The Bossier banner., 1904-02-18
JOE M1LLER's JOKE BOOK.

JOE M1LLER's JOKE BOOK.
Was written by Another and He
Never Made But One Jest
in His Life.
Surely fame never came more easily
snd with less desert than to Joe Miller
for, as is well known, he never wrote
line of the famous book which bears
his name. says Golden Penny. In
deed, Motley, the very writer Of the
Jest Book" once declared that "Joe
had only one idea-and that was q
wrong one," while a biographer has
described him as having "a face of the
most imperturbable mold, full of gravi-
ty and solemnity. and evidently not
intended for laughter in itself, though
it was admirably adapted to cause
laughter in others. In private life"
continues his biographer, he was the
dullest Of the dull, scarcely ever
speaking" 1t was at the Old Black
Jack tavern, in Portsmouth street
Lincoln's Inn Fields. favorite resort
! for the actors and actresses Of the
| time, that Motley met Joe, putting
| away at his pipe, striking contrast
| to the other more reckless members
of the company. The Black Jack was
notorious as being one of the houses
frequented by Jack Sheppard, and
while being famous place for poltt-
ical and other meetings, mostly OF a
secret nature, it sprung into fame as
the home of the ''popgun plot"
plot to kill King George III. with q
poisoned arrow. Here, also. came
Hogarth, to enjoy the convivialities OF
Ethe time, and perhaps, also, to find
subjects for his picture satires. AS an
inducement to certain patrons, it is
said that in one of the attics of the
Black Jack there was sort OF CHM
ney cupboard, in which gentlemen in
difficulties were often secreted till ar
rangements could be made with their
creditors.
The Book of Jests'' was not pub
lished until year after Joe's death
when John Motley, a writer of cheap
plays, was commissioned by a publish
er named Read to compile new book
of jests The popular comedians re-
cent death suggested that his name
might give the book a good "sent
off," and thus it happened that .
gloomy, yet withal honest" comedian
has been handed down to posterity a!
the writer of world famous "Bool
of Jests" Although it is not known
where Joe Miller was born. or wha
was the quality or estate Of his par
ents, it is pretty certain that his edu
cation was scanty, for 1t is said tina
his reason for marrying was to hav
somebody to read his parts to him
Joe's introduction to the stage prob
ably took place at Bartelmy fair
where, perhaps, two centuries age
when humbly commencing his career
he might have been seen standing a
the door of booth, coaxiag the publ
to enter, with some such patter a
Tumble up, my dears, and have al
the fun of the fair for penny-bab
bies half price and old ladies TO
nothing"
, Certain it is that Joseph, in time
? met with enough success to have
, booth of his own. 'The Tempest" wa
one play presented at Joe's booth, tn
bill for which ran as follows: 'Neve
, acted before At Miller's Booth, owe
against the Cross-daggers, near tn
Grown Tavern. during the time c
: Bartholomew Fair. will be presente
. an excellent new Droll, calld Th
. Tempest; or the Distressed Lover!
4 With the English Hero and the Islam
Princess, with the comical humOur
of the Inchanted Scotchman; or locke
t and the Three Witches, showing ho'
3 a Nobleman of England was cast ava
upon the Indian Shore, and in hi
\ travel found the Princess of the Cour
2 try, with whom he fell In love-" ct
e Joe's first appearance at Drury Ian
t took place in 1715, his salary bein
t three guineas week, which was afte1
y ward advanced, on account of hi
h popularity, to five. Here he seems I
Y have been a favorite right up to th
n time of his death, "his talents lyin
It among heavy fathers, countrymen an
Y idiots; he also played broken Frenc
h and Irish parts.
Although the first edition Of sc
n Miller's Jest Book" contained q
: Jokes. it is said that Joe only mad
# one original joke in his lifetime-ar
e that unconsciously while he was sea
d ed at the window Of the Sun taver
6 in Clare market. An old flshwoms
e and her girl passed by. The woms
It was exhorting the servant maids I
It the district to buy Of her by crying
s. "Buy my soles, buy, my maids!" b.
b. honest Joe's ire was raised, and
It exclaimed: "Ah; you wicked old ere
IS ture: what! are you not content
l. sell your own soul, but you must 81
l. your maids slso?" "Joe Miller's Je
d, Book" has now become treasure {
e. the collector, copies of 1t fetching fro
lg 4z los. upward, while a copy Of t
IN second edition once fetched Ell 5
lr on account of some manuscript adj
er tions It contained. The first editi