The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-04-11
HuMoR AND HUMoRIsTs.
Elem Who Could lie Funny While Suf,erin
vo.rtr- Das,


Elem Who Could he Funny While Suffering
Bodily Pain.
Even in the old times of chivalry and
romance, the knightlr days whose
legends still stir our blood, the merry
Jingle of the TESTERS bells, the poets
song, the priests homily and the wise
mans philosophy were, in turn, each
given a welcome in court and camp.
The King might not be able to read and
write. He might be inclined to repress
a love of learning if he felt it. as an
impulse that would throw doubt upon
his entire devotion to those martial &C
complishmcnts which were then con-
sidered the nobler objects of ambition.
Still the royal mind cravcd variety and
sought the refreshment or balm best
suited to its changing moods. IL the
play of feeling was in tine minor key,
the t~roubadOur was in request with
his sad, sweet ministTations, breath
ing thoughts of love, sobbing
the voc of exile and prisons. chanting
the triumphant ecstasy OF holy vows
accomplished. or in stirring measures
singing of battles and tourney. II the
royal purpose ran high, or the royal
fortunes were low. the priest and sage
were called TO the front: but in times
of prosperity and festivity motley was
the only wear.
Human nature remains about the
same. Its needs and desires follow the
old lines: so the jester still remains a
prominent figure in OFF civilization.
though he has changed his methods to
new conditions. The element of humor
is no longer an incident of newspnpI
and magazine contents. employed sim
ply as ballast: It has become ar indis-
pensab!e feature. The testers services
are no longer confined 10 the high cir
cles of rank and authority. for through
improved methods of diffusion the en-
tire populace has the benefit of them.
Humor has become & staple of the
literary market. There are various de-
grecs Of value according to quality; but
il is agreed that humor, of como kind,
is no longer an occasional luxury, but
ar everyday necessity, and hunOrists
have ceased to be beacon lights, glitter
ing in lonely sp,cnd1r upon t;e heights;
bhN AZ a. VI N1aNAS VI . %
lights. as the case may be. carrying
their cheer into th- hurablest corners of
the land. Once the hrmJrist, like the
poet. was born. not made: now demand
has demonstrated the fact that quite
crcditablc products can be evolved from
apparently very compromising ma
teGal. Natural gifts. Of course. still
count for considerable: but the born
humorist 40 longer enjoys the nonopo-
IL that once was his.
1t is interesting II trace the varying
relations bctwecn the workers in this
field and their works. The humor
of soIne men Is q creation. of Others
an emanation; the product Of 4
mind il simply mental. Of another
te!nperarcntal as well. One of the
princes of panto,nimc. when torn by
dyspepsia and driven almost wild by in
somnia. sought RELIEF from n physician.
''.ih," said the learned doctor. You
must have cheerful surroundings: go
and see tirimaldi." Alas" said the suf-
fer. 81 am tirimaldi." Tom IIood did
some of his best work when tOrmented
by bodily pain. Much OF Mark Twain's
success as q reader is duc to n lud;crous
contrast between the suTcriative ugli-
ness and s~olenuity of his personal up
pcarancc and the irresistible drollcry OF
his conceits.
The hu..or or wit Of the late John g.
SAKE. while il was 4 source of kocn On
joyInent to others. shot no backward
ray 10 cheer the heart Of its author. and
daring his closing years he lived sadly
and hHDclcSS!y among the deepest shsd-
vws. lie was the prey Of settled IIc!an-
choiy. The best Of his lie had long left
him. The fruits o: lis living and labar
were Dead sea 8?P!es. Ono strong
contrast with t'!i. s@:nhrc picture WAS
t,,at which Sh"wc1i the lite y. =. SIKH
l:.ier drlwin- near IA" sunset Of life. !
The Genial glow Of his natr-c was con |
s.aEt aa:;:i suffering ard trial. For
wears n prisoner in us r0C:n. c'.a;ncd
E@"is FROM cm;rr:l 'st Of ~f-:tr-nal ron
tay: with lis f~"i;r~.ian ry pli:fui
physical t,o:blas. his ciiCc-tIlTcss AL
kindly philosophy ucrcr f2:sonil him.
ari II chat AID s!lrls. ii his s-ic'l-rcc.n !
were always g~rnrinciy p!casIrahI" to
re siSlIp- ne ~ - IT. b.iItF' MS o
life brave:v. and. IL IN" i,ttec sense, /
successfully. for he ~cvtra,ted bright .
ness from = the E:Cat unrrcmisiag
circumstances.
Whatever inHy hc the reflex action of
huror upon hnrn"risis. they are. as :.
rule. al honest body of workers. work
ing for honest crds. Certainly to-day. !
less than at any previous time in the
worlds history. could we do without
thcm.-Ers'"~ E''rr