Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-02-23

That tho drclleries and jestngs of
Mark Twain and the DdnbWly NewS, the
roaring absurdities of the Detroit Free
Press and tho Burlington Hdwkeye are
keenly relshed by our people, you need
only look into our current newspapers to
satisfy yourself. Fresh, original and
amusing is this new kind of humor. AT
its best it is irresistible at its worst, it is
popular. It's present success, both sides
OF the Atlantic (for our English cousins
seem to enjoy it, is beyond dispute. But
we may doubt whether it is TO amuse tho
world for long, and whether anything
more than ashes will be left when its fire
has gone out.
The principle ingredient in the now
mixture is surprise. You lift the cover
of the toy box, and out springs the jester,
with cap and bells. You are naturally
surprised, and in this sudden, quick sur
prise rests the success of the humorist.-
Now nothing is so sure to surprise rs the
unexpected presentation, as a jest, OF
something we have hitherto regarded with
awe and reverence. IL is astonishing how
much of it deals with accidents put in n
ludcrous light, Of the vagaries of drunk
onness, of tho harmonies of married life.
Why one day last week, found in the
morning Issue ofthe Bostod Giobea round
half dozen capital specimens of this
bt.drre grotesqueness, and it wasn't n
very good day for fooling either. The
receipt for the average newspaper humor
of the day runs thus
Bring together two absurd and uttorly
incongruous ideas, in such queer relation
TO each other as to strike spark OF
amused sensation, and do some more, and
then try it over again, and the trick is
played. Doubtless at the head of our new
school of American hdmorists stands
Mark Twain. From this ruling king o.
testers we count the line backwards, We
have standing next to the throne the
Dda6uy Neirs Man, and the humoristf
Of the Free Press and Hdwkcye, ther
Josh Billings, Nnsby, Orpheus g. Kerr
Artemus Ward, and head and front OF the
commencement Of the offending, John
Phmnix, who, more than ihirty years agc
flashed his wit through the Californis
Press.
The recent atlantic Moathly banquet
brought Mark Twain to tho fore front. .-
His after dinner speech on that occasion
amounts almost to II definition of tho es'
sonce and quality of this new school o
humor. We have stated its essence to be
surprise, no mnttcr what tho means
to tho end, so that the end is ronch
cd. Now, that Mr.. Clemens surprised
every body, himself us we'll, when he
comes TO reflect upon his performance, -
there can be little doubt
la this goodly city Of Boston, l find {
notable difference Of opinion ns to th,
success Of this last venture of Mr.. Glenn
ons as pu1e aot. But there 10 NOTABLY
loss difference as to its entire good tast
and appropriateness. can credit th
current report TINT "Mr. Emerson lookot
puzzled" that Mr.. Longielow indulge(
in a surprised sort Of smile, and that DIR
Holmes smile WINS Of fainter hue thar
the hilarity Of the occasion seemed to cal
for. And am plunged into the depth
Of serious conjecture as to the atrocity 0
that article for tho atlantic which Mr.
lIowells rejected and which Mr., Clemon
told reporter he had intended to read II
that banquet, only he loft it home in hi
other coat pocket
a stranger to America and our custom
and habits of thought and expression
noting the stream of rreverent, triiling
and sometimes cruel jesting that flow
through our newspaper literature, woult
think US, rs a people, lacking in sterling
traits Of character and habits Of soriou
thought. But the riddle OF inconsistency
is solved, and the irreverence and tri0nl
vanish with the hearty laugh that shake
the cobwebs from overtasked brains, anC
lifts The depressed spirit into the sunlight
Of good cheer. .-H0|esS0r +, BrO,Vn
Lecture.