WITTY ANSWERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19450, 27 March 1933, Page 11

WITTY ANSWERS

NOTABLE BON-MOTS. “Bon-mot” literally means “Good word,” or, as we may translate it a happy saying or some observation which is at once witty and to the point. Some nations excel in uttering bonmots, none more so than the French and Irish, both of whom possess that liveliness of fancy which carries them to cleverness of repartee, perhaps with little regard to consequences. The English are poor at this species of jocularity, and the Scotch more so. Among the ancient Romans there were many clever utterers of bon-mots. A musician complained that the tyrant Dionysius gave him nothing, after promising him much, for the exercise of his art. “You fool, we are quits,” said he to the musician. “You tickled my ears, and I did the same by yours.”

The Emperor Domitian was accustomed in his leisure hours to shut himself alone in his chamber, and there indulge in the amusement of sticking flies with a pin. A courtier asked one day if there was anyone with the Caesar. “No one,” was the reply of another; “not even a fly.”

It would often be better not to attempt to reward a brave action, than to reward it ill. A soldier had his two hands carried off at the wrists by a shot. “It was not my gloves, but my hands that I lost. Colonel,” said the soldier reproachfully. The celebrated Malherbe dined with the Archbishop of Rouen, and dropped asleep soon after the meal. The Archbishop, a sorry preacher, who was about to deliver a sermon, awakened Malherbe, and invited him to listen to his discourse. “Ah, thank you,” said Malherbe; “pray excuse me. I shall sleep very well without that.” A peasant visiting a large city saw people entering a bank and leaving it without any goods, apparently, unlike other shops. He ventrued to enter and ask the teller what was sold there. “Asses’ heads was the sneering answer. “What a business you must have!” said the rustic. “I see you have but one left.”