B. Well, I have seen stranger things than that in India. I knew an old elephant to whom they used to give orders for the next day’s purchases every evening; and as his memory was not quite to be trusted, the intelligent animal always tied a knot in his trunk, so that he might be sure not to forget.
The celebrated mathematician Plana, in examining students viva voce, was very fond of asking trivial and ridiculous questions, in order to test their nerve and readiness.
On one occasion he asked a young man, “What is the half of eight?”
The youth at first looked inclined to be offended, but speedily recovered his composure, and replied coolly, “Five!”
Baron Plana, cooler still, said, “Prove it!”
“Easily, sir,” replied the student. “If you take one lemonade it costs eight sous; if you take half a one, you have to pay five.”
As it could not be denied that such was then the price of lemonade at Turin, the candidate was passed.
—Il Pappagallo.
Signor Merbi, the mayor of a small village, died while on a visit to the capital. His neighbours erected to his memory a stone with the following inscription:—
Here lies