Mrs. Taft, at a diplomatic dinner, had for a neighbor a distinguished French traveler who boasted a little unduly of his nation"s politeness.
"We French," the traveler declared, "are the politest people in the world. Every one acknowledges it. You Americans are a remarkable nation, but the French excel you in politeness. You admit it yourself, don"t you?"
Mrs. Taft smiled delicately.
"Yes," she said. "That is our politeness."
Justice Moody was once riding on the platform of a Boston street car standing next to the gate that protected pa.s.sengers from cars coming on the other track. A Boston lady came to the door of the car and, as it stopped, started toward the gate, which was hidden from her by the man standing before it.
"Other side, lady," said the conductor.
He was ignored as only a born-and-bred Bostonian can ignore a man. The lady took another step toward the gate.
"You must get off the other side," said the conductor.
"I wish to get off on this side," came the answer, in tones that congealed that official. Before he could explain or expostulate Mr.
Moody came to his a.s.sistance.
"Stand to one side, gentlemen," he remarked quietly. "The lady wishes to climb over the gate."
COURTS
One day when old Thaddeus Stevens was practicing in the courts he didn"t like the ruling of the presiding Judge. A second time when the Judge ruled against "old Thad," the old man got up with scarlet face and quivering lips and commenced tying up his papers as if to quit the courtroom.
"Do I understand, Mr. Stevens," asked the Judge, eying "old Thad"
indignantly, "that you wish to show your contempt for this court?"
"No, sir; no, sir," replied "old Thad." "I don"t want to show my contempt, sir; I"m trying to conceal it."
"It"s all right to fine me, Judge," laughed Barrowdale, after the proceedings were over, "but just the same you were ahead of me in your car, and if I was guilty you were too."
"Ya"as, I know," said the judge with a chuckle, "I found myself guilty and hev jest paid my fine into the treasury same ez you."
"Bully for you!" said Barrowdale. "By the way, do you put these fines back into the roads?"
"No," said the judge. "They go to the trial jestice in loo o" sal"ry."
A stranger came into an Augusta bank the other day and presented a check for which he wanted the equivalent in cash.
"Have to be identified," said the clerk.
The stranger took a bunch of letters from his pocket all addressed to the same name as that on the check.
The clerk shook his head.
The man thought a minute and pulled out his watch, which bore the name on its inside cover.
Clerk hardly glanced at it.
The man dug into his pockets and found one of those "If-I-should-die-tonight-please-notify-my-wife" cards, and called the clerk"s attention to the description, which fitted to a T.
But the clerk was still obdurate.
"Those things don"t prove anything," he said. "We"ve got to have the word of a man that we know."
"But, man, I"ve given you an identification that would convict me of murder in any court in the land."
"That"s probably very true," responded the clerk, patiently, "but in matters connected with the bank we have to be more careful."
_See also_ Jury; Witnesses.
COURTSHIP
"Do you think a woman believes you when you tell her she is the first girl you ever loved?"
"Yes, if you"re the first liar she has ever met."
Augustus Fitzgibbons Moran Fell in love with Maria McCann.
With a yell and a whoop He cleared the front stoop Just ahead of her papa"s brogan.
SPOONLEIGH--"Does your sister always look under the bed?"
HER LITTLE BROTHER--"Yes, and when you come to see her she always looks under the sofa."--_J.J. O"Connell_.
There was a young man from the West, Who loved a young lady with zest; So hard did he press her To make her say, "Yes, sir,"
That he broke three cigars in his vest.
"I hope your father does not object to my staying so late," said Mr.
Stayput as the clock struck twelve.
"Oh, dear, no," replied Miss Dabbs, with difficulty suppressing a yawn, "He says you save him the expense of a night-watchman."