The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-02-20

fresh blossoms under the axe of the execu-
TONER. It is the strongest and most thought.
full mind that perceives most keenly the man
fold and perpetually-occurring contradic-
tions, and incongruities, and Inconsistencies
of life; and hence great writer regards hu-
NOR as often "the natural associate of an in
tense love of truth, if it be not rather par
ticular form and manifests ton of that
love. "-leaYing one to strip off the artificial
drapery and conventional formalities of life,
and to look straight at the realities hidden
beneath them in their naked contrasts and
contradictions. Such was the humor of
Luther, of whom 1t has been said that he
was "open as the sky, merry as the sun
shine, bold and fearless as the storm" He
believed that the earth was the Lords and
the fullnGss thereof, and never thought that
he honored God by wearing long face. SO
he cracked jokes with Lord Cate, as he play
fully called his wife laughed body and sonl,
at the caricatures of the Pope which hung
upon his study wall ; and replied to the de-
nuncations OF his enemies by merry jests.
Not so John Calvin. To him this world was
waste, bowling wilderness; Gods curse
was upon it, and therefore he had no eye for
it's beauty, no ear for its music. He had no
favorite cats and pet dogs, no flutes and pic
lures and merry games. like Luther; he
rarely smiled, and still more rarely laughed :;
and when he did laugh, it was q very weak,
thin, staggering, husky ffair,-what Carlisle
calls kind of laughing through wool, mot
at all the clear, loud, ringing laugh of Luther.
We may respect the great Genevan as giant
of theology ; but who. as he reads his biog-
raphy, thinks of clasping him to his heart,
as he does Doctor Martin?
That pink of propriety, Lord Chesterfield,
thought it uugentlemanlike to laugh. 1t
was q shocking distortion of the face. III
am sure" he wrote to his son, "thst, since I
have had the full use of my reason, nobody
has ever heard me laugh" We cannot help
thinking that it would have been far better
for him If he had occasionally given way to
his feelings, and not impressed the world
with the notion that he was all starch and
formallty,-that everything he said or did
was calculated. He was the politest, best
bred, most insinuating man about the
Court; and yet he was continually out-fank-
ed and out-maneuvered by Sir Robert Wal.
pole, who had the heartiest laugh in the
Kingdom, and by the Duke of Newcastle,
who had the worst manners in the world.
The over-sober Christian will hardly be
proud of Chesterfield as an ally.
The trulh is, the best men have been the
fordest of innocent mirth. 1t has been truly
said that the clergy, as body, are among
the most humorous o. men. Were their
Guips, and pranks, land mirth, provoking
jests collected into volume, they would
make one of the most amusing books in lit.
erature. Old DR.. Emmons, Of franklin,
Mass, said as pungent things at table as in
the pulpit. His wit was as sharp as his log.
J ic. A young preacher occupied his pulpit
one day, and at dinner angled for compli
ment. II hope did not weary you by the
length of my sermon, Doctor ?" "No, nor
by it's breadth, either" CT an afraid" said
another young clergyman, 81 did not get
fairly into my subject. in my sermon to-day
"Well, young man, do you know the reason
why? 1t was because your subject never
got into goa." Lyman Beecher was full to
him to prosecute libeller. once threw o
folio of divinity at skunk. l got new
suit of clothing, and had to pay for the re
binding of the volume" Sturgeon is noted
for the keenness and elasticity OF his wit, and
during his gravest sermons his hearers face
often relaxes into smile When a well
known bore sent word to him that "a serv
ant of the Lord wished to see him,--"Tel
! him." was the reply" that am engaged
with his Master" In preaching to com
pany of butchers, he opened with the hymn
Not all the blood of beasts
On Jewish affairs slain, etc.
When told that twins were born to him. he
cried out;
Not more than others l deserve,
But God has given me more'
Some years ago clergyman near Boston
asked another, who was noted for his prolix
) ity, to preach for him. "I Cannot" was
the reply, "for am busy writing sermon
on the Golden Calf.' "That's just the
thing" was the rejoinder leone and give
us forequarter or it,"
The fact that SO many men who have beer
brimful and running over with wit and hu
NOR have been among the simplest ant
kindest hearted may, among the devoutes
of men, -convinces us that it is the harsh
ness of an hreligious temper, masking itsel
as religious zeal, that scowls on al NANTES
tations of mirth. If in the Church of to-da,
there are many conscientious persons who
In arioso trills and graces