A celebrated English physician, who was also a distinguished humorist,
when about to die, requested that none of his friends be invited to his
funeral.
A friend inquired the reason of this remarkable request.
"Because," sighed the dying but polite humorist, "it is a courtesy which
can never be returned."
Charles Matthews, the celebrated comedian, who died in 1837, put the above
entirely in the shade by _his_ last joke.
The attending physician had left Mr. Matthews some medicine in a vial,
which a friend was to administer during the night. By mistake, he gave the
patient some ink from a vial which stood near. On discovering the error,
his friend exclaimed, "O, gracious Heavens, Matthews, I have given you
ink, instead of medicine."
"Never--never mind, my dear boy," said the dying man faintly; "_I will
swallow a piece of blotting paper_."