The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-18
Humor of Ready Repartee.

As a specimen of ready wit, says the
beat the retort of Charles Burleigh,
the great opponent of the slave trade.
He was in the middle of one of his elo-
quent denunclations of slavery when a
well-aimed and rotten egg struck him
full in the face.
This" he said, calmly, as he pro-
duced his handkerchief and wiped his
face. lit striking evidence of what I
have always maintained, that pro-
slavery arguments are unsound."
The late John Bright was frequently
happy in repartee. Once, in the course
of a speech which was punctuated by
interruptions, he was saying: Person
ally do not feel disposed to wage war
against these Philistines," when an I'M
ruly member of his audience shouted,
"Hee-haw!" If however" Mr.. Bright
continued without pause, my friend
at the back of the hall wifi lend me one
of his jaws shall be encouraged to re-
consider my attitude, in view of the
historic success of Samson when pro-
vided with similar weapon"
good example of the witty answer
that turns away wrath was furnish
ed by the Able de Voisenon, who had
great Condo and to lose his favor.
When the able went TO court to make
his peace with the offended prince the
latter rudely turned his back on him.
Thank heaven. sir" the able ex-
claimed, Il have been misinformed;
your highness does not treat me as if
l were an enemy"
why do you say that?" the prince
demanded
eli,
your highness never turns your back
on an enemy"
The great Duke of Wellington an
swered a similar insult with equal, if
more crushing, cleverness. When the
French king introduced one of his field
marshals to Wellington, the field mar
shall turned his back on his former en-
envy and conqueror. Louis Philippe was
naturally indignant, and apologized to
the duke for such rude behavior.
Pray forgive him, SIRE" the Iron
Duke said, quietly; 81 am afraid it
was 1 who taught him to do that in
the peninsula
M GreYy, when French president.
once eXtricated himself from pre-
dicament with wonderful presence of
mind. He was being conducted round
the Salon by an eminent artist when
he saw painting which displeased
him.
What daub!" he exclaimed,
''whose is it?"
THAT picture, M. lie President" said
his cicerone, lis my own work"
"Ah!" said the president, without any
sign OF embarrassment at his awkward
mistake, "in our country, when we par
ticularly wish to purchase a thing, we
always begin by running it down."
and, true to his part he purchased the
oHending painting there and there
The late Sir Frank Lockwood had
few superiors in the art of repartee.
The genial lawyer was a tall man, and
for some reason, not altogether trans
parent, an unruly member of his au-
d1ence once called out to him in the
middle of his speech: GO it, tele-
scope!"
MY friend is mistaken in applying
that term to me-" Sir Frank quietly
said; The ought to claim it for himself
for, though he cannot draw me out, I
think can both see through him and
shut him up"
On another occasion one of his DO
htical opponents rudely called out in
the middle of speech, "All lawyers
are rogues."
Il am glad" Sir Frank politely re-
Joined, "to greet this gentleman as
member of my profession, but he need
not proclaim our shortcomings to the
world"
Equally prompt and happy was the
retort of youthful Unlocking member of
Parliament who was advised by a
bibulous member of one of his au-
diences to ''go home to his mother
Il think" the young candidate said,
my friend might follow his own adj
vice with advantage, for he does not
seem to have outgrown his affection
for the bottle"