English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various SourcesVarious
General
English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various Sources
Various
Anecdotes -- England; English wit and humor
The Scottish people are thought to be so imbued with metaphysics, that
even in love the passion discovers itself. On one occasion at a ball,
Sydney Smith overheard a young lady of his acquaintance, in a pause in
the music, remark to her partner, “What you say, my lord, is very true
in the _abstract_, but----” here the fiddlers began, and the rest was
lost.
DESIRE TO ROAST A QUAKER.
Sydney Smith confessed to a friend that he had one little weakness--one
secret wish--“he should like to roast a Quaker.” “Good heavens, no,
Smith!” said his friend full of horror, “roast a Quaker?” “Yes, sir”
(with the greatest gravity), “roast a Quaker!” “But do you consider,
sir, the torture?” “Yes, I have considered everything; it may be wrong,
as you say; the Quaker would undoubtedly suffer acutely, I have striven
against the taste in vain, one would satisfy me--only one!”
MASTER DOMINIQUE.
A gentleman called Tenant was a favourite in London society early in
this century, the mysteries of whose _menage_ often afforded amusement
to his friends. He lived in a small lodging, and his establishment was
confined to an old black servant called Dominique, who tyrannised over
him. He was overheard one morning calling from his bed, “Dominique!
Dominique!” but no Dominique appeared. “Why don’t you bring me my
stockings, Dominique?” “Can’t come, Massa.” “Why can’t you come,
Dominique?” “Can’t come, Massa, I am _dronke_.”
APPROPRIATE ANSWERS.
A man being asked did he understand German, answered, “No, but I have a
cousin who plays the German flute.” Another enquiring at a bookseller,
if he had the “Whole duty of man,” got for answer, “No, sir, but we
have Mrs. Glasse’s cookery!”
SYDNEY SMITH’S SERVANTS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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