There is no real suffering in Mexico now, except that of the schoolboy who is trying to learn the dates of all the revolutions.
CRABSHAW--"Why do you wish to leave school and go to work when you"re so young?"
WILLIE--"It"s this way, dad. School is going to be a tough place for the next few years. We"ll have a new map of Europe to study, and if we fall down on it the teacher is likely to give us the Const.i.tution of the League of Nations to learn by heart."
MAMMA--"How do you feel this morning, Robert? Are you able to sit up?"
ROBERT--"I feel awful bad. Don"t think I could stand on my feet."
MAMMA--"Well, I hope you will be able to go to school Monday. This is Sat.u.r.day--"
ROBERT (jumping out of bed)--"Sat.u.r.day! Gee! I thought it was Friday!"
SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT
EFFICIENCY EXPERT--"I am very gratified to see how many new men you have taken on since I installed my system."
"Yes, I hired "em to take care of the system."--_Judge_.
SCOTCH, THE
An Englishman, Scotchman and Irishman were indulging in reminiscences of sporting occasions.
"The closest race I ever saw was a yacht race," deposed the Englishman, "in which one of the boats that had been recently painted won by the breadth of the coat of paint."
"The closest race I ever saw," declared the Scotchman, "was one in which a horse, stung by a bee, won by the eighth of the swelling of his nose."
"The closest race I ever saw," said the Irishman, "is the Scotch."
Some travellers returning to their hotel in Edinburgh one evening noticed an old Scotchman working anxiously over a penny-in-the-slot machine that refused to deliver his purchase or to return the penny.
The next morning on pa.s.sing the same spot they saw the poor man dead beside the slot machine.
Two old Scotsmen sat by the roadside, talking and puffing away merrily at their pipes.
"There"s no muckle pleasure in smokin", Sandy," said Donald.
"Hoo dae ye mak" that oot?" questioned Sandy.
"Weel," said Donald, "ye see, if ye"re smokin" yer ain bacca ye"re thinkin" o" the awfu" expense, an" if ye"re smokin" some ither body"s, yer pipe"s ramm"t sae tight it winna draw."
A Scotchman had been presented with a pint flask of rare old Scotch whisky. He was walking briskly along the road toward home, when along came a Ford which he did not side-step quite in time. It threw him down and hurt his leg quite badly. He got up and limped down the road.
Suddenly he noticed that something warm and wet was trickling down his leg.
"Oh, G.o.d," he groaned, "I hope that"s blood!"
During the fighting a Highlander had the misfortune to get his head blown off.
A comrade communicated the sad news to another gallant Scot, who asked, anxiously:
"Where"s his head? He was smoking ma pipe."
A Scottish emigrant on his arrival at Montreal, stopped for a moment to examine a coat hanging in front of a clothing store, when the proprietor asked him if he would not try on a coat.
"I dinna ken but I wad," responded the emigrant, consulting his watch; and he went in and set to work. No matter how often he found a fit, he tried on another and another till he tried on about thirty. Then, again looking at his watch, he resumed his own garment and walked off saying:
"Weel, I"ve lost time, nae doot, but hang the fellow that"ll no"
obleege anither when he can!"
Three Scotchmen were in church one Sunday morning when the minister made a strong appeal for some very worthy cause, hoping that every one in the congregation would give at least one dollar or more. The three Scots became very nervous as the collection plate neared them, when one of them fainted and the other two carried him out.
Scotchmen are proverbial for their caution.
Mr. MacTavish attended a christening where the hospitality of the host knew no bounds except the several capacities of the guests. In the midst of the celebration Mr. MacTavish rose up and made rounds of the company, bidding each a profound farewell.
"But, Sandy, man," objected the host, "ye"re not going yet, with the evenin" just started?"
"Nay," said the prudent MacTavish. "I"m no" goin" yet. But I"m tellin"
ye good-night while I know ye all."
A Scotchman was strolling through the market-place one day with his faithful collie at his heels. Attracted by a fine display of sh.e.l.l and other fish, the Scot stopped to admire, perhaps to purchase. The dog stood by gently wagging its tail while its master engaged the fishmonger in conversation.
Unfortunately for the dog, its tail dropped for a moment over a big basketful of fine live lobsters. Instantly one of the largest lobsters snapt its claws on the tail and the surprised collie dashed off through the market, yelping with pain, while the lobster hung on grimly, tho dashed violently from side to side. The fishmonger for a moment was speechless with indignation. Then turning to his prospective customer, he bawled:
"Mon, mon! whustle to yer dog! Whustle to yer dog!"
"Hoot, mon," returned the other, complacently, "whustle to yer lobster!"