A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the "buffone", or clown, and was therefore the ape of an ape; for the clown himself imitated the serious characters of the play.

IMAGINATION, n. A warehouse of facts, with poet and liar in joint ownership.

DISCUSSION, n. A method of confirming others in their errors.

Genealogy, n. An account of one's descent from a man who did not particularly care to trace his own.

THEOSOPHY, n. An ancient faith having all the certitude of religion and all the mystery of science.

EXCEPTION, n. A thing which takes the liberty to differ from other things of its class, as an honest man, a truthful woman, etc.

EXHORT, v.t. In religious affairs, to put the conscience of another upon the spit and roast it to a nut-brown discomfort.