Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1892 — Taken In. [ARTICLE]

Taken In.

President Lincoln’s sage proverb relative to the disadvantage of swapping horses in the middle of a stream, applies to many of the ordinary affairs of life. Especially should it be taken to heart by the joker who is not sure of his game. The following story is told by Irving Montagu: During the Russo-Turkish war, when we were on very short rations, we were one day about to do justice to a fowl which we had—well—caught, and duly cooked. On turning, we were surprised to And one of a long train of Cossack bullock-driv-ers stopping and looking down at us with envious curiosity. We began talking to him with playful badinage, rubbish which we felt, being in English, would do very well for an ill-bred Muscovite. He listened to our chaff with stolid indifference, until Coningshy, dividing the fowl and holding up one-half by the drumstick, said: “Does a fondness for cold fowl run in-your family, dear boy? This sort of thing would suit you to a T. ” In a moment that- clumsy wagoner became a new man. All nervous energy and settled purpose, he sprang suddenly forward, grasped the fleshy end of that drumstick !n his grimy fingers, and the next instant had mangled it with his teeth beyond reclaim. He had taken Coningsby at his word, and we were left on short commons indeed, though this surprise, sudden as it was, quite eclipsed hy that which followed, when that burly bullock-driver replied, in excellent English: “Ah, just so! Sad, isn’t it? Very sad. Lost your leg! But not in the service—no, not so bad as that, anyhow. ” Then, turning to a dog which I had not before noticed, he said: “Crunch, poor Crunch,' Hungry, too? Never mind, there’s the bone. Make the best of it. Thank you. Good morning. Remember, there may be Britishers in Cossack garb, as well as wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Baron Walter of Hungary offered to trade his title for a wife. It was not much of a title, but an opera singer snapped it up. She said she was 27 and had 3D0,000 florins. In reality she was 42, had not a florin, and her voice was cracked numerously and to a considerable depth. Now the Baron wants a divorce, and for the sake of getting it proclaims how unique and pre-eminent is his position among unasylumed dotards. He will probably be on the market soon again.