Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1896 — Curiosity Gratified. [ARTICLE]

Curiosity Gratified.

When an innkeeper sets up a conundrum as a sign-board he must expect to have to answer a good many questions; but even the most enigmatic sign does not excuse such rudeness as a certain American traveler in Europe is said to have once perpetrated. The story, quoted in the Washington Post, is thus told by a Minnesota politician: I was traveling through England and Ireland on foot with a knapsack on my back, and in company with a facetious friend of mine named Morrison, and In our wanderings we came to an inn. It was late at night, but by the bright moonlight we were able to see that the sign bore a counterfeit presentment of two asses’ heads, with this not unfamiliar legend over the picture: When shall we three meet again? Wo stood for a moment gazing at it. Then Morrison went to the inner door and began thumping upon it with his cane, while the echoes rang through the house. I was just going to expostulate with him over his unseemly conduct when an upper window was thrown open, and the innkeeper thrust out his head, and in an indignant tone demanded what in the name of all the demons we wanted. “That's all right, old man. Don't got excited,” called up my friend in the most affable voice. “There are only two asses' heads on the sign, and I just wanted to see the other one.” And with that we started up the road.