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Show V I - 6y HugAMoore J Everybody has a favorite Joke that he performs with .whenever ho has a chance, .generally selecting his victims at random, and prefacing tho story with: "I guess you've heard this. It's protty old, but I always thought it was awfully good." Tho victim very politely declares that tho joke will doubtless be now to him. That he reads a great many jokes in tho papers, but never remembers any of them. Then the jokoteller tells tho joke. Hero is about what It is: "A fellow met a man and lady at a dance and says to the man: " 'Who's the damcV "The man answered: 'That's my wife.' " 7 thought you married a brunette,' says the fellow. " 'I did,' answers the man; 'but she dyed.' " That IS a pretty old joke, but not as ancient as some I others that are daily sprung upon tho unsuspecting public, for It cannot possibly antedate the development of tho English language to tho stage at which It presented tho words "died" and "dyed" with identical pronunciation, and absolutely different meanings. But that joko is presented today In a much moro attraotlve form than that in which it was bartered around the land forty-flvo or fifty years ago. Then it went liko this: "Isji't her hair perfectly IcilllngT" "No wonder; it's dyed," There is a class of Jokes of venorablo vintago that are staged in stores where tho clerks aro supposed to misinterpret misin-terpret tho wants of tho customers. Thero is a great variety of these,bui they aro co very closely related that their kinship may bo established by tho veriest novice. It is said that the most perfect form of this Joko is that which represents a gentleman in a drug store asking for five cents worth of castor oil, or quinine. The obliging clerk says he will have it ready in a couple of minutes, asks tho customer to have a chair, and then: "While you are waiting I want you to try this new carbonated soda xoatcr we have just init in. Here's a glass; no charge." Tho customer gulps down tho drink, says it was fine, thanks tho clerk, and asks how long will ho havo to wait for tho quinine. "7 gave it to you in tho soda,'7 replies the cleric with a broad grin. "Gave it to mcl" exclaims the customer, springing spring-ing to his feet. uWhy man alive, I wanted it for my wife." Wo must all admit that was a pretty good Joke, but it has been a trlflo overworked. One hundred and twenty-flvo twenty-flvo years from now after It has fallen into disuso and been resurrected it will bo ono of tho best laugh-producers at the minstrel shows attended by our great-grandchildren. Among tho Jokes of tho samo general character, that have been manufactured to replace this while it is undergoing under-going tho rest cure, is tho following: '7 teant a dog collar,'' "Yes, sir," replied the absent-minded man behind the counter; "wliat size shirt do you wearT" Still another that belongs to the same family, and la probably more aged than the last Is this: ( 7 toant a dollar's worth of hay." -"Is it for your father T" "Nc,,it'e for the horse; father doesn't eat hayf |