Contents of the Drawer
While visiting the Victoria-Bazaar, the Emperor asked one of the ladies, just to please her, to explain the construction of the sewing-machine to him and the Empress, who was with him. After other questions he asked for what the little drawer was used. “To keep the small utensils belonging to the machine in,” answered the young lady, somewhat embarrassed. The Emperor expected that she would pull the little drawer out, but when she did not do so, he concluded correctly, that the contents were not as they should be. With a gay “With your permission?” he pulled the drawer out and saw an appetizing sandwich reposing there. Smilingly the Emperor asked the young lady:
“Does this utensil belong to the machine too?”
Quickly the lady replied: “Yes, your Majesty, to the machine of the human body.”
Greatly pleased with this witty remark, the Emperor turned to the Empress, saying: “This proves that sewing-machines do not dull the working of the brain.”