and you have nothing to do but
all to write according to my directions, and doubling down the paper, to
hand it to a neighbor, so that each time you have a different slip. When
it is finished, I will read them aloud, supplying some words which will
make sense--or, what is much better, arrant nonsense--of the whole. So
begin by writing a term descriptive of a gentleman."

"Now write a gentleman's name--some one you know, or some distinguished
person."

"Next, an adjective descriptive of a lady."

"And now, a lady's name."

"Mention a place, and describe it."

"Now write down some date, or period of time when a thing might happen."

"Put a speech into the gentleman's mouth."

"Make the lady reply."

"Tell what the consequences were."

"And what the world said of it."

"And now allow me to enlighten the company. Here is one specimen:

"The gallant and accomplished Nero met the beautiful, but rather
coquettish Mrs. Wyndham at Gretna Green, that place once so famous for
runaway couples and matrimonial blacksmiths, upon the 4th of July, 1900
A.D. He said, 'Dearest madam, my tender heart will break if you refuse
my hand;' but she replied, 'La, sir, don't talk such nonsense!' The
consequences were, that their names were embalmed together in history;
and the world said, 'It is exactly what I expected.'"

"Are you sure, Mary," said Mrs. Wyndham, laughing, "that you are not
taking any liberties with my name?"

"Here it is ma'am, you can see it yourself; but I think you escaped very
well. Here's another: "The refined and dandified Jack the Giant-Killer
met the modest, retiring Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, at the Pyramids,
(ah! some one peeped!) those wonderful monuments of ages long since
passed away, on Christmas Day, in the year One. He said, 'I never
entertained a very lofty opinion of your ladyship;' she replied, 'I
perfectly agree with the noble sentiments you have just uttered: our
hearts shall henceforward be united in the strictest friendship.' The
consequences were that they parted, to meet no more; and the partial
world remarked, 'What a pair of fools!'"

"Here is another: "The brave, daring, thoughtless King Solomon met the
elegant, fashionable Queen Semiramis upon the top of Mont Blanc, that
lofty mountain, crowned with perpetual snow, on the 30th of February. He
remarked, 'Do you like the last style of bonnets, Madam?' She answered,
'Sir, do not press the matter. I am but young; you can speak to my
pap