as; sed naivuloj
antauxeniradas kaj estas punitaj."

_Tradukis_ C. F. Hayes.

THE HUMOUROUS SIDE OF TELEGRAPHY.

Were one to collect despatches which pass over the telegraph line,
says a practical manager of a great telegraphic system, they would
make a curious volume of correspondence. The cost of the transmission
of a message depending upon the number of words it contains of course
renders its construction as brief as possible. Most despatches
contain less than a dozen words (together with an address and
signature), and it is marvellous how much matter this small number
of words often contains.

A lady, who wanted to ascertain when her husband would return home,
sent him a message making the enquiry. He replied that a serious
matter hindered him, and that he would not be able to return for some
days.

The lady immediately replied by sending another message in the
following laconic manner:--"Home. 12 September, 1903; To F.C.P.
Message received. Deuteronomy xxiv., 5."--Mary.

Having turned to the specified verse in the Word, the addressee read
the following long epistle:--

"When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war,
neither shall he be charged with any business; but he shall be free
at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken."

A second specimen is a reply sent to a man who had committed an
offence against the law and had absconded. He wanted to find out
whether it would be prudent to return. He therefore telegraphed in
the following style:--

"1 October, 1903; To B.C.M. Is all O.K.?"--D.T.M.

And he received the following brief reply:--

"To D.T.M. 1 October, 1903. Proverbs xxvii., 12."--B.C.M.

Having turned to the verse mentioned, the enquirer received good
counsel:--

"A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the
simple pass on and are punished."

Kiel marsxas la Lapoj? Ne kapo malsupre, mi pensas? Ne, ili piediras
per la plando sur Laplando (_plando, sole of the foot_).

E.L.

* * *

_Maljuna Soldato_: Cxu vi deziras esti heroo, knabeto?

_Knabeto_: Ne dankon! Mi ne deziras havi nur unu brakon kaj
okulon artefaritan!

G.C.L.

* * *

BONVENO.

Gazeto Angla Esperanta, iru
Antauxen en la mondon, kunhelponte
Kolegojn viajn cxiam sendi vortojn
De amikeco kies sono dolcxa
Eniru en la korojn de la homoj
Kaj ligon sanktan de frataro fari.

No. 8380.

CORRESPONDENCE PAGE.

O.A.