Superintendent Lohmann once visited his friend, the song writer, Pastor Hülsemann, of Elsey, Westphalia. Lohmann finding the door open entered the house. The parson was not in his study, but down-stairs in the kitchen he heard the parson’s wife. Lohmann, full of fun, as usual, called down-stairs in his friend’s voice, imitated to perfection: “Riekchen!” “What is it?” “Lohmann, from Wesel, is here; see that we have a good dinner.” “What, is that slow old fellow here again? I wish the idiot would stay at home!” Lohmann said nothing, but went back to the study. Soon after, his friend returned home and was very glad to see his dear friend, the visitor. Having no idea, of course, of what had happened, he went down-stairs to tell his wife Riekchen, that there would be a guest for dinner. Entering the kitchen, he said: “Lohmann is here.” “You’ve told me that once before.” “What! I told you? Why, I have only just now entered the house.” One can imagine the greetings at dinner when the parties met; one rather embarrassed; the other ready to burst with merriment. Sedan and Ses Dents Pius IX possessed a fondness for humor, even when the occasion was a disagreeable one. When the news was brought to him that the French had lost Sedan, he cried: “Hélas, Napoleon a perdu ses dents!” Napoleon has lost his teeth (meaning, he will bite no more). The Rothschilds During the panic in the money market of 1866, the agent of a money-lending concern came to Baron Rothschild and begged him to advance them some money; but was promptly refused. “Oh, but you have always helped us before,” wailed the agent. “I know it.” “You lent us some money only a few days ago.” “That is true also.” “Then, why do you refuse it now?” “Well, you see, the Jewish law forbids to lend money to any one in extremity.” Wanted to Keep on Growing Old Frau Rothschild lived to be eighty-nine years old, and, to the last, she retained not only her faculties, but also her much-dreaded wit. In her last illness she whispered to her physician: “Dear Doctor, do try to do something for me.” “What can I do?” replied the physician, “I can’t make you young again.” “I don’t want you to; I only want to keep on growing old.” Risked Life for Wealth In 1820, the head of the house of Rothschild, at Paris, was severely injured by a fall from his horse. In order to save the wealthy man’s life the celebrated surgeon, Dupuytren, was called upon to perform a difficult and dangerous operation. The operation was successful, and was barely finished, when a letter was brought to the surgeon, who, on reading it, gave a cry of astonishment. “What is it?” asked Rothschild, in a weak voice. “I must leave you at once!” cried Dupuytren; “you will excuse me; the Duke de Berry has just been assassinated at the opera!” With these words he rushed off. Against the surgeon’s order, Rothschild managed to drag himself from his bed; reached, by great exertion, the bell-rope; and rang.