The Chinese gentleman, meeting a friend, shakes his own hand, and inquires in the most complimentary terms about his friend's health. The friend shakes his own hand also, and answers that he is well, but calls himself the most abusive names he can think of, and they pass on.
The French and Italian gentlemen kiss and embrace their men friends when they feel great delight at meeting.
The American fool grasps his friend's hand at the level with his hat, and gently jiggles it.
The politician, just before election, meeting a voter, slaps him vigorously on the back, and shakes his hand at the same time.
The Gambier Islanders rub noses, and if their welcome is very hearty, they each hold their breath for a few seconds, and then give a most alarming sniff, thereby showing great pleasure at meeting you.
HE HAD FALLEN OFF.
Patrick was a new man in the light-horse regiment, but his cheerfulness and witty replies had already established him as a favorite. He had one drawback, however, and that was his awkwardness when on a horse's back. Naturally his position required the opposite of this, and Patrick worked hard and faithfully to acquire the ease and naturalness of his comrades when riding. He congratulated himself that this was at last accomplished; but one day when on parade his horse shied and threw him with considerable force. When he regained consciousness he found that his arm had broken with the fall. With his usual characteristic good humor the poor fellow smiled in his pain as he said:
"Well, well, it's too bad. I thought I had improved in my riding a great deal, but instead I have fallen off."