A CLERICAL JOKE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1166, 29 July 1885, Page 3

A CLERICAL JOKE.

Old Doctor was not often outwitted by his people. On one occasion he had invited a young minister to preach for him, who proved rather a dull speaker, and whose sermon was unusually long. The people became wearied, and as the Doctor lived near the bridge, near the commencement of the afternoon service, he saw his people flocking across the river to the other church. He readily understood that they feared they should have to hear the same young man in the afternoon. Gathering up his wits, which generally came at his bidding, he said to the young minister — "My brother across the river is rather feeble, and I know he will take it kindly to have you preach to his people, and if you will do so, I will give you a note to him, and will be as much obliged to you as T would to have you preach for me; and I want you to preach the same sermon that you preached to my people this morning." The young minister, supposing this to be a commendation of his sermon, started off in good spirits, delivered his note, and was invited to preach most cordially. He saw before him one-half of Doctor 's people, and they had to listen one hour and a half to the same dull, Humdrum sermon that they heard in the morning. They understood the joke, however, and said they would never undertake to run away from the Doctor again.

The naval authorities are confident that they will be able to deal rapidly and effectually with the three or four fast cruisers which Russia possesses, should they attempt to put to sea. The only arm of naval warfare in which Russia is at all formidable is- torpedoes, of which it is said she has seventy in the Baltic.