"Edward Everett Hale," said a lawyer, "was one of the guests at a
millionaire's dinner.
"The millionaire was a free spender, but he wanted full credit for every
dollar put out.
"And, as the dinner progressed, he told his guests what the more expensive
dishes had cost. He dwelt especially on the expense of the large and
beautiful grapes, each bunch a foot long, each grape bigger than a plum.
He told, down to a penny, what he had figured it out that the grapes had
cost him apiece.
"The guests looked annoyed. They ate the expensive grapes charily. But Dr.
Hale, smiling, extended his plate and said:
"'Would you mind cutting me off about $1.87 worth more, please?'"--_New
York Tribune._