American fiction -- 19th century; American poetry -- 19th century; American wit and humor; Short stories, American
"What's the trouble?"
"Why, the walls are cracking and bulging out on the sides, and I'm
afraid I'm going to have to put a lot of money into repairs. I've got
over one hundred tenants in those buildings."
"I'll tell you what to do."
"What?"
"You say the walls are bulging out?"
"Yes."
"Well, that makes more room everywhere. You just raise all your
tenants' rent on account of the extra space."
"Young man, you're a genius. I'll put rents up twenty percent
tomorrow."
And one more capitalist was saved.
Coming to Him
The man who keeps up with the latest scientific discoveries is abroad
in the land. He knows all about bacilli, microbes, and all the various
newly found foes to mankind. He reads the papers and heeds all the
warnings that lead to longevity and safety to mind and limb. He
stopped a friend on Main Street yesterday who was hurrying to the
post-office and said excitedly:
"Wait a minute, Brown. Do you ever bite your finger nails?"
"I think so--no, I don't know; excuse me, please, I've got to catch
that car."
"Hold on, man; great goodness alive, you don't know what danger you
are in. If a sharp particle of the nail gets into your lungs,
inflammation is bound to set in, and finally laceration, consumption,
hemorrhage, fits, coma, tuberculosis, and death. Think of it! And by
the way, a new bacillus has been found in water in which roses have
been left standing that is very fatal. I want to warn you. Do you know
that--"
"Say, old man, I'm much obliged, but this letter--"
"What is a letter compared with your life? There are 10,000,000
animalcules in a spoonful of ordinary hydrant water; there are 2,000
different varieties known. Do you ever put salt in your beer?"
"I don't know; I really must go, I--"
"Don't hold me responsible for your life, I'm trying to save it. Why,
Heavens, man, it's nothing but a miracle that we live a single day. In
every glass of beer there is an infinitesimal quantity of hydrochloric
acid. Salt is a chloride of sodium, and the union releases the
chlorine. You are drinking chlorine gas every day of your life. Pause,
before it is too late."
"I don't drink beer."
"But you breathe through your mouth when you are asleep. Do you know
what that does? Brings on angina pectoris and bronchitis. Are you
determined to let your ignorance carry you to your grave? Think of
your wife and children! Do you know that the common house fly carries
40,000 microbes on his feet, and can convey cholera, typhoid fever,
diphtheria, pyaemia, and--"
"Dang your microbes. I've got just three minutes to catch that mail.
So long."
"Wait just a minute. Dr. Pasteur says that--"
But the victim was gone.
Ten minutes later the heeder of new discoveries was knocked down by a
wagon while trying to cross the street reading about a new filter, and
was carried home by sympathizing friends.
His Pension
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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