The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #12474   Message #98912
Posted By: Angus McSweeney
24-Jul-99 - 05:36 PM
Thread Name: Come you pranksters, fess up!
Subject: RE: Come you pranksters, fess up!
Les B, Your story reminds me of a great humorist of the 1920's - Robert Benchley (his grandson is the fellow that wrote "Jaws"). Any Mr. Benchley was a very popular columnist - Dave Barry is a modern descendant of his genre. But when he was a young college student he and a couple friends dressed up as workmen and headed for the "toniest" part of town. Walked up to a grand mansion, rang the bell, and when the maid answered, announced "We're here for the davenport!" Well, she was startled and confused, but being a good employee, she showed them to the davenport. They picked it up, carried it out, and thanked her. They then walked over to the next mansion, knocked on the door and, to this startled servant, announced "We're here with the davenport! Where should we put it?" One can only guess as to how that was ever untangled. Another time he went to Grant's tomb in the middle of the night and left two empty milk bottles outside with a note for thge next days delivery!