The Cat and the King



A CAT was looking at a King, as permitted by the proverb.

"Well," said the monarch, observing her inspection of the royal
person, "how do you like me?"

"I can imagine a King," said the Cat, "whom I should like better."

"For example?"

"The King of the Mice."

The sovereign was so pleased with the wit of the reply that he gave
her permission to scratch his Prime Minister's eyes out.



The Literary Astronomer



THE Director of an Observatory, who, with a thirty-six-inch
refractor, had discovered the moon, hastened to an Editor, with a
four-column account of the event.

"How much?" said the Editor, sententiously, without looking up from