Originally posted by LMcD
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They'll be none the wurst for it. -
Not, I'm afraid, a current joke, but a true story that did the rounds of polite society in its time. It touches on Music and the Harp and the ridiculous scene is well-evoked and genuinely funny. This version is transcribed from an Essex Herald published in June, 1829:
Not Cow and Gate but... Cow and Bowl
The fashionable gossips are much amused with the report of sad contre-temps which look place at a late public breakfast near London. It was purposed as a brilliant conclusion of the Fete, that the company should partake of a Syllabub upon the lawn, and for this purpose a favourite white cow, profusely decorated with flowers and ribands, was placed near an immense bowl, into which a girl dressed as a Swiss milkmaid was to milk the cow, whilst an eminent vocalist, also dressed in costume, was placed on one side of the head to sing, the 'Ranz des Vaches', accompanied on the harp by her husband, dressed 'a l'antique pastorale'. The admiring and expectant company gathered round the milk-white animal, and all promised a happy 'coup de theatre' ; but, unfortunately as the precaution of infusing into the mind of the cow a preparatory taste for Swiss melody had been neglected, she no sooner heard the sound of the harp, then up went her head and her tail, away went the flowers and the ribands, away ran the vocalist, down crashed the harp, and off ran the company—the immense china bowl exhibiting, not the lacteal pond which was intended, but unequivocal symptoms of the alarm and irritation of the milk-white animal.Comment
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From a cartoon, a dog holding up a sign saying, “mint sauce” to some sheep. The farmer said to his owners, “Oi your dog is scaring my sheep!”Don’t cry for me
I go where music was born
J S Bach 1685-1750Comment
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I bought a friend an elephant for his room. He said "thanks". I said "don't mention it."Comment
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Originally posted by Richard Barrett View Post
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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What does John Bercow have with his cocktails?
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HOOOORRRS D'OEUUVVRRRES!
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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That's a good one. I'm not sure which I prefer, that one or the one where LK is saying "They know it's from you."Comment
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It's very hard to finish a book if you've lost the plot.Originally posted by ahinton View PostComment
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Looks to me like a teacher having a serious talk with a naughty schoolboy.Originally posted by cloughie View PostComment
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