A Poor Laugh
CURRAN was just rising to cross-examine a witness before a judge who was
familiar with the dry-as-dust black-letter law books, but could never
comprehend a jest, when the witness began to laugh before the learned
counsel had asked him a question. What are you laughing at, friend,
said Curran, what are you laughing at? Let me tell you that a laugh
without a joke is like--is like----Like what, Mr. Curran, asked the
judge, imagining he was at fault. Just exactly, my lord, like a
contingent remainder without any particular estate to support it.
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A Phenomenon Accounted For
DR. BYRON, of Manchester, eminent for his promptitude at an epigram, being once asked how it could happen that a lady rather stricken in years looked so much better in an evening than a morning, thus replied:-- Ancient Phyllis has young grace... A Philosophical Reason
A SCHOLAR was asked why a black hen laid a white egg. He answered, Unum contrarium expellit alterum. ... A Phonetic Joke
A LITTLE girl playing at the game of I love my love with an A, &c., having arrived at the letter Z, displayed her orthographical acquirements by taking her lover to the sign of the Zebra, and treating him to Zeidlitz powders. ... A Piece Of Plate
A YOUNG actor having played a part tolerably well, Elliston one evening called him into the green-room, and addressed him to this effect: Young man, you have not only pleased the public, but you have pleased me; and, as a slight token of my regard a... A Pill Gratis
A PERSON desirous of impressing Lord Ellenborough with his importance, said, I sometimes employ myself as a doctor.--Very likely, remarked his lordship; but is any one fool enough to employ you in that capacity? ... A Pious Minister
IF it be true that the heads of the country should set religious example to their inferiors, the E---- of R----, in his observance of one of the commandments, is a pattern to the community; for, not only on the Sabbath, but through the week, he take... A Place Wanted
A GENTLEMAN, who did not live very happily with his wife, on the maid telling him that she was about to give her mistress warning, as she kept scolding her from morning till night. Happy girl! said the master, I wish I could give warning too. ... A Placebo
WHEN Mr. Canning was about giving up Gloucester Lodge, Brompton, he said to his gardener, as he took a farewell look of the grounds, I am sorry, Fraser, to leave this old place.--Psha, sir, said George, don't fret; when you had this old place, you w... A Play Upon Words
A POACHER was carried before a magistrate upon a charge of killing game unlawfully in a nobleman's park, where he was caught in the fact. Being asked what he had to say in his defence, and what proof he could bring to support it, he replied, May it ... A Pleasant Message
MR. BARTLEMAN, a celebrated bass-singer, was taken ill, just before the commencement of the musical festival at Gloucester: another basso was applied to, at a short notice, who attended, and acquitted himself to the satisfaction of everybody. When h... A Pleasant Partner
A FARMER having bought a barn in partnership with a neighbor who neglected to make use of it, plentifully stored his own part with corn, and expostulated with his partner on having laid out his money in so useless a way, adding, You had better do so... A Plumper
A YOUNG gentleman, with a bad voice, preached a probation sermon for a very good lectureship in the city. A friend, when he came out of the pulpit, wished him joy, and said, He would certainly carry the election, for he had nobody's voice against hi... A Poetical Shape
WHEN Mr. Pope once dined at Lord Chesterfield's, some one observed that he should have known Pope was a great poet by his very shape; for it was in and out, like the lines of a Pindaric ode. ... A Point
POPE was one evening at Button's coffee-house, where he and a set of literati had got poring over a Latin manuscript, in which they had found a passage that none of them could comprehend. A young officer, who heard their conference, begged that he m... A Point Needing To Be Settled
A SCOTTISH minister being one day engaged in visiting some members of his flock, came to the door of a house where his gentle tapping could not be heard for the noise of contention within. After waiting a little he opened the door and walked in, say... A Polite Rebuke
CHARLES MATHEWS, seated on a coach-box on a frosty day, waiting for the driver, said to him when at length he appeared: If you stand here much longer, Mr. Coachman, your horses will be like Captain Parry's ships.--How's that, sir?--Why, frozen at th... A Poor Laugh
CURRAN was just rising to cross-examine a witness before a judge who was familiar with the dry-as-dust black-letter law books, but could never comprehend a jest, when the witness began to laugh before the learned counsel had asked him a question. Wh... A Poor Substitute
THE Rev. Mr. Johnston was one of those rough but quaint preachers of the former generation who were fond of visiting and good living. While seated at the table of a good lady in a neighboring parish, she asked him if he took milk in his tea. Yes, ma... A Portrait Capitally Executed
IN a bookseller's catalogue lately appeared the following article: Memoirs of Charles the First,--with, a head capitally executed. ... A Poser
A COXCOMB in a coffee-house boasted that he had written a certain popular song, just as the true author entered the room. A friend of his pointed to the coxcomb: See, sir, the real author of your favorite song.--Well, replied the other, the gentlema... A Poser
FOOTE was once met by a friend in town with a young man who was flashing away very brilliantly, while Foote seemed grave: Why, Foote, said his friend, you are flat to-day; you don't seem to relish a joke!--You have not tried me yet, sir, said Foote.... A Poser
IN a Chancery suit one of the counsel, describing the boundaries of his client's land, said, in showing the plan of it, We lie on this side, my lord. The opposite counsel then said, And we lie on that side. The Chancellor, with a good-humored grin, ... A Poser
AT Plymouth there is, or was, a small green opposite the Government House, over which no one was permitted to pass. Not a creature was allowed to approach, save the General's cow. One day old Lady D----, having called at the General's, in order to m... A Poser
A LECTURER, wishing to explain to a little girl the manner in which a lobster casts his shell when he has outgrown it, said, What do you do when you have outgrown your clothes? You throw them aside, don't you?--O no! replied the little one, we let o... A Poser By Lord Ellenborough
DURING the Chief-Justiceship of the late Lord Ellenborough there was a horse-cause, to which a certain Privy Councillor was a party, and who, as of right, took his seat upon the bench at the hearing, and there (while his adversary's counsel told his... A Preferable Way
ONE of the Kembles made his first appearance on the stage as an opera singer. His voice was, however, so bad, that at a rehearsal the conductor of the orchestra called out, Mr. Kemble! Mr. Kemble! you are murdering the music!--My dear sir, was the q... A Prefix
WHEN Lord Melcombe's name was plain Bubb, he was intended by the administration to be sent ambassador to Spain. Lord Chesterfield met him, and told him he was not a fit person to be representative of the crown of England at the Spanish court, on acc... A Pressing Reason
A TAILOR sent his bill to a lawyer for money; the lawyer bid the boy tell his master that he was not running away, but very busy at that time. The boy comes again, and tells him he must have the money. Did you tell your master, said the lawyer, that... A Pretty Metaphor
A YOUNG lady marrying a man she loved, and leaving many friends in town, to retire with him into the country, Mrs. D. said prettily, She has turned one-and-twenty shillings into a guinea. ... A Pretty Picture
E---- taking the portrait of a lady, perceived that when he was working at her mouth she was trying to render it smaller by contracting her lips. Do not trouble yourself so much, madam, exclaimed the painter; if you please, I will draw your face wit... A Pretty Reply
LORD MELBOURNE, inspecting the kitchen of the Reform Club, jocosely remarked to Alexis Soyer, chef de cuisine, that his female assistants were all very pretty. Yes, my lord, replied Soyer; plain cooks will not do here. ... A Previous Engagement
THE late Lord Dudley and Ward was one of the most absent of men. Meeting Sydney Smith one day in the street, he invited him to meet himself! Dine with me to-day,--dine with me to-day,--I will get Sydney Smith to meet you. The witty canon admitted th...