No, answered the man, she won the Derby.
The Rev. Mr. Spicer had for three days enjoyed the telephone, which had been his last gift from an admiring parishioner. He had been using it immediately before going to church.
When the time came for him to announce the hymn he rose and with his usual impressive manner read the words. Then in a crisp, firm tone he said, Let us all unite in hymn six double o; sing three.
That Henry Ward Beecher was spared much embarrassment by his quickness at repartee is illustrated by the following story:
One evening as he was in the midst of an impassioned speech some one attempted to interrupt him by suddenly crowing like a rooster. It was done to perfection; a number of people laughed in spite of themselves, and the speaker’s friends felt that in a moment the whole effect of the meeting, and of Mr. Beecher’s thrilling appeals might be lost. The orator, however, was equal to the occasion. He stopped, listened till the crowing ceased, and then, with a look of surprise, pulled out his watch.
Morning already, he said; my watch is only at 10. But there can be no mistake about it. The instincts of the lower animals are infallible.
There was a roar of laughter. The lower animal in the gallery collapsed, and Mr. Beecher was able to resume as if nothing had occurred.