English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various SourcesVarious
General
English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various Sources
Various
Anecdotes -- England; English wit and humor
An Italian singer, at the Opera House, who had but lately arrived in
this country, and not speaking English, was so anxious to acquire it,
that he always had in his pocket an Italian and English dictionary;
and being in general accompanied by a friend who spoke a little better
than himself, he determined to practise nothing else. On his first
visit to an Orange coffee-house, he placed himself before the fire
and called “Vater, vater,” but to no purpose. His friend whispered to
him--“He’s no vater at all--he’s vaiter.” “Oh den, vaiter, vaiter.”
“What do you want, gentlemen?” “Medin, medin.” “I do not understand,”
said the waiter. His friend again whispered--“He’s no medin, he’s
dinne me.” “An! dinne me,” repeats the other. “Oh, _dinner_,” says
the waiter; “what would you like to have?” “One large porkshop.” “The
devil you will,” said the waiter: “what, a whole porkshop?” His friend
whispers--“He no porkshop--he’s one pork chops.” “Oh, pork chops,
very well.” The dinner was brought, and after he had dined, he called
“Vaiter, vaiter!” “Well sir?” “_Mettez moi_ six or seven turnpikes.”
“Seven turnpikes? that’s impossible, sir.” His friend whispers
again--“He’s no turnpikes--he’s tiddlepicks.” “Ah! tiddlepicks.” “I do
not understand yet, sir.” “No! Got d----n! it is to take it away the
meat out ma _tooth_.”
A RIDICULOUS MISTAKE.
A woman once asked another, “Pray, had your mother any children?”
Seeing the other laugh, and quickly recollecting herself, “Lord
bless me,” says she, “what a ridiculous mistake I made! it was your
grandmother I meant.”
CUT DOWN AND CUT UP.
A man just hung, and an author just about publishing a book, are nearly
in the same predicament--both are in suspense. But we may observe this
striking difference between them, namely--the former will certainly be
cut down, while the latter will most probably be cut up.
A COURTIER.
One of our scarlet courtiers, lighting from his great prancing horse at
the court gate, called to one that stood by, and bid him hold his horse
whilst he walked into the court. The man seemed afraid of the beast,
and asked him if he was not unruly, and whether one man might hold
him or no; he answered yes very easily. “Nay, then,” said he, “_If it
be but one man’s work I would wish you to do it yourself_, for I have
other business than to walk horses.”
PICTURES HANGED.
A fantastic gentleman having bespoke divers pictures to furnish a
gallery: when the limner brought them home, he would presently dispose
them in their several places. “Here,” said he, “hang this, here that,
and there that; but at this end, _in full view of the door, will I be
hanged myself_.”
A GENTLEMAN AND HIS MISTRESS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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