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Story
October 19, 1855
Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A Philadelphia judge advertises a farm with a 'fine stream' of water. A prospective buyer notes the stream is tiny, like a spoonful. The judge quips that if it were finer, it couldn't be seen at all.
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MISCELLANEOUS READING.
A FINE STREAM
A good story is told of a Philadelphia
judge, well known for his love of jokes. He
had advertised a farm for sale, with a fine
stream of water running through it. A few
days afterwards a gentleman called on him to
speak about it.
"Well, Judge," said he, "I have been over
that farm you advertised for sale the other
day, and find all right, except the 'fine stream
of water' you mentioned."
"It runs through the piece of woods in the
lower part of the meadow," said the Judge.
"What, that little brook! Why it does
not hold much more than a spoonful. I am
sure if you empty a bowl of water into it, it
would overflow. You don't call that a fine
stream, do you?"
"Why, if it were much finer you couldn't
see it at all," said the Judge blandly.
We never heard whether the gentleman
bought the farm, but we rather suspect he
didn't.
A FINE STREAM
A good story is told of a Philadelphia
judge, well known for his love of jokes. He
had advertised a farm for sale, with a fine
stream of water running through it. A few
days afterwards a gentleman called on him to
speak about it.
"Well, Judge," said he, "I have been over
that farm you advertised for sale the other
day, and find all right, except the 'fine stream
of water' you mentioned."
"It runs through the piece of woods in the
lower part of the meadow," said the Judge.
"What, that little brook! Why it does
not hold much more than a spoonful. I am
sure if you empty a bowl of water into it, it
would overflow. You don't call that a fine
stream, do you?"
"Why, if it were much finer you couldn't
see it at all," said the Judge blandly.
We never heard whether the gentleman
bought the farm, but we rather suspect he
didn't.
What sub-type of article is it?
Deception Fraud
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Deception
What keywords are associated?
Pun
Farm Sale
Judge Joke
Fine Stream
Wordplay
What entities or persons were involved?
Philadelphia Judge
Gentleman
Where did it happen?
Philadelphia Farm
Story Details
Key Persons
Philadelphia Judge
Gentleman
Location
Philadelphia Farm
Story Details
A judge known for jokes advertises a farm with a fine stream. Buyer visits and complains the brook is tiny. Judge puns that if finer, it would be invisible. Buyer likely doesn't buy.