The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-16
HANDMADE WIT,
Or That which Passes for Wit in the News
papers.

papers.
There seems to be demand for it. We
have fallen into the delusion that this is
an age of wit, and are constantly on the
watch for the poisoning joke. The COM
monest observation, by an affectation or
mannerism, passes for a witticism as we
have learned to measure wit. An unusual
arrangement of words; an air of solemnity
misplaced; an eXaggeration of reserve; a
backwoods darkey or foreign dialect,
and remark on the weather passes for
the --latest good thing" and
"One more unfortunate"
has established a reputation for humor;
sufficiently unfortunate il only his friends
think so, but doubly pitiable. when the
mistaken soul is deluded into the belief
himself. Then his best and dearest, in
the most absorbing situations of life is not
secure. He viii be collared, button-holed,
and otherwise detained and made to hold
up his hands while the last joke is tried
on him.
No one likes to be thought a numskull.
even when the retort you're another"
may be made. and the best and dearest re-
solves to see the points if the effort scuffs
out the very last atom of intellect in his
possession, or if he go the remainder of
his journey through the age of wit to the
step OF st. VituS' dance. Greater love
hath no man than this" The straitest of
newspapers and periodicals have depart
mentS labelled "Witand Humor," Phuny-
graphs" ''Just for Fun" and other mis-
leading names. Many of them have IL
lustrations, which is commendable. The
average handmade joke should be accom-
panied by a diagram.
There is the periodical letter from the
the professional Joker, and we are warned
that it will be funny. Wise provision'l
The waiting public can have It's risibles
put into good running order. But the
most stupendous and immortal Joke is on
the people who fall into the habit of read
ing these alleged flashes of wit. An emf
nent occulist solemnly AYERS that the in
creasing use of eyeglasses is occasioned
by the imprudent searching for points"
True wit, like Topsy, must grow The
manufactured article is not more like the
genuine than is the vilest oleomargarine
to honest butter. Sometimes the profess
ional joker is deserving of compassion.
He is most usually, aside from this one
besetment, a good sort of person.
This one sin he has been fattered
into, by friends without the gift of
prophecy-they could not tell where it
would lead to. He goes on from week to
week with the idea that what he has to
say is waited for by millions in breathless
eagerness. He Will not disappoint his
audience, and his work gives evidence of
his struggles.
he Puns on names in a way that threat
ems his readers with lock-jaw. He quotes
items of news, and by a trick of mental
gymnastics he brings out the antipodes of
their real meaning, and 10! there is some
thing to make the people laugh, or 60 into
commissions of another sort.
This matter should be looked into The
joker may sacrifice himself for his vanity's
sake and ten cents q line, but who knows
that these things are not contagious? The
joker should have printing office of his
own, If he must print, and be compelled to
submit his work to committee of citizens,
a mental health board, that its strength
might be tested before pouring it out upon
defenseless public.
There are abroad in the land mind
readers, spirit teIegraphy, and hypnotism,
with their known and imagined influences
and horrors, and if there should come
upon us an epidemic of jokers' commissions
our devoted country would no longer fear
Asiatic cholera; on the contrary, it might
be welcomed in the hope that it might
carry off the promoters OF a more fearful
plague.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, as a man of
science, knows how to measure his powers.
He knows it is not safe to be as funny as
he can, but many other geniuses lack this
considerateness. They try to be much
funnier than they can.
MARGARET HOLMES.