Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-31
BURDETTE,s LECTURE.
Tho Pilgrimage of the Funny
Man,, as He Told II.

Manu. as He Told IL.
A large and appreciative audience
greeted Robert J. Burdette, the noted
ana popular humorist, last night, when
he delivered his lecture, entitled.
"The Pilgrimage of the Funny Man."
at the First Baptist Church, corner of
Sixth and Fort streets. Mr.. Bur.
dette has earned the reputation of a
humorist of high order. He claims
nothing new, nothing original; but
his keen perception, his power to read
character and his warm heart, has
enabled him to look through the
clouds of sorrow, adversely aud disa-
pointment, and see the genuine sunlit
picture of life. Not only does he en-
tertain, amuse, and, at times, con-
vulse his audiences with laughter, but
his sentences, laden with pungent
truths, are irresistible, and penetrate
the most obtuse mind. No one can
hear him and not be benefited, as
we'll as entertained. 1t is evident
that Mr.. Burdette's mission is not
simply to amuse, but to bring more
sunshine into the wolld and to help
men to see it. No aim could be
higher. The lecture last night
abounded in wit, humor, pathos, bits
of wisdom, remnants of which, at
least, every hearer will retain. In
the course of his remarks the lecturer
called attention to the peculiar fact,
which the experience of every one
has verified, namely, that the foun-
tains OF humor and pathos were close
together-in fact. had very near the
same source. There never was
laugh which was not echoed with
pain in the heart before night. He
besought people not to insist that the
world was continually growing worse,
and in proof Of this it was mentioned
that in olden times when man was
at enmlty with his neighbor he put ON
steel boo's, tin jacket and a castiron
helmet, and together with two or three
hundred other thieves, compassed
about the neighbours castle, sat down
and literally pulverized the walls, and
after tearing the castle down, sawed
off the heads of the captives. To-
day, man with malice aforethought
lays in wait for his victim, takes him
off eight or ten miles and sells him a
corner lot, which effectively kills HIM
and does not spoil the corpse. People
do not want the earth now, but are
satisfied with business or COZ ner lot.
AS fer humor, the Americans were a
race peculiarly noted for this, but
they wanted it right along every day
in the newspaper and at the fireside
and home. "NVe are not as a rule
find Of funny literature. know this,
having written couple Of such books
myself To be appreciated, humor in
literature must be interspersed with
business. In a paper it must
come right along with railroad
disasters and marriage no ices.
The funniest thing man
can possibly think of is often that
which in past years caused the most
bitter tears. There is no new humor
in jokes, stories, poetry or esen
novels: The novels of the day are
decidedly unoriginal. A man who
reads half way through novel now
and can not tell that the beautiful
young lady and gallant young man
will get married at the right time and
that the duke will die Just at the
proper moment and all the rogues be
killed off, don't know much about
novels. There is no new poetry, no
new stories, and jokes are not made
like boxes. l sometimes make joke
but am often obliged to issue map
and time card with it. Puns, it is
true, men sometimes, by force
of habit, make, but it were
better if = bis neighbor take
him out behind church and
shoot him. A man may pun fur
times year: On his wedding ami
versary, the Fourth of July, Christ
mas and New Years, not oftener."
| In conclusion, Mr.. Burdette stated
that trouble, sorrow and affliction
were necessary factors to human hap
piness. Had he the power he would
not change the laws imposed by the
Infinite. He urged the individual car
rying heavy loads of these inevitables
to throw them off, or az least to..make
them lighter by looking upon the
bright side of life.