Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-07-16
IRISH HUMoR AND IRISH PATHos

IKlS1 HUMOR AND IRISH IA I1OS.
The extract, which follows, IS f ON an article
in the April number of The Westminster Re-
view, the basis of which is Traits and stories
Of the Irish Peasantry, and The Popular Songs
of l. Gland. The reader viii concur in the
opinion of the reviewer, that both these quail
ties are inimitable.
Not long ago we expressed our sympa-
thy for an old Irish woman-old, and ve-
ry poor-who, in addition to her other mis-
fortunes, had lately lost her teeth. "Timr
for me to lose EN-" she replied, ''when
IRE nothing for 'em to do" This is IRISH
HUMoR-a definition in am anecdote. 1t
arrives most rapidly at conclusion by the
pleasantest road-;t accomplishes a pur-
pose without useless expenditure OF
words; it is epigrammatic and yet easily
understood; it is picture as well as a
speech; it uckles the ear, animates the
fancy, and indirectly flatters an auditor by
enabling him to compliment his own quick
ness of appre ension, in taking in the full
meaning of the words. Like every thing
else that is Irish, it is peculiar; it is not a
pun, or q quiz; it is unstudied, it comes
unsearched for, and uncalled for; it has
an air of simplicity, and vet simplicity is
not its character-it belongs more to the
mind than to the tongue, and more to the
heart than to either. Imagine for a mo-
ment a rosy checked Munster iran, paving
rather eisurely the high way in Cheapside,
and, quite unconscious of the English dig.
nifty Of shopkeepcr, blocking up trades
mans door with heap of stones. "Take
those stones away" qaoth the tradesman
in futter. els it the stonesl Why, then
where would you have me take 'em tor
"Take them to H." replies the very
angry citizen. "I'll take 'em 10 Heaven
your honor, they'll be more out of your 10 4
there" was Paddy's reply. Now fancy
his under glance Of dissatisfaction the
fellows ourert civility, and covert satire
his Silent chucklc, minated only by tho
least twirl of his mobile mouth, the whole
| finished by the neyer-negIected shoulder
twist, as he stoops to resume his labor, ant
you have at once a picture of veritable
! irish hnmor. An lrishman never blum
ders from stupidity -he blunders because
his head has more than it can carry-h'
never lacks ideas, but he strings then
oddly together, arriving at his conclusion
by shorter way than an EnglishmaI
would have dreamed Of taking. lie rel
! ishes his potatoes with jest, and iutter
| his rags with merry laughter. Even lrisl
gentlemen at times commit themselves Il
| the laundering style, tho constant inter
course with the English has somewha
flattened their wit, if it has added TO thei
wisdom. Not long since we received
note of sympathy that we should hav
chosen a very unfortunate period for vlsl
ting tho Irish metropolis, "when there
nothing to see, and nobody to show it. =
And a short time afterwards one of tn
riders OF a steeple-chase, finding bis hors
| borqIe at a ditch, thus addressed his steed
@Lcp it now, and III giUe you poHa
note" Upon being subsequently ques
toned as to the effect Of the promise
bride, he added, "And she did lcP i, an
fell on her face and hands" Ofa kin