Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 245, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1911 — The “Chestnut” Story. [ARTICLE]

The “Chestnut” Story.

The origin of the word “chestnut** as applied to an oft-told joke may, according to Joseph Jefferson, the actor, be traced to the stage. In a melodrama entitled “The Broken Sword,” written by William Dillon, two of the principal characters were Count Xavier and his servant Pablo. In a dialogue between them is to be found the origin of the word “chestnut” as applied to a story that has lost its first bloom of novelty. Here it is: , "Once,” said the count, *T entered the forests of Calloway, when suddenly, from the boughs of a cork tree—” .“Chestnut, count,” interrupted Pablo. “Cork tree,” said the count. “A chestnut,” reiterated Pablo. "I should know as well as you, for I have heard you tell the story twenty-seven times.” ’ The count was a veritable Munchausen, for the frequent relation of his exploits, and consequently liable to get a little mixed in his details, so It la that from a cork tree we get the chestnut • •