| Two men, members
{of
a religious order} [Adjective to
"members"], wanted to
smoke while walking {in the garden}
[Adverb to either "wanted" or "to smoke"].
They agreed that each
would ask his superior {for permission}
[Adverb
to "ask"].
The first one returned to
find the second one smoking
and complained indignantly: "I was refused!"
"What did you ask?" inquired
the second one.
"I asked if I could smoke while
meditating."
"Oh," said the other, blowing
his smoke reflectively, "I
asked if I could meditate while smoking!"
Baude's Handbook of Humor for All Occasions.
Compiled by Jacob M. Braude.
Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1958. p. 166
|