The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-15

ever, In this instance the work OF the compiler
haa been well performed. almost every type
and phase OF German humor being happily
Illustrated. We cannot say as much for the
translation. 80 far MS the poetry is concerned.
Especially is the attempt to render certain
lines OF Heine into English verse n failure.
The versions Of the prose extracts are better
done. though here also either the translator or
the proof reader is chsrceable with a good
many plumbers.
We can agree with many things. but must
Disagree With some things that the compiler
SAYS In the introduction where he essays tho
din1cult task Of defining humor In general and
German humor in particular. Mr.. M6ller-
Casenov does not seem to have q clear concep-
tion Of tho fundamental difference between
wit and humor. Primarily. wit is siWrly con-
cerned with the mode OF expression. Con-
ceivably one may be witty 10 discussing the
laws OF cravitation. the roots OF a dead lam
Cuage. or a problem In Euclid. This asser-
tion Ia made good by Butler in his "Hudibras."
But one cannot be humorous In propoundlDg
or calculating abstract ideas. Humor docs not
necessarily involve the Of epigram-
matte or fslicitous expression. but 1t docs al
ways imply that a certain kind OF subject Is
submitted to observation. and that It IL con-
sidered from a certain point OF view. The sub
ject il always human nature. or the nature OF
those animals in whom approximations
to human nature may BIO detected or pre-
tended. and the viewpoint is alwnys that OF
searching comprehension and lively sympathy.
When one defines humor in this way. one sees
al q glance why the Of It and the
command OF rathos are always united In the
same person. OF sympathy. ,humor and pathos
are. indeed. twin children the yelling tear and
the charitable. indulgent smile are but differ
ent emblems Of an emotion substantially iden-
teal The man who Is said to have the gift Of
humor. like him who used tn be described rs
the man OF feeling. in he who. In the first place.
has made a close and candid study Of himself.
and who. perhaps for that very reason. when
he looks utwar is best able to put hinself
In another's place.
= II we adopt such u definition OF humor. It
should be easy to discriminate between the
national types OF it. In q race. or people.
which. by inherited instinct. is most intro
s~pective. and which. In domestic and social re.
latlons. ovinces most humanity and sympathy.
We should look for the development OF humor
in the most incisive and illuminative yet
kindly form. TIT rule may be laid down that
tho nation whose master works OF letters or
Of art appeal most powerfully to the feeling OF
pity can also most effectively rouse the sense
Of humor. The Greeks. for instance. whose
sway over the Graver emotions has mover been
surpassed. produced also masterpieces OF
humor in the plays Of Aristophanos and the
dialogues OF Lucian. On the other hand. the
traditional conception OF tho Roman character
seems to exclude the exhibition either OF In
tense compassion or Of a keen susceptibility
to the humorous aspects OF human life and
character. As q matter OF fact, there Is
scarcely q trace of humor In Latin literature.
nutaido ~ DI.rkrs. for What hru oorouo ofrotna
there arc In Terence are VIGOROUSLY borrowed
from the Greeks. II the modern Italians and
the modern French were as closely related
BY blood to the Romano as their languages are
to tho Latin. We should expect to discover as
little evidence Of humor In their literatures.
But In both peoples there is q strong infusion
OF the Teutonic spirit. whilei In France the root
Of the national character is Celtic. which. as
va recognize in ireland. where We see 1t al
most intact. is prominently associated with a
capacity for pathos on the one hand and
humor on the other. II to Englishmen Cor
mar lrumor seems moro Ineligible and en-
joyable than any other. 1t Is because the fun
damental features Of the English race and Ian.
guago arc still essentially Low German. The
Englishman. like the Teuton. is q serious per-
son. and. although less demonstrative than his
klnsmau. lie Is at bottom extremely sympa-
thetic. Tho wit OF Heine. for example. his ex-
traordinary power and play OF expression. has
never besn better comprehended thnn 1t 10 in
France. But 1t is probable that. outside of his
countrymen. only Englishmen appreciate
the subtlety. tho delicacy. the depth. and the
pathetic quality of his humor o I Heine. as OF
sterne. It may be said that he sometimes seems
to smile through tears. that his humor has a
visible background OF sorrow; but tho specific
trait OF the German sentimentalist is his Gus
tom Of chasing away q tear. when on the point
OF falling. by an abrupt and merry lauEh.
1t Is satisfactory to learn that the publishers
Of this book have also brought out two vol.
umes. respectively entitled. The Humor OF
France" and the "Humor OF Italy" We hope
that these will be supplemented by other COM
~pilations exemplifying the humor OF Spain.
the humor Of. ireland. and the humor OF
Russia
We shall illustrate the scope and tho value
OF the book before us. mainly by extracts from
Richter. Home. BoGumil Goltz. and Julius
Ststtonheim.t to which may be added. II we have
space. instances OF university and newspaper
humor. We would begin. however. with An ex-
tract from q metrical translation OF q fable
written by Huge Won Trim berg. who lived In the
last half Of the thirteenth century. 1t lie evident
that under the figures OF the wolf. the fox. and