Back in the days of telegraphs, before one could check anything and everything on the net, a film magazine writer needed to be sure of Cary Grant's age before finishing an article. He sent a telegram to Grant's agent: How old Cary Grant? [One paid by the word, so telegrams started the Twitter/texting language of today.]
Grant himself was at his agent's and telegraphed back: Old Cary Grant fine; how you?
Or, in the language of the hymnal: Is it well with your soul?
I've loved this joke for years. Another one I heard/read at the same time was of a grammarian who felt that the word "news" should be plural. He sent a telegram to a reporter, "Are there any news?", the response came back, "Not a new." Well, I've always loved that joke, and every time I see D. reading the paper,(daily) I say, "Are there any news?" He doesn't respond a la the joke, though.
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