THE TROUBLE CUPID CAUSED.

Otago Witness, Issue 1204, 26 December 1874, Page 21

THE TROUBLE CUPID CAUSED.

There is a funny story told of a Boston man with more money than education, who purchased many -raltiablo ■works of art while in Europe. Among others was a small statue of Cupid, which he insisted upon having in his stateroom on the voyage home. During the passage he frequently exhibited it, with what he considered a descriptive lecture, in which, of course, the large sum he. had paid for it was included. One day he had it on deck to show the man at the wheel. There was considerable sea on, and the vessel was labouring heavily. Having shown " Kupid " (as he called it) to the men, he turned to descend, but the ship careened, and he and Cupid went headlong down the cabin stairs. It so happened that one of the stewards was assisting an invalid lady on deck. Cupid struck her on the head and knocked her down, and the steward was cm shed against the side of the ship by the prostrate Bostonian. The steward jumped up and called the New Englanderan "hawkwardhass," whereupon the latter struck him, and a fight ensued. The lady's husband now appeared, and seeing his wife lying at the foot of the stairs apparently dead, imagined that the owner of Cupid had assaulted her, and assisted the steward in frescoing various portions of his person. Finally, explanations were heard, and the conflict ceased. Cupid — what remained of him — was put in a pail to be thrown overboard. The steward was put in irons, and upon the arrival of the steamer in port the Bostonian had the lady's husband arrested for assault. Cupid, indeed, sometimes plays sad pranks with us all.