WIT AND HUMOUR

Waipa Post, Volume 47, Issue 3357, 29 July 1933, Page 12

WIT AND HUMOUR

SYDNEY MAN’S STORIES

JEWISH, SCOTTISH AND NEGRO

Specimen anecdotes of Irish, Scottish, French, Jewish and Negro humour were told at a meeting of the Sydney Arts Club recently hy Mr D. R. Hall.

One of the most popular related to a Jewish father who wished his son to rise in the world, and be accepted in good society. Young Abraham’s way of speech being considered a great handicap, his parents were advised to let him live at

a certain country vicarage for a whole year, during which he should see none of his relatives. At this vicarage no accent but that of Oxford was ever heard, and Abraham’s would be courteously but firmy suppressed. His parents made the sacrifice; and 12 months later the boy’s father went to see the vicar. “I’ve called for Abraham, sir,” he began, with as an accent as he could muster. And, spreading his hands like a fan, the vicar replied, “Oh, so you vos vontin’s Abie, yes.” As to the Scots—“ They have the gift of humour,” one of them remarked to an Englishman. “And that’s why they have it,” said the latter.

Illustrating negro humour, Mr Hall told the story of a traveller who lost his way in one of the southern States. Meeting a negro boy, he inquired where this road ied to and 1 where that one went; hut always without result. Then he asked the boy how old he was. “You’re nine years old,” said the traveller, “yet you don’t seem to know" anything at all.” “No,” the hoy acknowledged, “I don’t know

nothin.’ But I ain’t lost.”

Another of M r Hall’s negro stories was about a preacher who was rebuking his black congregation for notorious sins, coming at last to robbing hen roosts and raiding water melon patches. After each was enumerated he would declare, “If you do that, the Lord won’t love you.” After the mention of water melon patches there was a loud “Hallelujah!” from one of the pews. “Why do you say Hallelujah?” he exclaimed. “Well,” said the sinner, “now I can remember where I left my new knife.”

Mr Hall concluded with an anecdote of a well-known, member of the State Parliament, who was particu!-

ar about seeming-, at least, to know

every constituent he met and to remember his name. One day, at a show in his electorate, which was in the country, he inquired after Mr So-and-jSo’s father. “He died six months ago,” said the constituent. Later in the day the politician again made himself agreeable by inquiring after a 'Constituent’s father. The answer came a little wearily—“Oh, he’s still dead.”