The Book of Three Hundred Anecdotes

The Book of Three Hundred
Anecdotes

Project Gutenberg's The Book of Three Hundred Anecdotes, by
Various Authors
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Title: The Book of Three Hundred Anecdotes Historical, Literary, and
Humorous--A New Selection
Author: Various
Release Date: March 19, 2005 [EBook #15413]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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HUNDRED ANECDOTES ***

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THE BOOK OF THREE HUNDRED ANECDOTES.
HISTORICAL, LITERARY, AND HUMOROUS.
A NEW SELECTION.
BURNS & OATES. LONDON: GRANVILLE MANSIONS. NEW
YORK: BARCLAY STREET.

ANECDOTES.

AFFECTION.
General St. Amour.--This officer, who distinguished himself in the
Imperial service, was the son of a poor Piedmontese peasant, but he
never forgot his humble extraction. While the army was in Piedmont,
he invited his principal officers to an entertainment, when his father
happened to arrive just as they were sitting down to table. This being
announced to the general, he immediately rose, and stated to his guests
his father's arrival. He said he knew the respect he owed to them, but at
the same time he hoped they would excuse him if he withdrew, and
dined with his father in another room. The guests begged that the father
might be introduced, assuring him that they should be happy to see one
so nearly related to him; but he replied, "Ah, no, gentlemen; my father
would find himself so embarrassed in company so unsuited to his rank,
that it would deprive us both of the only pleasure of the interview--the
unrestrained intercourse of a parent and his son." He then retired, and
passed the evening with his father.
The Deaf and Dumb Mother.--The late Countess of Orkney, who died
at an advanced age, was deaf and dumb, and was married in 1753 by
signs. She resided with her husband at his seat, Rostellan, near Cork.
Shortly after the birth of her first child, the nurse saw the mother
cautiously approach the cradle in which the infant lay asleep, evidently
full of some deep design. The Countess, having first assured herself
that her babe was fast asleep, took from under her shawl a large stone,
which had purposely been concealed there, and, to the utter horror of
the nurse, who largely shared the popular notion that all dumb persons
are possessed of peculiar cunning and malignity, raised it up, as if to
enable her to dash it down with greater force. Before the nurse could
interpose to prevent what she believed would bring certain death to the
sleeping and unconscious child, the dreadful stone was flung, not at the
cradle, however, but upon the ground, and fell with great violence. The
noise awakened the child. The Countess was overjoyed, and, in the
fulness of a mother's heart, she fell upon her knees to express her
thankfulness that her beloved infant possessed a blessing denied to
herself--the sense of hearing. This lady often gave similar indications of

superior intelligence, though we can believe that few of them equalled
the present in interest.
Filial Affection.--A veteran, worn out in the service of France, was left
without a pension, although he had a wife and three children to share
his wretchedness. His son was placed at _L'Ecole militaire_, where he
might have enjoyed every comfort, but the strongest persuasion could
not induce him to taste anything but coarse bread and water. The Duke
de Choiseul being informed of the circumstance, ordered the boy before
him, and enquired the reason of his abstemiousness. The boy, with a
manly fortitude, replied, "Sir, when I had the honour of being admitted
to this royal foundation, my father conducted me hither. We came on
foot: on our journey the demands of nature were relieved by bread and
water. I was received. My father blessed me, and returned to the
protection of a helpless wife and family. As long as I can remember,
bread of the blackest kind, with water, has been their daily subsistence,
and even that is earned by every species of labour that honour does not
forbid. To this fare, sir, my father is reduced; and while he, my mother,
and my sisters, are compelled to endure such wretchedness, is it
possible that I can enjoy the plenty which my sovereign has provided
for me?" The duke felt this tale of nature, gave the boy three louis d'ors
for pocket-money, and promised to procure the father a pension. The
boy begged the louis d'ors might be sent to his father, which, with the
patent of his pension, was