The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-20

Corr a Washineton Hall Last 1MShl.-Last
evening Hon. s. s. Cox, popularly known
~ "sunset Cox member Of Congress
from the With New York district, delly-
cred a lecture in Washington Hallupon
aIrish Humor," which proved interesting
TO the medium sized audience in attend.
ance, Attorney General White, Mayor
Sweeney, Michael Reilly, Eq, and E. g.
Cracraft, Esq, occupied seats upon the
stage during The lecture.
His Honor Mayor Sweeney, in lew
we'll chosen words, introduced Mr.. Coz,
who prefaced his lecture with an expla-
nation Of the word humor. he said Its
old meaning was moisture, and II came
from Greek word meaning rain. Ac-
cording to the Hellenic philosophers there
were several humors In the human body.
From one arose laughter, and in the
course OF time the words humor and
laughter became Synonymous.
Humor differed among different na.
tons and at different periods in the life
Of the individual. What might have
been extremely funny 10 youth was likely
to be considered puerile in manhood.
The spsniard might laugh over a story
that we would consider stupid. In Japan
Il was said that the Emperor could hardly
stop laughing when he heard that the
Americans governed themselves by the
ballot box. This example served to chow
that the Japanese's sense Of humor diff
iered materially from that Of the Ameri.
can.
The Law Of humor was eccentriciiy, or
rather Its law was TO have no law. There
were no rules by which II was governed.
In this country we had the humor Of all
peoples and Of all nations. "What would
1t be-" queried the speaker, "without the
Irish element2" american humor was
like mosaic, but what would it be were
the emerald omitted" After defining
the difference between wit and humor,
Mr.. Cox stated that Irish humor showed
to best advantage at home. We might
see 1t in the United States but we should
90 to Ireland to End 1t in all lis original
ireland was only distinguished by that
which made life more pleasant than
profitable. Her people, in whatever con-
dition, unfortunate or prosperous, were
always humorous aud happy. From her
novels and boys arose that delightful
aroma Of humor which distinguished her
above all other nations. II trans
formed misery into happiness, darkness
into light. ireland was the Mark Tapley
Of nations. Ever full Of cheer and hope,
she never became disheartened under the
most adverse circumstances.
Speaking OF the sources and medium Of
Irish humor, the speaker said the limit Of
lecture would not permit an inyestiga.
ton OF her literature. The names Of
Burke, Currap, Sheridan and Goldsmith
were mentioned as giving lustre to the
genius Of Ireland. Her novelists had
drawn for their materials upon the gro.
tesque features OF her society and poll.
tics. As people the Irish were very
discontented. In their effort 10 seek re-
lief from their misery and degradation
they had been led to cultivate humor. Its
great source was among the common PEG.
pie. Among them quick sense Of the
ludicrous was as prevalent as it was alb.
sent In England.
Irish humor, the speaker claimed, did
not consist Of the brogue. II it could not
be translated Il was not genuine. The
Irish bull did not need the brogue to
make it recognizable. Without it true
Irish humor always had the right ring.
Il exhibited itself at the fairs, at quar-.
rels, at marriages and at funerals even.
Colloquial humor was very ready keen
and pointed; 1t displayed peculiarities
unknown to any other nation. It wss
exceedingly versatile. The Irish could
talk on subject whether they knew any.
thing about It or not, They were humor-
Gus IN adroitly telling the truth. Figura.
tive language was another source Of Irish
humor. This as well as the other points Of
his lecture Mr.. Cox illustrated with q
large number Of stories, which were quite
funny and created considerable laughter.
The last topic he took up was the Irish
bull. He analized this species Of Irish
humor as not being confined TO the Irish.
An English bishop psrpetrated bull
once by saying that he had renowned the
errors OF popery for those Of Protestant.
ism. The thoroughbred, however, could
be lassooed only in ireland. Said one
Irishman to another, "If you ever come
within mile OF my house, / hope you
will stay there all night" The bull
arose from a confusion Of subiectiyity
with objsctivity.
In concluding his lecture Mr.. Cox paid
an eloquent tribute 10 the Irish and their
country, which was received with con-
siderable applause.