PAROCHIAL HUMOUR [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sm,—Sorne time
ago you published, for the amusement of your readers, a series of letters, which rescued from oblivion many authentic instances of unconscious parochial humour. Is it too late to add another ? Some years ago, when we were living in a small township about three hundred miles up the Murray River in South Australia, my sister was " privileged to teach " a Sunday school class of young girls. In the course of her labours she selected on an occasion the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, and to test the
mental soil she was anxious to cultivate she asked at the end of the hour, " What is the lesson we are to learn from this beautiful story ? " The answer came very promptly from one of the children : " Each of us must look out for a bridegroom."
As an instance of the appalling difficulty of education in the " back blocks " at that time, a travelling inspector told my father, the resident magistrate, that he once came across a camp on a large sheep-run, and collecting together the children, proceeded to " plumb the depth of human ignorance." It was deeper than even he imagined. 'The question, "Have you ever heard of the Bible ? " was received in stony silence, indicating a negative. " Have -you ever heard of Jesus Christ ? "—the next question—brought forth the, amazing reply,-" Hush ! You mustn't say those words : it's swearing ! "
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