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The Buffoon and the Countryman.

A rich nobleman once opened the theater to the public without charge,and gave notice that he would handsomely reward any one who wouldproduce a new amusement. A Buffoon, well known for his jokes, said thathe had a kind of entertainment that had never been produced in atheater. This report, being spread about, created a great stir in theplace, and the theater was crowded to see the new entertainment. TheBuffoon appeared, and imitated the squeaking of a little pig soadmirably with his voice, that the audience declared that he had aporker under his cloak, and demanded that it should be shaken out. Whenthat was done, and yet nothing was found, they cheered the actor, withthe loudest applause. A countryman in the crowd proclaimed that he woulddo the same thing on the next day. On the morrow a still larger crowdassembled in the theater. Both of the performers appeared on the stage.The Buffoon grunted and squeaked, and obtained, as on the precedingday, the applause and cheers of the spectators. Next the Countrymancommenced, and pretending that he concealed a little pig beneath hisclothes (which in truth he did), contrived to lay hold of and to pullhis ear, when he began to squeak. The crowd, however, cried out that theBuffoon had given a far more exact imitation. On this the Rusticproduced the pig, and showed them the greatness of their mistake.

Critics are not always to be depended upon.

From Aesop's Fables