Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
THE PENALTY OF HuMOR.

When the time came for the people OF
the thirteen united colonies to proclaim
10 the world that they were free, and
that they held themselves absolved from
all allegiance to the British crown, and
that all political connection between
them and Great Britain was totally dis
solved, committee OF the Continental
Congress was appointed to draw up a
declaration Of independence. The men,
bers Of this committee were Benjamin
Franklin, Of Pennsylvania, John Adams,
OF Massachusetts, Roger Sherman. OF
Connecticut, Robert X. Livingston, OF
New York, and Thomas Jefferson, Of
Virginia. Why was |, that their col
leagues committed the writing of the
Declaration Of Independence 10 Thomas
Jefferson aud not TO Benjamin Franklinf
The Virginian was not the most promi-
nent man even of his own section, and
although his reputation could not fairly
be termed local, il was but little more,
while the name Of the Pennsylvania
was well known throughout the whole
civilized world. franklin was not only
the foremost citizen of Philadelphia,
where the Congress was sitting, he WAS
the most experienced publicist and the
most accomplished man OF letters In all
the thirteen colonies; and he was espe-
cislly we'll equipped for the drawing up
Of an appeal to Europe, as he had but
Just returned from London, where he
had been pleading the cause OF his coun-
trymen with indomitable courage and
indisputable skill. Yet Franklin was
not asked 10 write the Declaration OF
Independence aud although he and
Adsms made few verbal amendments,
the credit of that great state paper be-
longs 10 Jefferson. Aud why was 1t that
this responsibility was placed on Jefier-
son, and no, on Franklin!
think the explanation lies in the fact
that Franklin was humorist. Not
only was Franklin's sturdy common
sense felt to be too plain homespun
for wear In the courts OF Europe, when
the thought needed 10 be attired In all
the lofty rhetoric that the most feryid
enthusiasm could produce, but also, |
fear me greatly, his colleagues were
afraid that Franklin would have his
Joke. IL would be a good joke, no doubt
probably very good joke; but the
very best OF jokes would not be In keep
ing with the stately occasion. They
were acute, those leaders OF the Cont
mental Congress, and they knew that
every man has the defects OF his quail
ties, and that humorist Is likely to be
lacking in reverence, and that the writer
OF the Declaration OF Independence had
theme which demanded the most
reverential treatment.
So il was that Benjamin Franklin had
to pay the penalty OF humor In the last
century, just as Abraham Lincoln had
10 pay IL In this century. Because LIN
coin was swift TO seize upon an incon-
gruity, aud because he sought relief for
his abiding melsnchol, In playfulness,
there were not few who refused To take
him seriously.
Even after his death there were honest
folk who held the shrewdest and loftiest
of our statesmen 10 have been little bet
ter than bufioon. OF the three greatest
Americans, Franklin, Washington, and
Lincoln, two were humorists; and IL is
perhaps his deficiency of humor which
makes Washington seem more remote
from us and less friendly than either OF
the others.--From "The Penalty OF
Humor," by BRASDER MATTHEWS, in
Harper's Magazine for May.