A CHARACTER SUPPORTED.

A BEGGAR asking alms under the character of a poor scholar, a gentleman

put the question, _Quomodo vales?_ The fellow, shaking his head, said he

did not understand his honor. "Why," said the gentleman, "did you not

say you were a poor scholar?" "Yes," replied the other, "a very poor

scholar; so much so that I don't understand a word of Latin."