Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-02-25
JOKING HAS ITS DRAWBACKS
A New York Humorist Falls Foul of a
Strange New Jersey Audience.

A New York Humorist Falls Foul of n
Strange New Jersey Audience.
II confess that when man in my line
seriously sits down to measure the
length, breadth and exact number of GU
bic inches to joke, he comes to the con-
clusion that joking by contract has its
drawbacks. So spoke Marshall P.
Wilder, the humorist, after his recent
trip to Tuckerton, n Y, where he en-
ployed his varied talents in the endeavor
to convulse with laughter an audience
Composed of a Few huhdrc9 nrrs ata
villagers. He labored under some dis
advantages on the occasiohS Thd men,
bers of the reception committee WHO met
him at the railroad depot impressed upon
him the fact that many of.tne frsons to
whom he was to addres,5aimse.f were
church members of thesIstrictest type
whom anything approaching to levity
would be an objectionable offense. They
told him, too, that others of the audience
] were worldly minded people who had
been recently gathered to the fold, and
that they would lose caste with the con-
gregation if they were seen laughing i'm
moderately. Here was state of things
"Well," laughed Wilder, II was in for
it and | could not shirk the responsible
/ ty. Half dozen local people got on al
the station this side of the town to attend
the entertainment, and | confess l had
my misgivings, for never ghost of a
smile hickered on their faces. The night
was chilly, and as stepped on the plat,
form saw couple Of figures looking
anxiously into the faces of the arrivals.
They were the members OF the reception
committee, but they looked like pair o.
undertakers.'
.. I'm be darned if he's come, said
one; what are we agwinc to do, brother?
"'Mabe he's gone to the next station
by mistake. was the grave response.
II took in the situation at once" pur'
sued Wilder, land | thought I'd have
my own joke if it wasn't on the pro
gramme. Away drove the committee in
buggy and stepping into a stage close
ly mu.fied up. followed. The buggy haC
the start of me by about ten minutes, anC
when | arrived at the hall heard th'
loud voice of the chairman making al
apology for my non-appearance. Goins
around by the back door persuaded ;
small boy to call him off the stage. AS h,
came out he scrutinized my diminutiv'
figure and exclaimed:
"'WhO on eartn be your
my name is Wilder Marshall P
Wilder l replied.
"'Thcp where's your father
"'He's in New York, | guess
An where's the humorist?'
"'Im m the humorist.
Wall. I'll be goldarned if this don
beat punkinsI and he burst into such al
uncomfortable fit of laughter that
thought he'd never stop. Just you hol
on mint while | fix things Then HI
rushed on to the platform and raising hi
hands as though about to pronounce tn
benediction, he said in loud voice:
Ladies and gentlemen, the humoris
is come. He couldn't get any furthe
for he was seized with such spasm o
laughter that began to feel that the sup
ply would give out before l could com
to his relief. Let's introduce you prop
erly,' he added, and seizing me by tn
arm he almost dragged me before the au
dience and then roared:
"'This be the humorist.
"Some laughed and others looked in
: credulous, but a boy in front, who wa
, apparently contrasting my small figur
, with the tall, bony attitude of the chair
man, called out, Don't sep on him o
you'll break him up!' "
+, Mr.. Wilder thinks there is good mate
rial for laughter in the town of Tacker
: ton, but it requires little feftilizng an
: cultivation. He thinks that in second c
third attempt he may be able to max