(_For the Mirror_.)
At a public dinner, Captain R. commencing a conversation with a
gentleman next to him, was astonished at not being able to elicit one
word in answer. At length his silent neighbour turned to him, and said,
with a look and tone suitable to the _importance_ of the communication,
"Sir, whenever you are at a venison feast, let me advise you _never to
speak during dinner_. In endeavouring to reply to you, I have actually
at this moment swallowed _entire_ a fine piece of fat, _without tasting
it_!"