The story is told of a citizen of a small town in Pennsylvania who, in the early days of the telephone, walked into a country store where he saw the instrument suspended from the wall. Upon being told what it was, he said he would like to talk to his wife whom he had left in a rage some hours before. He picked up the receiver, rang the bell, and said to "Central":
"I want to talk to Sarah."
At that moment a severe storm broke over the wires and knocked the man down. As he picked himself up, he said:
"I know that's Sarah. I can tell her every time."
THE CHINESE RETORT
A city official was one of a party which attended the funeral of a Chinaman. He exhibited a great deal of interest in the curious services at the grave, and noticed that, among other things, a roasted duck was left there by the departing mourners. Calling one of the Chinamen aside, he asked:
"Why did you leave that duck on the grave? Do you think the dead man will come out and eat it?"
"Yeppee," replied the laundry-man, "alle samee as le white deadee man come out and smellee flowlers."
A PERSUASIVE LAWYER
A man in North Carolina was saved from conviction for horse stealing by the powerful plea of his lawyer. After his acquittal by the jury the lawyer asked: