New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
MELANcHoLYHUM AND OLD JOKES
Prom The london Teleornnh

London
"Gravity of demeanor" is. we appreheud little II
at all Inconsistent with genius for popularity.
Democntus Who, next to Diogenes said perhaps
antiquity, is described "very mel ancholy by
nature. averse from company in his later days, and
of the keenest wits of the Victorian era, was not
Only grave but anxious in demeanor; and Thomas
Hood the elder. who could make screamingn Jokes
even out of the complication of maladies which
tortured him, was facially the picture of sadness
WI M6en we turn to the two great masters of hunor
the habitual expression of Charles Dickens was one
Oh coneenirated sternness, and that the ordinary
udlcal gravity There host of good stories IN the
Table Talk of Samuel Rogers, but the outward
ana visible appearance of the bankcr-poet was the
reverse OF mirthful. 1t CHASTITY and cadaverous
TO an alarming degree; so much so. indeed, that a
French footman to whom Rogers had on entering
room given by mistake the card of Thomas Moore,
instead OF his own, announced him to the company
1t is curious that criticism should have taken 90
nttie cognlzance of the fact that the original Joe
Miller should have been, IN spirit if NOT in sub
stance, neither Joe himself nor John Motley alias
ELIJAH jenkins. Esq" but the greatest. meanest,
wisest of mankind" Francis Bacon, Baron Verulam
ana Vlscount St Adams. Lord Macaulay in his
review of Basil Montagus Life and Works of
Bacon. incidentally mentions that the lllnstrious
philosopher dictated from memory. without refer
ring TO any book, a day when illness had rem
dered him incapable of serious study the best cob
lection of jests ia the world Hard students of the
three hundred and odd apophthegms" dictated by
bacon to his secretary Will fully indorse the Justice
of Macaulays verdict They show the amazing
depth and Variety of his learning his wonderful
memory, his shrewd appreciation of the good things
said oy ms contemporaries, and his OWE keen sense
OF wit and hunor. 1hele few I" .Joes' equal to
the Jose related by Bacon himself of the plain old
man at Buxton who sold besoms," and who, a
young spendthrlft coming to hun for "A broom npon
trust, made answer 10 him, Friend. hast thou no
money Borrow OF thy back, and borrow of thy
dunnfng thee every day" Again there is the story
OF the witty rogue who bargained with lace man
to be supplied for a certain small with as much
lace as would measure from ear 10 ear. and who
went on to explain that one on has head
p B that the other was nailed TO the piliory at
bristol. Then there Is the irresistiby comic story
OF the mpudent thief in the dock who. knowing his
case TO be desperate. cried out when he called
upon 10 plead, charge you IN the Kings name TO
seize upon and take away that man in the red
gown'-meaning the Judge" for | go in danger of
my lie Tor tear OF him." Those familiar with the
modern American Joe" of TIE suitor who had lost
bis cause, and hingng down a five dollar bill on
the table of the court, exclaimed. " Fine me that
for contempt may be interested to read in tho
apophthegms" the story OF the sailor who. being
fined two shillings for swearing asked what the
mulct for cursng. lie was answered sixpence
whereupon be pulled a half-crown from his pocket
and cursing the court all round as a conpapy OF
knaves and fools bade The clerk keep the half
crown, as he never liked changing of money.1
American humorists have indeed incurred aiheit
perhaps uncOnsclouSly, "A heavy amouut of indebt-
ednces TO the old lest books for of their newest
and drest stories, There has been recently para
pbrased and calmly appropriated by Mark Twain
an anccdote of Scotchman who enters an eating
house on Holborn- hill and calls fer penny loaf.
Then he says that he has changed his mind, and
that he VIII have a pennyworth of beer instead.
ms process he repeats twelve times and lac Is then
InE oi pc Hay, Icsolclilg anu luIi OF Deer whch
me cookshop keeper demands pay mont for his beer.
Il gave YOU penny loaf for each mug of beerv
answers the canny Scot. /" But you have not paid
lor the loaNes,' continues the lncensed BOniiace.
But had them not" replies the Scot. This story
is TO be found IN an old cheap book published late
IN the seventeenth century and is very probably
survival Of some medieval joke current among the
schoolmen, since ITS humOr hinges on a false pre-
miss in logic For the rest the original Jest may be
many thousands OF years old; and may have been
one of julius Caesars collection of apophthegms the
loss of which Bacon, in the introduction 10 his own
aPDlOrpS
There as nothing new under the especially in
the matter of jokes.