The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-28
TEE MORyNG star SUNDAY MAY g. ~

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made his delivery set off the Discourse
HIS argument on the national debt, which
presents the extent of it, illustrated by
every possible whimsical method, was q
more mastery production, but is not 80
popular. The Kentuckian's humor is not
an ever flowing fountain. 1t is q matter of
thought, elaboration and study, and the
disposition which prompts him to exercise
1t comes but rarely. This is true of his
private as we'll as his public life and
those who know him intimately can only
recall rare instances in which ttey have
enjoyed the play of his imagination. He
must therefore be set down as one of those
| cad and melancholy wits of whom litera-
| ture bas said 80 mach and there was no.
| thing lDcougruous in the appointment of
him TO the Craftsmanship of the Judiciary
Committee, which struck tue people at
| hrst as a sort of farce. 1t would be d I'll
cult to fnd more painstakipg, methodical
man. He seems 30 by nature rather than
from policy and the spirit of fun finds ex-
preston in the use of the pencil rather than
the tongue or pen, for he is one of the most
skilful caricaturists in the country, rivalled
| oy only one or two of the leading profes
sional artists.
| 1t is to be regretted that Knott, having
the faculty of humor, should not make
more frequent use of It-pot merely because
the proceedings of Congress are 30 dull
thatl would he a pablo benefector who
would ehliven them, bat because humor is
such powerful weapon in the hands of one
skilled in its management. 1t is a rare
gut, and those who possess it seem in some
measure ashamed of the endowment, and
are always straining after a reputation for
solid learning or respectable dulness.
They fling aside the rapier which they can
handle with perfect mastery, to grasp a
clumsy mace which they cannot swing. 1t
il hard to understand why men who have
wit consider it kind of weakness, when
they cannot but perceive what an element
of strength it is in such mind as Shakes
peare's, and when their own experience
teaches them its potency among men.
eDce becomes alert and attentive when q
man of humor rises to speak, and his origi
nal and whimsical presentation of argu-
ments gives them a force which vehemence
and brilliant rhetoric cannot bestow. In
Congress we often hear quick repartees,
ill-natured sneers and intense irony but
that play full, fanciful ridicule, which comes
into fierce debate like cool shower on
hot summer's day, is as infrequent as the
blossomipg of an aloe. There are dozens
of Represen tatiyes who can make an elo-
quent speech, but only two or three who
can make witty one; and as scarcity is
an element of commercial value, wit is
consequently more precious than eloquence. |
Only those who have Sat for hours listening |
to overstrained voices, overstrained bursts |
of passion, overstrained arguments, can |
appreciate the relief which a cool, airy, |
humorous speech affords. The great Sc
cret of Sam CoX's power lies in his humor,
and the fact that he cannot help giving
way to it. If he could restrain his pro-
pensty for fun he would doubtless be as
heavy and as Ineffective as his neghbors
but his whimeicalities break out in spite of |
him, and when he rises the House becomes
hushed and men yield to ridicule who had |
steeled themselves against invective. 1t is
the old fable over again: The sun and the
wind contended as to which was the more
powerful and tested the matter by attempt
ing to take away the travellers cloak. The
wind howled iercely about him and
snatched at the corners of the garment and
tugged at it's folds, but the more it bluster-
I'D the more closely the traveller wrapped
himself up the sun shone out warmly and
le cast aside the cloak as useless in the
genial heat. No better illustration of the
orce of humor could be asked than was af-
orded on the debate on the Consular and
Diplomatic Appropriation bill. The Re-
'ublicans who had been stoutly contending
against is provisions as enforced by the
appeals of Holman, Singleton, and others
or economy, actually gave way under the
ridicule with which Cox held up
he services of Read leading the country
lance with the Qleen of Greece and the
CONSUL at Tripoll defending the national
lonor against the soldier who wanted q
rink out of his we'll. They grew ashamed
# the cause which had been so laughed at,
md only two of them voted In the opposi-
ion to the measure which many had made
peeches against. The moral of all this is
hat humor is q faculty to be encouraged,
lot repressed.
ExroRTIoN AT THE CENTENNIAL -Ex