Year: 1873

PRACTICAL JoKEs.-A young French gen.
tleman who led a very gay life, going to bed
late and getting up late, lodged in an entire
sol. A milk-woman took up her position
under his window, and the gathering of her
customers, with the braying of her donkey,
effectualy destroyed his slumbers. In vain
he demonstrated the miIk-woman said she
had right to the pavement, and that place
suited her. He got up, went out, and rea'
soned with her. No good. What then
would she take to select another station
Nothing; he was an aristocrat, and she
made it a point of honor to stand upon her
rights.


"Well, then," he said, at last, since you
will not listen to reason, l must appeal to
your donkey" and he whispered in Neddy's
ear, the crowd which had gathered round
round laughing at him till he ran in. Pres
sently, however, the donkey began to kick
and plunge as if it were possessed, spilling
all the milk, butter, cheese, etc. The woman
cried out, " Witchcraft !" the crowd took
up the cry, and there was such riot that
the police came.


"What is the matter?" asked the COM
missary.


"a young man who lives in the entresol
has bewitched my donkey" replied the milk
woman.


Pooh, pooh p' said the commissary; but
the woman would not be pooh-poohed, and
he had to take her up to the gentleman's
apartments and confront him with the COM
plainant.


She told her story at length. The young
man waited patiently till she had quite done,
and then said


g" Sir, this woman has spoiled my nights
rest for this month past. | have complained,
| have entreated she has scorned my re-
quests and my prayers. / could not revenge
myself upon woman, but the donkey, who
is masculine, had no such claim upon my
forbearance besides, the peculiar cries of
the animal are what is most distressing to
me. This ass, as avaricious as her mistress,
has sister upon whose succession he count
ed, but who is going to marry again. 1t was
this news, whispered by me in his ear, which
exasperated him to such degree that he
conducted himself in so violent manner"
| The commissary who could hardly keep
his countenance, said that the young man
had better pay for the milk that was split,
and advised the milk-woman to move her
station beyond the reach of man who had
such a peculiar power of conversing with
animals. Both assented, and the woman
took the money, crossed herself and went.


"And now, then," said the commissary to
the young man, how did you do it p


al dropped lighted fusee into the brute's
ear" said he.


A French auditor of accounts in the sew
enteenth century was great practical joker
all his life, and even played trick after he
had lost the power Of enjoying it, for he lett
four large candles to be carried at his fu-
neral which had not been burning fifteen
minutes before they went off as fireworks.


When lady condescends to practical
joke, it is very generally neat one. M.
Boncourt, the rich financier, was very stingy
to his wife in the matter of pin.money. One
day lady, closely veiled and very anxious
not to be recognized, called upon him and
borrowed large sum- leaving her diamonds
as pledge. 1t was his wife.


The French thieves sometimes used to
steal so funnily, that even their victims
were half inclined to pardon them.
The Duke of Fronsac. nephew OF Marshal
Richelieu, was coming out Of the opera one
night in splendid dress embroidered with
pearls, when two thieves managed to cut of
his coat tails. He turned into his club
where everybody laughed at him, so he
found out what had happened and went
home. Early the next morning, a well
dressed man called at the Dukes hotel and
demanded to see him at once on matter
of most vital Importance. Monsieur From
sac was awakened.


Monsegneur," said the visitor, I" / am
an officer of the police. Monsieur the lieu
l. of 81 xyhi Oh, han
pened to you yesterday on leaving the opera,
and have been sent by him to request you
to order the coat to be placed in my hands,
that we may convict the offenders by COM
pairing it with the mutilated tails"


The dress was given up, and the Duke
was in raptures at the vigilance of the po-
lice. But it was new trick of the rogue
who had stolen the tails, by which he pos
sessed himself of the entire garment.


The ancients used to indulge in practical
Jokes to a considerable extent. For in
stance, the Thracians at their drinking par.
ties sometimes played the game of hanging.
They fixed round moose to the bough of a
tree, and placed underneath stone Of such
a shape that it would easily turn around
when any one stood on it. Then they drew
lots, and he who lost took sickle in his
hand, stood on the stone, and put his neck
into the halter. The stone was kicked
away, and if he could cut himself down with
his sickle well and good but if he was not
quick enough, he was hanged outright, and
the rest laughed, thinking it good sport
Today.


i A TOUCHING INcrDENT.-A Jersey paper
tells very interesting story of little boy
in that State. He was climbing an apple
tree, and when upon the topmost limb he
slipped and fell to the ground. He was
picked up and carried to the house in an in
sensible condition. After watching by his
bedside through many weary hours, his
mother perceived signs of returning con-
sciousness. Leaning over him, she asked if
there was anything she could do for him,
! now that he began to feel better. Should
she battle his forehead or change his pillow,
or fan him? Was there any thing that he
wanted? Opening his eyes languidly, and
looking at her, the little sufferer said


Yes want pair of pants with a pock-
ct behind.


He got them.