When asked what he liked best about New York City, Auden (I learned in a recent issue of The American Scholar) said "Jewish jokes," illustrating with one about a man, we'll call him Sam, who consults a psychiatrist because he has been feeling hostile and depressed. The shrink tells him to get a pet.
"But I live in a small apartment."
"Even a tiny pet may help."
A few months pass and the psychiatrist notices the improvement in his patient's mood.
"I took your advice about pets," Sam says.
"What kind of pet did you get?"
" Bees."
"Bees," the psychiatrist exclaims. "Where do you keep them?"
"In a cigar box."
"But how do they breathe?"
Sam puffs on his cigar. "Fuck the bees."
-- DL
