Athritis

[mals]

A drunken man who smelled of alcohol sat down on a subway seat next to a priest.



The man's face was plastered with red lipstick, and a bottle of gin peeked from his coat pocket.



He opened a partially torn newspaper and began reading.



After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, "Say, Father, what causes arthritis?"



The priest sized up the drunk and replied, "My son, it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of a bath."



The drunk muttered in response, "Well, I'll be darned," and returned to his paper.



The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized.



"I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?"



"I don't, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does."