Passing It on.
It is easy for an editor, when an almost-good-enough manuscript is offered, to say: "Sorry, but we're over stocked. I think The Mirror would like this."
It is easy for a public speaker, when importuned for an address, to say: "Sorry, but I'm too busy. I think Dr. Black would be just the man for you."
It is easy for a church member, when asked to be chairman of a committee, to say: "Sorry, but I can't this time. Why don't you ask Jones? He'd be fine."
It is easy, when a caller comes in business hours, to chat for five minutes, and then say: "Have you looked in on Smith? He's at his desk to-day and he'll not want to miss you."
It is easy, in short, to imagine that somebody else would like a thing-when you yourself want to get rid of it!
The Indignant Types.
After the printers had gone home the types in the type cases held an indignation meeting.
"What was it that the proofreader read last?" asked a question mark.
Several quotation points spoke up: "The types unfortunately made it appear the opposite of what we intended."
"What nonsense!" "How unjust!" "Shame!" shouted the exclamation points.
"As if it was our fault," said all the Italic in concert.
"The editor always lays HIS blunders on US!" cried the capital letters.
"Let us strike," proposed the black-face font.
"Agreed!" "Agreed!" screamed all the types. And when the printers came back the next morning they found them all in horrid pi on the floor.
Moral: Never lay upon inanimate objects the blame for your own stupid brain.