ANECDOTE OF KIPLING.
A great many stories are told of famous authors, and it is probably not to be denied that a good half of them have no basis in truth. We have received, however, a story told of Mr. Rudyard Kipling which, whether it is true or not, is sufficiently amusing to be repeated; and as it comes from England, and is not the product of a Yankee brain, it may be told with perfect propriety, Mr. Kipling being one of her Majesty's subjects.
It seems that a good many years ago Mr. Kipling had an affectionate aunt, who lived at Southsea, and at her house the future poet of "Tommy Atkins" was wont to sojourn. One very hot day the aunt observed: "Don't you think, Ruddy, that waistcoat is very warm? Go upstairs and put on a white one." Ruddy did as he was told, but he put the white one over the other.
THE DIFFERENCE.
A locomotive engineer and a marine engineer were disputing over the relative danger of their occupations, each one claiming that his own condition was the less perilous.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed the steamboat man. "If you are on your engine, and you go crash-bang into another train, why, there you are!"
"Yes," answered the railroad man; "and if you are in your engine-room at sea, and the boiler bursts, where are you?"