The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-03-28
sktMMER's EXPERIENCE.


~ SWIMMERS EXPERIENCE.
| A Funny Editor Meets the Embodiment OF
Humorous Conception.
Mr.. Skinner was the editor OF e
humorous weekly He had very
easy time of it. for he got comforta-
BILE salary, and had nothing to do but
| edit. -
As he had just turned into Broadway
one morning. on the way to his Office, a
paper was thrust into his hand, on which
ne read.
ROUND AND AROUND.
ut seems to me. DOCTOR said old
Baggs. that your bill has got surpris-
ingly round?"
Perhaps" said the doctors "but
you were got surprisingly around,
too"
Looking np he saw old gent Il e; i
walking beside him. ....--.---.--.,-.---
The aged unknown bowed and said:
y" i am the Embodiment of the Humor-
Gus Conception, sir.
Mr.. Skinner said he was happy,
etc.
Il think could be useful to you, Mr..
Skinner" said the Embodiment Of the
| Humorous Conception.
TN what way p asked the editor.
'In the last number Of your paper"
pursued the Embodiment of Humorous
Conception, you had this" and he
handed Mr. S. a cutting:
On 1t was:
OVERHEARD AT LURAY.
Guide--I could tell you things about
this cave that would make your hair
stand on end, sir.
Tourist don't think so.
Guide You are very brave?
Tourist am totally bald.
..Well?"
s.Do you consider that humorous, Mr..
s,kimmerP"
Well" said the editor
Il hope for your own sake you do
not
II you know any thing about hui
NOR, said Mr.. Skinner, testify, "you
must be aware that nothing is more
difficult than to produce continuous
series of short dialogues that are origi-
Ia, pointed and amusing. -
II know it full well. Still, you
should not print a thing that is not
original, pointed and amusing: Read
this, also from your paper.
The Embodiment gave Mr.. SKINNER
another cutting:
-The- editerf for first time appre=
ciated, the position Of the doctor COM
PEELED TO swallow hisown physic: He
read:ss. !: s 3.s -. i
PECULIAR, VERY -, -
You don't think much OF Callowp"
.Wouldn't believe him under oathrp
N"But he's certainly candid Hetold
me he never spoke the truth. -"
''Bah! he lied to you. y
That paragraph, dear editor, is not
original, nor pointed, nor amusing.
Upon my word"
Tho humorist, though" added the
Embodiment of the Humorous Concep-
ton, .'has one great difficulty to con-
tend withsa On the stage tits permitted
to use old contrivances. The same
properties, the same tinsel,r the same
zlights-the-s same actors may 4em-
Ployed a hundred times ON the stage to
produce varying effects The humorist.
on the contrary, must not only bring
forth entirely new creations at every
manifestation, but his material must be
wholly original as we'll as his produc-
ton. He may not employ the same
properties more than once"
Then why your condemnation
asked Mr. Skinner.
Because to be simply funny is not to
be humorous. Clowns and testers are
intended to provoke mirth, but the hui
merist should appeal to our intellect as
well as to our risibility."
'..Tll tell you what I'll do. said Mr..
Skinner; .I'll let you edit therspaper
| for awhile
The offer was accepted.
| At the end of the first month the hui
>morous weekly's circulation had drop
ped two-thirds. M
twiFee'rr have 70 part. said Mr.. Skim
i mer,- m being ruined. ''--''--'- ~
The public must be educated up to
me-" said the Embodiment OF Humors
Gus Conception.
''lt would take a thousand years, y
said Mr.. Skinner; you must goW
So he went. Fhe best paragraph in
the next number of the weekly was the
following:
THE BEST THING TO DO.
"Begorra, Mrs. Clancy, me ould
mans on a tear,
Then let him rip, Mrs. Dennis.
The paper is now proving a gold mine
| for its owners Life.