Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1882 — A Dangerous Humorist. [ARTICLE]

A Dangerous Humorist.

; The following anecdote is given by Lord Houghton in his “Monographs and Social,” for the authenticity of which, he says, he will not vouch, but which seems to him good enough to be true. On being settled at his small living in Yorkshire, Sydney Smith willingly assisted his neighlx>rs in their clerical duties. On an occasion of this kind he dined w ith the incumbent on the preceding Saturday, and the evening passed in great hilarity, the squire, by name Kershaw, being conspicuous for his loud enjoyment of the stranger's jokes. “I am very glad that I have amused you,” said Mr. Sydney Smith, at parting, “but you must not laugh at my sermon to-morrow.” “I should hope I know the difference between here and atehurdh,” remarked the gentleman, with sharpness. “I am not so sure of that,” replied the visitor. “I’ll bet you a guinea on it,” said the squire. “Take you,” replied the divine. Next day the preacher ascended the steps of the pulpit, apparently suffering from a severe cold, with his handkerchief to his face, and at once sneezed out the name Ker-shaw several times, in various intonations.. This ingenious assumption of the readiness with which a man would recognize his own name in sounds imperceptible to the ears of others, proved accurate. The poor gentleman burst into a guffaw, to the scandal of the congregation, and the minister, after looking at him with stern reproach, proceeded with his discourse.