A THRICE-TOLD TALE.

Shannon News, 24 June 1927, Page 3

A THRICE-TOLD TALE.

AMUSES WANGANUI AUDIENCE.

At a farewell social gathering at Wanganui last week. Archdeacon Creed Meredith, the Mayor, and Magistrate Barton all told the same joke unbeknown to each other as each arrived at the function at intervals. . Those present enjoyed the repetition with variations.

The Archdeacon: I remember being present at a farewell to a clergyman in a parish in the Old Country. The clergyman had not been very popular with some of his parishioners and they rather welcomed the opportunity to give him a great send-off. When the time came for him to make his reply, the clergyman said he was so touched with the farewell that he had decide not to go. (Laughter). Enter the Magistrate at the close of the Archdeacon's speech. The Magistrate: Farewell gatherings always bring to my mind an incident that happened in' South Australia, where I was for some years. A man had not beer, altogether popular in tho town, and when he recognised his position and decided to live elsewhere the townspeople were so pleased that they gave him'a very good send-off At the (.lose of the evening he said he had never known he had so many good friends and he had decided not to go away. (Loud laughter and cries of "Encore"). Enter the Mayor, some moments'after the Magistrate's remarks. The Mayov: I once hoard a good story of a man had the misfortune to be unpopular in his town and when he was leaving people were glad of the opportunity to bid him farewell. . . (Uproarious laughter and loud cries of "encore" prevented the speaker continuing, whereupon — The Politician: Ladies and, gentlemen, I shall not tell the story.