Max O'Rell's Favourite Story.

Manawatu Herald, 13 November 1900, Page 2

Max O'Rell's Favourite Story.

Being invited to take part in a meeting convened in an important American town for the purpose of discussing how Sunday should be spent. I consented to go — not to tell the meeting how th 3 Sabbath ought to be passed, but to say a few words about how it is spent in Paris. The proceedings opened with prayer, after which an anthem. When it was over an influential inhabitant of the town rose and ascended the pulpit stairs From that commanding eminence he proceeded to attack all nonSabbatarians, specially singling oui my compatriots — " I spent one Sunday in Paris, and was shocked at tho j sights of low immorality everywhere." I

I had never heard lay poor dear country pitched into 30. Tho speaker glared at me, as I sat hai-niless in my pew. When he had said his say, I was asked to speak, and never did I feel more eager to be heard. Having reached the exalted rostrum, I told the congregation how sorry I was that their townsman should have had such a bad time in Paris, but I thought that had he spent Sunday in some respectable place he would have been spared all those shocks. Pulling a very long face, and picking out Mr Johnson (for such wag his name) with my 9ye, " Where did my friend spend that Sunday in Paris?" I asked. "In the Louvre, that is crowded with Parisians of all grades every Sunday — honest folks who feast their eyes on glorious creations of the iji'cat masters ? He would have seen no immorality there. There are concerts every Sunday afternoon, where music by the best musicians is listened to with rapt attention by masses of quiet, respectable* Parisians. " Did our friend patronise one of these concerts? He would have seen no immorality . there. Where did he go ? We all know that great whites have their black spots, and if you make careful inquiries you can find them out, no doubt. It is evident our friend did not spend that Sunday in church,, though we have churches in Paris. Where did he go?" I came down from the pulpit, while about 20 men, forgetting, I am afraid, that they were in church, rose in their seats, and asked, " Well, Mr Johnson, where did you .g0..?" ! Three years later, I again visited that American city, and I was told I that Mr Johnson decided to try for election to the Senate, and one day after he had been addressing a meeting of the electors, these latter were asked if there were any questions they would like to put to the candidate. From a hundred pairs of lips at once came the quejtion, " Where did you spend that Sunday in Paris ?"