New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-05
NATIONAL HUMOR.
SOME INTERESTING EXAMPLES.

TIE HUMoR OF GERMANY. Selected and transiat.
Hans MuncrCasenGv; With Illustrations by c. T.
Brock. Imported by Charles scribner's sons.
THE HUMoR OF FRANCE. Selected and Translated
with Introduction and Biographical Index. 10y Elza
beth Lee: with illustrations by Paul Frenzeny. I'M
ported by Charles ScTiDners sons.
THE HUMOR OF ITALY. selected and translated
Sv A Wcpncr NTH isrnons ' by Artmro Fadl
Imported by Charles ScIibners sons.
Tho idea Of giving characteristic selections in a
convenient form from the humor OF various nations,
deserved TO be carried out successfully; and while
no selection Of the kind can be expected to satisfy
all tastes, and while doubt many readers Will
miss some favorte illustration, it. is questionable
whether the work could be better done in anything
like the same compass How many more volumes
are to appear in this interesting series We do not
know. There is clearly room for a goodly number.
But the three volumes whose descriptions appear
at the head of this notice serve very well to point
the merits of the undertaking, and illustrate the
most salient differences in national humor in Il
curious and interesting manner.
Perhaps the volume on German humOr involved
the greatest difficulties for the editor German
humor has, indeed been almost denied existence by
the volatile Franks and Herr Casenov though he
has given specimens as far back as the thirteenth
ampes from much later periods. We find no sam
pie Of tile famous TIL Euenspiegcl In this sclcc-
ton, but Hans Sachs is fairly represented. So far
as popularity is concerned, tie first Of these was
perhaps the best known but both were rude and
primitive, and belonged to a little developed age.
AS regards development, the same general pho
nolnena may be observed in all continental coun-
tries, modified more or less by the genius Of the
people Thus in Germany the earliest examples Of
humOr are marked by d rough Jovalty, often
touching upon brutality. In France, on the other
hand, and also in Italy, there is certain incssc
anu delicacy OF perception even in the rudcst
period. Take, for instance. the farces OF Maitrc
Pcltrcln," and the chante-iable" Of Auca>sin at
Nicolette. In Germany the popular Imagination III
early times ran largely TO the supernatural. and
eliminated in the grotesqucries which grew up
about the Faust legend.
In the earliest printed examples Of this the au-
thors seem to have endeavored to crowd into the
narrative all the tales of magic and enchantmcnt
which had been abroad in tine land during the
preceding five hundred years. One may find there
stories whose origin can he traced at least far
back as the Golden AZ" OF Apulcius, and some Of
which could probably he assigned Il much moro re-
mote paternity; possibly lot less venerable than
the ancient Egyptian priesthood During the mid
die ages the monks were tie cOlp0rtcurs Of all such
literature which thus found its way into the hands
Of the laity. There ii was taken great liberties
WITH and there also IL received the stamp OF that
local barbarism which characterized the age. 1t
is, however, interesting to observe that IN these
early days national humor tended in all countries
quito as much--and perhaps more-to satire and
malice, than IT has ever done since. The Joking
was extremely rough, and it was by no means al
ways kindly. But in France and Italy there was
a substructurc OF refinement which showed itsclf
in the national humor at an early neriod, and which
produced some masterpieces probably never TO be
surpassed
The volumes in this series which are devoted to
those two countries do not, perhaps illustrate the
period OF the later Middle Ages very fully. but in
at least some instances the examples which would
have had otherwise 10 be cted do not lend them
selves very easily to modern reproduction. Com
ing down 10 quito recent times the editors task
becomes much easier, but at the same time
"rapproachment" Of style and sentiment becomes
apparent which threatens to end in a practical
obitcration of really national distinctions. The
German naturally holds out most sturdily for his
originality The Frenchman and the Italian follow
the same models, aim at like refinement, and,
particularly in the case OF the Italian. sometime,