My favorite is the time they had a drinking party, and got a bear so drunk it fell out the window and died.

Me: What is it about these guys and bears????
Mildred: Yep, I have anticipated you. Keep reading your comments.
:P

He then swore off alcohol, or strong alcohol, or getting drunk, something along those lines, forever, and stuck to it.

Ha, I kind of love this!

talking to Voltaire, talking about Voltaire, reading Voltaire, writing to Voltaire, reading Voltaire's letters aloud

I laughed! :D

contemporary Swedes joked that the best way to have your merits brought to the King's attention was to have someone accuse you of wrongdoing.

All right, that is rather sweet :D