The following is rather a good story from the Emerald Isle:—A doctor and
his wife got into a train near—well, we will not say where. In the same
carriage with the doctor were two strange officers. The doctor’s wife
got into another compartment of the same train, the doctor not having
seen his wife in the hurry, neither knew that they were travelling by the
same train until both had got into different carriages. Said one of the
officers to his companion, “That is the ugliest woman I ever saw.” “She
is,” replied the Son of Mars. “I should not like to be obliged to kiss
her,” responded the first speaker. “I should not mind doing it,”
sullenly said the doctor. “You never would, sir, think of such a thing,”
said the officer. “I’ll bet you a sovereign I will,” answered the man of
“pills and potions.” “Done,” said the officer. So when they all got out
at the station, the doctor went forward and kissed his wife, and won his
sovereign—the easiest-earned fee he had ever received. The officers
looked rather astonished when he presented his wife to them.