But They Lost!

I just now stumbled upon a charming example of the “irrelevant logic” that is the basis of much TV and movie humor. In an episode of the sitcom “Dennis the Menace” from 1961, Dennis inherits an old Civil War uniform from a distant ancestor, finds a $50 bill in its pocket and tries to spend it in a store. Mr. Finch, the store owner, tells him it’s worthless because it’s Confederate money.

Dennis’s neighbor, Mr. Wilson, who collects old bills and coins, finds that it’s a rare collector’s item worth four hundred dollars, and buys it from Dennis for that amount. Then, when Wilson is in the store, Finch mentions to him that Dennis “tried to pay me with a Confederate bill.”

“Well,” says Wilson, “you should have taken it. It’s worth four hundred dollars.”

Finch opens his eyes wide with astonishment and exclaims “But they LOST!”