Could not Restrain his Mirth.
The following story is told as a remarkable instance of the appreciation of humour: A German soldier was ordered fifty lashes for some alleged act of insubordination. Fritz, disciplined to silence, was fixed to the triangle in the presence of his company. When the first lashes fell upon his naked shoulders the worthy fellow, instead of displaying evidences of distress, burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. The executioner, regarding this manifestation as by no means compli-
mentary to his sk;"l, laid on with redoubled ardour, F^t the more he laid on the more Fritz laughed. When cut down he still found great difficulty in restraining his mirth, and indulged in loud intermittent guffaws. The officer in command of the company, with a curiosity naturally excited, approached the bleeding wretch and enquired the cause of his mirth. ' Why,' replied Fritz, breaking into a fresh fit of laughter, ' I'm the wrong man !'
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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1823, 18 December 1875, Page 7 (Supplement)
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156Could not Restrain his Mirth. Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1823, 18 December 1875, Page 7 (Supplement)
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