The evening world., 1911-12-14
LAUGHS HERSELF
T0D DEATH ABOUT
Jokes Of YOUTH
Mrs. Sperber Expires in Midst
Of Friends After Amusing
"reminiscences.
SMILE ON HER DEAD LIPS.
Franks Played on School
Teacher by Her and Chum
Cause Fatal Laughter.
SMILE ON HER A LIPS

While laughing heartily ovsr Jokes
end stories recalling her girlhood days
IN the Fatherland. Mrs. Annie sperber,
who had endeared herself to her friends
oy her good huinor and her jolllty, sud
denly sat back In her chair. gasped and
died In the home OF her old friend,
Mrs. Mary Phillips. at No. 34s East
twentieth street. Death had come sud-
defFy into a merry family gathering
while old Friendships were being re.
ne"ed. To-day two homes are in
mournins-the Phillips apartment.
where Mrs. Sper5er died and whence
she VIII be buried. and another over
Tho restaurant u 100 No. Pearl street,
WHICH Is conducted by Mrs. Sperber's
hoSJand. Carl.
Mrs. Sperbcr. who was ffty-.wo years
old, and Mrs. Phillips had been girl,
tose;her In n little German village not
far removed from Berlin. They had
ccnie TO America At about the same
time, married and lived near each other.
N their intimacy never waned. Both
We're or n Jovisl nature. When their
friends found Mrs. Phillips and Mrs.
sperber together th,y were sure Of solid
amusement.
This friendship went on through years.
nut after a while the families separated
the two saw les OF each other. Mra.
Sperbcr's husband went downtown 4,
open the Pearl street restaurant and
Mrs. Philips went to live with her
s'auns daughter. Mrs. Damaco. on the
NTH floor OF the East Twentieth street
house.
Until Monday II q been month. since
me two old friends had seen each othsr r.
. there came over Mrs. sperber n
lsngins for . ak with her c~onfdante.
- to the home Of Mrs. Phillips she
went 70 receive a Joyous welcome and
% % toId. when she complained OF feel
fno III. that she must remain a week.
'Vs seems now" said Mrs. Phuiips
tn<s morning. as II she came hers 70
d5e with me-
LAUohs AT CHILDHOOD BEFORE
HER DEATH.
chssrsd BY oompanionship. Mrs. sper-
Ger seemed to feel we'll again, There
were % many things TO talk OF that she
sesned to forget her illness. Christmas
pAas were zone over. and every eve
ut10. when the members Of the little
famdly gathered. there was laughter q.
plenty - the exchange Of Jokes went on.
LASt night Mrs. Sperter recalled the
snany pranlss she and her friend had
played on their teacher in Germany.
The memory OF these brought tears NJ
laughter to the eyes OF both Of them
snd sent the younger folk into an mp
roar. Mrs. Sperber told how once abe
drew on her sla re a picture OF the teach
a. In animated Irritation with the deli
cAtessen man down the street: and MIS-.
Philips narrated how she and her friend
ouce brought sever punishment upon
themselves by heinz caught In the act
OF initiating the severe splnster' in.
strrctress.
Following this Mrs. Phillips recalled
me old man at home wiho used 20 be
the hut. NJ the village. This man
WINS full of the military spirit and con-
.idered himself a genius. The women
laughed again as they reminded each
other Of the fantastic uniform in which
the General" as they called him.
would garb himself. TO the amusement
oc the villagers. One suggestion
brought on another. until Mrs. Spe rber
was rolling In her chair with mrth.
Then she suddenly chokei and fell
back.
she was lifeless IN her chair when
those around her rushed forward. Her
face still showed a smile. Hurriedly
they went for a policeman, who called
an ambulance. When DIR. Wearne ar
rived from Bellevue he aid death had
heen instantaneous. There was no
doubt. he said. II was due to heart
diaea Sc. aggravated by the ft OF laugh