"James," said she, "write on the board, 'Richard can ride the mule if he wants to,'"
This Jimmie proceeded to do to the satisfaction of all concerned.
"Now, then," continued the teacher when Jimmy had returned to his place, "can you find a better form for that sentence?"
"Yes, ma'am," was the prompt response of Jimmy. "'Richard can ride the mule if the mule wants him to.'"
CROWN PRINCE CALLED DOWN
Some years before the war the German Crown Prince got a very neat call-down from Miss Bernice Willard, a Philadelphia girl. It was during the Emperor's regatta, and the two mentioned were sitting with others on the deck of a yacht. A whiff of smoke from the Prince's cigarette blowing into the young lady's face, a lieutenant near by remarked:
"Smoke withers flowers."
"It is no flower," said the prince, jocularly, "it is a thistle."
Miss Willard raised her eyes a trifle.
"In that case," she said, "I had better retire or I shall be devoured"