The morning call., 1894-03-17
IRISH HUMOR.

AS to-day is st. Patrick's day. IL may
not be inopportune to remind those who
will keep the day that there has just APP
peared book entitled "Seventy Years Of
Irish Life" by w. X. LIE Fam, which con-
tains more and better Irish jokes than
most of the best collections of humor. Mr..
lie Fam is squire who lives in the
county of Limerick. and in the course of
his long life has come into con tact with all
the famous Irishmen of his time. He
made it the delight of his life to collect
their anecdotes aud bright sayings, and he
has now embodied them in his book.
he was hail fellow well met with the
peasantry, and his purse was always open
to those who were in need. Many a poor
fellow owed to his kindness the means of
getting to this country. Some of the droll
letters of gratitude which he received he
has preserved. One Michael O'Brien, who
had received from him money to buy an
emigrant ticket, wrote in reply: "God bless
you for what You have done. Is there any
one here who has ever done anything to
in1ure or offend you that your honor would
like anything done to? I'd like to do
something for your honor before l goes, to
show how thankful l am" Many of his
stories exhibit the quick wit of the Irish
peasant. AT a meeting held to denounce
agrarisn outrage a sheaf of pixies were
shown by a foaming orator. Some one in
the crowd cried. "a groan for the pixies"
to which another responded. "a bloody
end 10 themV
There are scores of jokes about the doe
tors. A boy who had just lost his father
received the condolences of friend who
asked what doctor had attended the de-
ceased. "Ah, sir" said the boy, my
father would have no doctor; he always
said he would die natural DEATH" Au-
other doctor, Medley, was physician to the
Dublin police. On appearing on the plat
form at meeting voice cried, Three
cheers for DR.. Medley! He's killed more
policemen than ever the Fenians did," An
Italian Organ-grinder, t0iling YEARLY on
the road TO Cork, asked peasant how far
it was to town. Just four short miles,"
was the answer. A priest passing that
way reprimanded the peasant. saying,
What do you mean by deceiving the poor
fellow? You know II is eight long miles"
sure, your reverence" answered Pat, II
seen the poor boy was tired, and l wanted
to keep his courage up. If he heard your
Il II pidLCQ ~ lkitllh uC
didn't-he'd be downhearted entirely"
Volumes have been written on the sub
ject of irish wit and humor. but il has
generally been displayed colloquially, or in
forensic or parliamentary debate. and
does not abound in the works of purely
Irish writers. Swift was a master of wit,
but it was of bitter. savage kind; Gold
smith abOunded in humor. but, like many
Irishmen of ability. he lett ireland young
and became to all intents and purposes an
EnglishmaD. Burke, who was born In
Ireland and remained there till he was q,
rarely condescended to let his humor flash
out. Moore possessed the pathos which is
akin to humOr. He stands almost alone.
Sheridan was genuine Irishman, and he
showed in Sir Lucius O'Trigger that he
understood the wit of the green isle, but for
some reason he used 1t little. The true
quality of Irish wit and humor was not
exhibited till Lever and Bouccault wrote
Both were genuine Irishmen. The former
remained so throughout life; Boucicault
strayed for a time into English pastures.
but toward the close of his life he re-
turned to the field he knew best and loved
so well.
hO hHO AZ CblVJ tue
escent CLEANS of Irish wit must read the
chronicles of the Irish bar. He will not
find them collected in any single work,
but the ana of Curran and She'll are scat
tered through books Of memoirs, and
"reminiscences like LIE FaDn's, and they
repay a hunt A number of them are pub
lshed in CoX's book on "Wit and Humor";
indeed. not few of the witticisms of the
American bar which go the rounds period
ically have an Hibernian flavor. Cox him.
self was half an 1rishman. 1t was curious
that he who figured for many years as The
wit of Congress should have been at last
the subject of one of the best retorts ever
uttered in the capital by one who had
never been regarded as jester. Cox had
been arraigning, in savage terms, the
dominant party in Congress, which was
led by Ben Butler. While he was speak
ing Butler came in, and after a few no.
ments Cox stopped. Butler rose. and said
that he would answer the member from
New York in the notes of an organ
grinder who. as be entered the House. was
slowly and laboriously grinding out on his
instrument the popular air of the day
"Shoo Flyl Don't Bodder Mew Then
Butler sat down.