Show A drummer squelched it was in the old days when traveling by stage coach was more common than it is at present that the then archbishop of paris monseigneur affre voyaging to a nearby parish took place in a diligence with a number of gentlemen of different social stations among the group was a young drummer for a business house who like his successors of a later era was ever on the lookout for a good story in his own mind and practical joke the clerical standing of the archbishop did not exempt him even from attempts at banter or witticism but with the consideration he thought due to the company present he passed the youngsters efforts over with merely an indulgent smile waxing bolder by this apparent immunity the young traveler at last went beyond all bounds of proper respect can you tell me your grace he asked spiritedly the difference between the archbishop and ah ass the reverend gentleman with his customary courtly manner and without the least appearance of or resentment replied that he could not because replied this clown in his own little circus the one bears a cross on his breast and the other on ids back the sally such as it was was met by the most frigid silence by all the passengers save the archbishop who smilingly inquired now in my turn id like yon to tell us the difference between a commercial traveler and an ass As though it were a mystery as deep as the sphinx the young wit pondered for soine time and then gave it up dont see it he confessed neither do I 1 replied the archbishop there any the smart drummer got off at the next changing of horses washington star |