
samson when provided with Similar weapon
good example of the witty answer that turns
away wrath was furnished by the Able de Voise-
@ @4oh' VINO mao been unfortunate enough to offend
me ne great Condo and TO lose his favor When the
Onehaeo on prince the latter rudey turned his back
Thank heaven. sir" the abbe exclaimed. "1
have been misnformed; your highness does not
treat me ss il / an enemy"
Because sir answered the abbe 'Vo1r high
ness 9f never turns your back on an enemy"
, Inc great Duke of Wellington answered a sim
When the French King intpodpced nn of fg e
arshals to Wellington the eId marshal is trna ned
his back on his former enemy and conoJeror Iouis
Philippe was naturally indignant and apolostzeS 70
the duke tor such rude behavior S--'o ~
Pray forgive him sir the iron duke said, quiet
~; am afraid II was who taught him TO do that
NJ '1reNE, when French President, once eXtricated
himself from predicament with wonderful pres
ence CT mind He was being conducted round the
salon by an eminent artist when he saw a painting
which displeased him
What a daub!" he exclaimed: whose is it2"
a.. That picture NJ lie President" said his cicerone
is my work
Aht said the President, without any sign of en-
balrassrnent at his awkward mistake 'in our coun-
try, when we particularly wish to purchase thing
re always begin by running il down" and true 10
ms part he purchased the offending painting there
and then 0
The late Sir Frank Lockwood had few superiors
q tall
man, and for some reason, not altogether trans
parent an unruly member of his audience once
called out to him in the middle of his speech: Go
1t. telescope,"
Ny friend is mistaken in applying that term to
me-, Sir Frank quietly said; 'he ought to claim It
Tor hlrnself for, though he cannot draw me out
mink can both see through him and shut him up
On another occasion one Of his political opponents
rudely called out in the middle of speech: .-All
lawyers roguesi'
i am glad" Sir Frank politely rejoned Ito greet
shls gentleman as member of my profession but
he need not proclaim shortcomings to the
world ~ ~
Equally prompt and happy the retort of a
youthful looking member of Parliament who was
advised by a bibulous member of one of his au-
oiences to go home TO his mother
i think, the young candidate said my friend
might follow his advice with ADVANTAGE for he
does not seem 10 have outgrown his affection for
the tOrfleF'