New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-15
EsOrERIC WIT.

We do not remember that anybody has ever &C.
eus.d the universal Yankee nation OF being stupid.
Our claims to smartness are generally admitted
and, indeed its superabundance in our national COM
position is one of the occasions our unfrends take
against us. But there have been foreigners who
have questioned our claims to wit aud humor.
Even the poems of SAKE, and the elaborate malapro
pisms of Mrs. Partington, have failed to convince
the,e unbeeyers of the Development of the element
of fun in theAmerican character. Money. making is
very serious business, which frightens away at its
thought, the frolic brood of smiles and aughters-
at least on any legitimate provocatons. We need
not tell our readers how absurd this theory is and
how much more laughing people We are than our
English cousins, obfuscated as they are in the nicer
perceptions of their intellects by fogs beer, and
port-wne.
Indeed, besides the exoterc fun which is level to
the meanest capacities, We sometimes develop q
vein Of wit and humor which is caviar to the gener-
al, the existence of which would not be suspected
were it not for the unequyoca testimony borne to its
excellence by The laughter Of the hearers. This is
the true quicksilver which tries the fine gold aud
stamps it as the real thing, however unlike it the
specimen might look to the unannointed eye.
Shakespeare, who knew everything and certainly
everything connected with the mirth moving pas
.ioDs, tells us that "a jests prosperity lies in the
ear Of him that hears it. never il the mouth of him
that speaks" If authenticated by laughter, that
touchstone Of ests, it is not for any mere man to
question its genuineness simply because be is SO
obtuse that the point of the featbered shaft refuses
to stick in him. Now, there was General Butler,
tie Democratic candidate for Governor of Masss-
chusetts, who brought down the house the
other day at a Democratic meeting somewhere
in the Bay State by some exquisite jests which
it would take q spirit refined in the furnace OF
Democratic fervour fully to aPprehend
Our readers may recollec! that the State Reform
School for the rising generation of rogues was
burned by the hand of one of its inmates not long
since. This institution, not being of Democratic
origin was, Of course, fair topic of censure and
ridicule And in the course Of bis structures, the
gallant and learned General (for We believe he is q
lawyer as well as military chieftaD) brought
down the house by bis jocose treatment Of the sub
ject. "a young Irish lad" he informed his aud
ience was confined there, and he wanted to
throw some light on this great question Of Re
form Schools, and 80 he lit a birthstone match.
"dLsughter.1 He wanted little more Light, and
81 be Lit some straw. Renewed laughter. He
wanted little more, and he lighted up the build
ing" [COntinued merrment. Does any one
wonder at the ireItpguishabe laughter which sal
hes Ike these occssionedl It must be that he has
not soul capable Of the delicate perceptions neces
cary TO appreciate the fun Of arson Ii the General
had gone on 10 say tina. the youthful son Of Erin
had thrown great light on the matter, and that he
would undoubtedly i've TO be burning and shining
light himself both of which brilliant and original
snces are q. bis service for bis next eactioneering
speech il would have been wasted on dull sons Of
earth like this
Then We bethink Us Of another instance, quite az
pat to our purpose as this. At the Episcalau Con-
yention Of this Diocese, last month, Mr.. John Jay
presented petition for its consideration, which re-
cited the facts that the revival Of the slavetrsds
was matter seriously attempted, that very loose
notions existed extensively as to the morality Of
this traffic, and tina: it was believed that ships were
fitted out from this port for its prosecution. In
view Of the premises, Mr. Jay moved that bis me-
mortal be referred to Committee Of three clergy
men and three laymen, to report what action could
be taken BY the Episcopal Church to counterfeit
this state Of things. a dull mind would not per.
haps, at the first blush, detect the latent humOr
which urked under the grave exterior of this prOpo
.ition. But the Convention was not Of this fatuous
complexion. The Light of the wit that WAS in it
could not be bid under the bushel Of gravity super