Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-19
WAY 90 WOMEN LACK "HUAoRr'
II Is '.snabbed'' Out Of Many wsmsa
In Early Life.

One OF TIE DflS1tcS women WHOM
know recently deplored IN PRINT the lack
CT a sense OF humor" Ia women Shs
speaks Of this sense as generally mo-
nopoly Of men-notably OF newspaper
men. While | admit that men laugh
AID Joke more than women DO as
class, do not believe that they have
more natural wit or quicker sense OF
the ludicrous. The seriousness and
gravity OF most women are primarily
the result Of early snubbing; seconda-
rily, OF the lonely lives which most OF
them live after marriage.
As 70 the trst cause: wonder If there
Is a girl in the world with the least sense
OF fun, the least love OF rational laugh
ter and merrinent. who does not con-
tinualiy hear w hat rattlebrain! Is
anything sacred from your funlnaking?'
or, How can YOU ind so much 10 laugh
at You laugh just like boy" or, Il do
believe you'd see something funny IN a
funerslT or, worst Of all, Those who
laugh while they are young must cry
when they are Olds'
never noticed any unusual gravity
n girl babies. or that they gurgle and
laugh less than boys. Indeed the two
very merriest, Jolhest. most rollicking
babies | ever knew were girls. But
quite possibly they grew up To be two
of the slow" wives whom their huS-
bands find so dull company. The con-
fined and restrained lives which are laid
out for most girls are OF themselves sad
dening. An occasional walk, ball or
party, IN all Of wkich there Is more or
less restraint, does not have the inspirit-
ing. enlivening effect OF rae everyday
freedom which the boy enjoys.
II girl is born in poor family her
constant need of drudging indoors is
enough To Kill her funmaking proclivi-
ties; If she is born 10 money the arti-
feiahties and formalities Of her life soon
destroy ali her spOntaneity. The so
called best society" which regards
hearty laugh as vulgarity and the
natural expression Of any emotion as a
sign of III breeding, cannot be supposed
a very hotbed for the propagation of
original wit and humor; and it may
safely be said that if society women are
not famous for flashing wit and brilliant
repartee, neither are the rank and file Of
society men famous for the sparkle and
irresistibility of their original humor.
Ny merriest schoolmate Il had boy
schoolmates, tool was a girl; not SIM
ply laughing girl, laughing as all
young creatures rejoice until cured by
time or training. but born humorist-
witty herself and the cause of wit in
others. In her inspiring presence the
dull and grave awoke TO vivacity and
liveliness and the brilliant became daz-
zling. | have known some men humor-
lists. and l admired and appreciated
them, but not one of them was quicker
to see droll possibility. more ingenious
in turning funny sentence, more mex
hanstible in resource, more constantly
a-bubble with wit than that girl whom
nobody ever heard of, excepting her
schoolmates mot six of whom knew how
10 admire herr and the grown up friends
who were continually wet blanketing
her.
Unfortunately hers was a rich family,
and she was early put into the crimping
and fiuting machine of good breeding"
and etiquette, trained for that sort of
society" which looks on all originality
as eccentricity, 'and eccentricity is such
bad form, you know" Years after |
met her again. What was she? A ma
chine with the springs taken out; bobo-
link taught to sing fashionable music; a
beautiful, hfeless creature To put fine
clothes on, TO take 10 the opera, to DO
possibly betrayed into well bred smile.
The snaftieDit and checkrein OF '.socie-
"" had done their work.
And how is it with the poorer girl? II
she lives at home she must manage and
contrive and help her overworked
mother; the very labor OF living is de-
pressing. IL she supports herself and
others. her life Is fight: her only asso-
ciates are girls as poor and dreadfully In
earnest as herself; there is small chance
for the cropping out of fun in working
girls humdrum existence. If she mar
ries poor man there is the same old
grind. with added responsibilities, pre-
occupying and depressing. For years
she Is either alone all day for SIX DAYS
out Of seven. or she has only the com
partnership of small children, who, how
ever merry they may be, do not call ont
much rivalry of wit and repsrtee. She
may have the wittiest husband in the
world. but she sees him only in the
morning. when he Is hurrying TO get
away 20 his work, or at night. when hs
comes home tired and subdued by
the work II the day--at neither
Of which times Is even a witty
man apt 10 scintllate to any
great extent. He may be one Of those
very newspaper men who are so
good comrades in the Office; if so, he
has been for the most of the day. even
though hard at work at bis desk, in an
atmosphere Of mental electricity. If one
may say So he has had that impetus
and incentive which is so provocative of
wit and sprightly thought. the attrition
of kindred minds. quips, quirks. puns.
bright sayings and apt retorts have reen
passing under bis eyes and exploding in
his ears all dsy. continually suggesting
others. and keeping him constantly on
his metal But even newspaper men
are sometimes tired at night, and it ia
doubtful If even the veriest clown IS
very funny N the bosom Of his family.
Probably the wife of a funny man hears
less Of ais fun than any other Of his &C
qnainrances.
\ very old book inquiries, How can
one De warm sionef' But it Is easier 70
be warm alone than - b witty alone.
VII = eminently a social instinct the
funniest man mopes if shut up alone
where no one hears his fnn And Il Is