Fun.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1970, 21 February 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Fun.

A Famous Gambler. Some thiity years ago the Dame of the Spanish gambler Garcia was familiar as household word 3 to the habitues of Baden-Baden, where he won several millions of francs at the gambling table. Garcia has recently died as a monk in the Carthusian convent of Chartreuse, near GrenoDle. Unlike a still more famous compatriot who ended his days in the cloister, Garcia did nut retire from the world until he had been deprived of all that made existence pleasant. After losing the enormous sums he had amassed by gambling, he staked and lost his own large private fortune and entered the monastery in 1865. After that life ceased to charm, and for the last nineteen years he has meditated on the vanity of earthly things.— Pall Mall Budget.

Path's billiard table is of carved mahogany, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and brass, with bronze medallions fixed to its sides and ends, and cost just $2,500. The maker was asked : "Is there any truth in the stories about Patti's achievements as a billiardist ? " "0, yes, she plays quite a good game. In on* of her games at the hotel with Dion she made a run of eighteen at three-ball carroms, which is quite a respectable showing for any player at that game." Who taught her to play?" " Her own Nicolini. He is an enthusiast on the subject, and carries about a hundred fancy cues with him in his tours."

Old Mother Hubbard. She went to ber oupboard In one of her dresses discreet But when she went out A bobby did shout, " You mu&tn't wear that on the street 1 "

Cuba is progressing. One proof of the fact is that the brutal contests in the boll ring are rapidly being superseded in popularity by the base k ball matches. A Havanna correspondent of a Western exchange, says that the base ball games are largelj attended by the dark eyed senoritas and fashionable gentlemen. The enthusiasm over a good game ii said to be greater than over a bull fight of the most exciting description. A three bagger ii the sigual for rapturous applause, waving of handkerchiefs and showers of flowers, white a home run. raises the vast assemblage to its feet as one man and woman, and the play has to be stopped until the home skipper has passed in front of the grand stand and received ,not only the congratulations of the beau* tiful ladies, but many golden tokens of appreciation.

How do jou like my new trousers? "asked a dude pleadingly of bis Sarah Jane last night. " Oh, not at all, Charley. I think they are horrid!" "Is that so?" "Yes." " Well, Sarah, dear, I am determined to please you. If you don't like these trousers I won't wear them another second," and he began removing his ooat preparatory to making his word good, when a dull thud was heard, and Sarah was struggling with a swoon. — St. Joteph News.

Mu. Malaprop has the reputation of saying very absurd things with a charming unconsciousness of their absurdity. At a grand dinner party she has been more than usually happy, to the intense delight of the company, while her husband can only bite his lips in silence. At last she turns to him and days, in reproaohful accents : " What is the matter, dear ? I make eyerybody laugh but you."

They were playing ecatte in the barparlor : " I'll bet you a thousand pounds," says on« Bohemian. " Done 1 " says another, laughing. A fnw rainutea alter the same Bohemias ; 41 I'll lay you half-a-crown. 11 Oh !oh I " says the other, " now it begins to be serious 1 "

Battiste, the valet de cbambre, tells the coachman his troubles : " That tame parrot of Madame is absolutely intolerable. He screams all day most atrociously. He prevents me going to sleep, and' I always hear the bell the first time it rings !"

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