Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-02-08
PUNS AND PUNSTERS.
A DEFINITION OF THE FORMER AND
EXAMPLES OF THE LATTER.

A Few Specimens of the Better Glass of
the Lowest Form of Wit-Tom Hood the
Prince of British Punstcrs-Ee Puns as
Naturally as He Laughs.
Is the pun legitimate form of wit?
Some people think not, and DR.. johnson
said that man who would make a pun
would pick pocket. But the fact is
that the general obiec'i~n to puns is be-
cause of their freq lack Of wit
that is to say, it is directed to bad puns
We do not want to discuss bad puns-
or even to hear them. The point is,
whether good puns are admissible as
legitimate and commendable express
sions of humor. 1t is Of no use to say,
like Sydney Smith, that puns ought to
be i'll bad repute, and, although one
finds an incorrigible punster-often, it
is true, an incorrigible bore-in every
little circlet of social life, one does not
find the race of pickpockets to be in
creasing alarmingly in numbers. Nor
do the statistics of crime seem to bear
any relation to the productions of
Planchet Or Brough or of Gilbert to tho
spread of burlesque and the cultivation
of Bah balladist opera.
1t is probable that there are few,
even in these days Of culture, capable Of
approaching the profound wittcism
which De Quincy discovered in the
jests for which poor AIlius Lamia was
put to death by Domitian.
Cicero had the name of being great
punster, although not many Of his wit
ticisms have come down to us. There is
one, however, that may be appreciated
even without knowledge of Latin.
Once Il Jew attempted to get the cause
of Verres into his own hands, and Cice-
TO, who believed the Jew to be a mere
tool of the culprits, opposed him by ask
ing, "What hath Jew to do with
swine's flesh:'' The Romans called
boar "verres," so that the point was
neat and appropriate
If we want to argue the legitimacy of
puns we are obliged to fall back on the
old discussion as to the difference be-
tween wit and humor. The definitions
are lesional of course, but not one of
them is wholly satisfactory. "Knowl-
edge comes and wisdom fingers" Ten
nyson says, and perhaps we might found
upon this a parody, with some approach
to truth-that wit sparkles and humor
permeates But there is little profit to
be got in analysis of this kind. What is
funny isn't necessarily witty, but what
is funny must have i'll it or suggested
by it some of the essence of humor.
Thus Charles Lamb was not so far
wrong when he said that the most far
fetched and startling puns are the best.
The familiar inquiry, SIS it true that
the first apple was eaten by the first
pair?" is farfetched, but one cannot
deny the humor of it. Again, in the
conundrum, "Why is blind mans buff
like sympathy" -' Because it is a fell
low feeling for fellow creature, :"
there is direct application which is
also unqueslionably humorous. Then,
absurdly apparent, there was Douglas
Jerrold's remark about q man to whom
he had repeatedly written in vain for
some money.
Il have written him." said Jerrold
to an acquaintance, "but got nothing"
''Strange, said the other, "for he is
man full of kindness -
eyes, rejoined Jelrold, "unremit-
ting kindness.
A pun which requires explanation in
brackets is indeed simply intolerable
The Oxford scholar who, meeting Il
porter carrying hare through the
streets, asked, "Prithee, friend, is that
thy own hare on wig?" required no
commentator. This same story is some
times attributed to Charles Lamb. Nor
did Tom Hood, who, when all is said
and done, remains tho prince Of British
punsters. He puns as naturally as he
laughs. A babe can see the point of his
jokes, and the crustiest dry-as-d dust can
not resist them,
Theodore Hook is thought by many
to be equal to Hood as Il punster, but
Hook was labored and slow in COMPARE
son. There is an impromptu air about
Hoods puns which is Incompatible, and
an uneXpectedness, even when you are
looking for them, that is delicious.
Frederick Locker once or twice seemed
to have Hood s unconscious ease, as thus:
He cannot be complete in aught
Who is not hunorouSly prone.
a man without merry thought
Can hardly have funny bone.
John Hill Burton relates legal joke
which to the legal mind, has all the
charm of II pun. One day bailiff, serv-
ing a writ, had been compelled by the
defendant TO swallow the document In