CRACKING A JOKE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 107, 14 January 1880, Page 2

CRACKING A JOKE.

I should imagine cracking diamonds an avocation far from calculated to, superinduce an increase of animal spirits, but according to the following such has really been the case, or at all events m the South Island the occupation would appear to be considered more m the light of au amusement, and those who indulge m the exhiliarafiog exercise become brimful of wit and humor. A case lately came before the" Resident Magistrate at Hokitika m which two professional stonebreakers were the ooving spirits, a Gbrman named Schmidt having charged an Italian, vplept Rooney, with striking him on the hea 1 with a hammer. It appears that Signor Rooney was of an exceedingly nlayful nature, and philosophically whiled awa the monotory of his professional duties by the manufacture o.f bcyi niott, c< mndrnms, and jokes. Like a true Teuton, the partner of hie geological pursuits either could not or would not B*e. $he " points " severally submitted, and oonseqitently th^ expected applause was missing. Being a man of "metal" this naturally got the irascible. Italian's back up, and he forthwith proceeded to give the. Herr,. a ' ' striking '•' example, illustrated with " cuts.' ? If force of argument should have power. to make make, matters clear, that which collided with the Germanic cpanium was at least three pounds weight. Although Schmidt became naturally alive to the argument — ten thousand lights being thrown upon the subject by the operation — he ungratefully resented the means resorted to, and brought a summons for assault. But

tne scranity of the punster was hot to be.ruffled even in ufche dock of the pidscmer, and.to j.i.qu¥stion^from the Bench as to the breach 01 -peace, Be assured the- Court -thafc the whole-affair was a jdke..; Strange to say this nut t rwas tpd. hard for the Bench to crack, add he was inforoaed that smashing a man's crown was rather a dangerous, joke: to crack, the material m Mr. Sohmidt!si cranium was of a harder substanca than the Signor had been used to operate upon, it is hard to say j but however it was x^ot foUowed with the usual suc.cess.^ndJriJßOJfePiSffi^T^JißPi^SliLiHJHS headpiece^of the plaiotiflfj, prisoner was aP lowed to. retire compromising ito.Use Jaf less . convincing line- of -^rgu^ment .in . future. J, have certainly never, heard of petrified crkniums, (although I "have fallen -across not a^ few .wooden^ ones.,- b^tf .jrero , the^3e^ 4 moHtion of-' the latter sought j vj v iffl^gipp $& would be more m the. province. "of a^woda chopper, than a^ Enight t of th,e Maul. and Hammeri 1 ' • ' ' • -''■<'.?' i •