Lately there has been much talk about the origin of the word chestnut, as applied to stale jokes. Various theories are presented: one, that it came from the Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia; another, that it began with the practice of carrying horse-chestnuts in the pocket, to cure and prevent rheumatism. In connection with this last notion, one newspaper compares it to the "present delusions" of curing by hot water, and by Metaphysical Healing. Christian Science, however, rejects alike the materialism of hot water and horse-chestnuts.
