Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-07-13
ALEXANDRIA:
MONDAY MORNING, JULY IS, 1918.
on HuMoR-continued.

in the cases of tragedies which make us
laugh, and comedies which make US me-
lanchcly, with which | closed my paper oil
Friday, and the lamentable misappllcation
of it that so often takes place in the dona-
ton of the name OK PATRIOT TO turbulent
bread-seekers, respectively lead the MIND
to the contemplation Of similar abuses OF
words in a variety of cases OF kindred
natures. Every day presents US with
sheet called newspaper III which the
editor, or his sub-scribes or employer
disgusting compounds ofthe sneaking adu-
la.or and the rufian assassin treat their
guests with alternate layers Of gross fiat
terry upon "te freedom Of The press, and
butcherly denunciations Of vengeance a.
gains. those who dare 10 exercise that tree
dom in the assertion OF opinions disagreed
BILE to those scribblers. Were ignorance
an excuse for maligniy and mischievous-
ness. nine out Of ten Of those might freely
be forgiven; but in my opinion ii rs an ag-
gravation of the evil. Like drunken left
handed bully in an Irish fair, those isnora-
muses. level their cudgels with such an Ut
ter want OF skill or discrimination, that no
one can be sure of escaping its brltalityi
al the same time that the evil done is great
ly enhanced by the disgrace Of being hurt
by such miserable antagonists. He who is
torn te pieces by a lion or tiger, suffers no.
thing but death, while the catastrophe OF
him who should be nibbled by ducks,
would provoke little else but contempt or
derision.
As to comedies that extort tears, they are
rare instances Of the monstrous anomalies
which pass current upon the mob Of fashion.
"What," says the ingenious Henry Fiei-
ding, can we conceive of an audience al
a playhouse, where the dullest cbitchat
between gentlemen and ladies', is called
hunor, and applauded as such, while Al
bumazar, Ia comedy for its excellence re-
vived by Garrick) is but coldly received,
and the Little French Lawyer Of Fletcher,
is Kissed OF the stage -
The fact is, that there are but few, ii any,
words in our language so aoused by misap-
piication as the word humor-none respect
ing which the ideas Of the Aforesaid mob
are so unsettled, vague and indetermi-
nate. Indeed it may be doubted whether
nineteen in twenty of mankind have any
more idea in thei. heads when that word
drops from their lips, than the little child
have mentioned, when she calls a thing
fimny. 81 remember gentleman" says
Fielding, "who used to have this word
(humor) frequently in his mouth, and be.
slowed it Literally upon his acquaintance
i was inclined 10 wonder at his taste, till
happening to be on board ship with him,
he rapt out great oath, and swore that
the ship had great deal Of humor IN Ill
was now satisfied that, with my friend, the
word had no meaning tall"
Ii this indistinct conception Of the mean
ing of the word is so common in audiences
and readers, il is still more common in au-
thors. A certain worthy, well-meaning
North Briton, once produced piece on
Drury Lane stage, called "7he Hghlcnd
FAIR in which he intended TO display the
comical bumors OF the Highlanders. The
audience, who had for three nights together !
sat staring at each other, scarce knowing
what to make of their entertainment, on the
fourth joined in an unanimous explosion Of
laughter. This they continued throughout
an act, when the author, who unhappily
mistook the peals OF merriment for ap-
pIause, went up to Mr.. Wilkes, and with !
an air Of triumph said 10 him, Deel o my !
saul, sir, they begin to take the humor at
last" A greater mistake still in this mat
ter is related of the learned Bernard Lin :
lott, the bookseller, who having purchased
the copy of Phedrd and Hypo!ifus the ira +
gedy, was heard to lament most doletully
that the author had not put little more .
humor INTO it, " for that" said he, is the
only thing that is wanted to render il en-
cellent."
II is from this uncertainty as TO the pre-
else meaning OF the word humor, that so
many different opinions are found among
the many, of the same author and the same
work-and which variance OF notion Ho-
race allegorically points al, when he says,
Tres mihii convii7c propedissentirs videnfur.