The Force of Imagination.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 265, 19 May 1888, Page 5

The Force of Imagination.

Dk Buck. land ono day gave a dinner, after dissecting a alligator, liaving a^kedfi good many of the most distinguished of his closes to ctino with him. His house oncl all his establishment were in good style and ta>tc. IJ is guests congregated ; the dinner table ,sho\\ od splendidly with glass, china, and plate, and the meal commenced >\ it v i excellent soup. " How do you like the soup ?" asked the Doctor, after haxing finished his own plate, addressing a famous gourmand of the day. " \ cry good indeed,' 1 answered the other, "Turtle, is it not? 1 only atk because I do not find any green f-it. The doctor fchook his head. " I think it has somewhat of a musky tatto," said another ; " not unpleasant, but peculiar.'' " All alligators have/ replied Buckland ; "the cayimn poenliarlY so. The fellow v horn 1 dissected thib morning, and whom you have just been eating— ' There was a general rout uf the wholo guests Every one turned pale. Half a dozen staried up irom the table. Two or three of them ran out of the room and vomited ; and only those who had stoufe stomachs remained to the close of an excellent entertainment. " •*"' " See what imagination is !" said Buckland. "If 1 told thcui it was_ turtle, or terrapin, or bird's-nc&b soup, falt-watru* amphibia or fresh, or tho gluten of a fin from tho maw of a scabird, they would have pronounced it excellent, and their digestion bo none tho woiyo. Such is prejudice !" "But was ib leally an alligator ?" asked a lady. ''As good a calf's head as over wore a coronet," answered Buckland.

Woman (who has given a cold bile to tramp): "You don't/ look very healthy." Tramp: "No, ma'am; it's indigestion, caused by eating botween moals — other 1 people's meals,"