CHINESE JOKES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1665, 26 November 1887, Page 3

CHINESE JOKES.

n —— if The Chinese have a publication » called the Hsio-Lm Kuang, or Laughs' ing Book, which is printed at Pekin. D The jestß from this treasured volume, ° a number of which have been transit lated, seem to bear a certain family Lt resemblance to funny stories the d world over, just as some of the very 11 best and most frequently told jokes lV of modern times are to be found >d in the writings of ancient Greeks, \l who perhaps stole them from earlier in jesters. Here are three of the Chinese jokes:—Two men named

Chung and Knung are warming themselves at an open stove. Chung, who is a person remarkable for his coolness and loquacity, saya to Kung, who is an exceedingly hotheaded person, "My dear Kung, there is something which I would rery much like to say to you. It relates to a circumstance which I have observed for a little time past, and hare desired to mention to you. But bearing in mind the somewhat fiery' and quarrelsome disposition which is commonly attributed to you I have hesitated to express myself. However, I have resolved at laßt that if I do not mention the matter to you I shall do wrong, and I have in consequence determined to ask your permission to speak to you about it." "Well, what is it?" " Tour coat, my dear Kung," says Chung, quietly, "is on fire." " For pity's sake!" exclaimed Kung, angrily, jumping up and finding his coat nearly burnt off, " why in the world didn't you tell me before ?" " There it goeB! What a frightful temper!" Chung murmured as he moved away, "Folks told me quite right about you!" The second anecdote illustrates Chinese subtility, and suggests that some negro minstrel troupes must have drawn upon this book. A man who had stolen a cow was subjected to the torture of the hang. A passer-by, observing his sad state, asked him," What did you do?" "Oh, nothing! I just found an old piece of rope on the road and picked it up." " And is it possible that they have punished you in this way for simply picking up an old piece of rope?" "Yes! only they found a cow at the end of the rope." 'I he third is one of the stories that in this country are conveniently put off upon the broad shoulders of Irishmen # or Dutchmen. A courier, bearing important despatches, was given a horse and told to make all possible speed towards his destination. Some) time afterwards he was found on the road walking, and pushing the horse before him. " What in the world are you doing that for ?" he was asked. " Oh," he said, " I reflected, and I came to the conclusion that we would make more speed on six feet than we possibly could on four."