The Monitor-register., 1897-10-01
A JOkER'S FAM E.
Some Interesting "Reminiscences of tn,
Famous Humorist, Sydney Smith.

Some Interesting "Reminiscences of the
Famous Humorist, Sydney Smith.
Sydney Smith wa a political reform
er and one of the foremost men of let
tiers of his time, but he is remembered
chiefly as a humorist who could enliven
a dinner table with his wit. Like other
wise men who have a talent for making
people laugh, he was jealous of his
reputation for good sense.
When he reprinted his essays from
the Edinburgh Review, his object, CIV
en- in his own words, was "to show, if
I could, that l had not passed my life
merely in making jokes, but that I had
made use Of whatever little powers Of
pleasantly l might be endowed with to
discountenance bad and to encourage
liberal and wise principles" In this
object he failed. His public services and
wisdom have been forgotten. His jokes
are remembered.
His account of Dame ~Partington, who
lived upon the beach at Sidmouth and
who was seen during a violent storm
trundling her mop, squeezing out the
sea water and vigorously pushing away
the Atlantic ocean, is a household story
which every one knows. The circum-
stances in which it was told and the
effect produced by it have passed out of
mind.
1t was at the end of a long agitation
for political reform in England when
the house of lords had thrown out the
great measure Of Lord John Russell,
which had been carried through the
commons. Sydney Smith, the political
parson who had been advocating Lib
eral principles and reform measures for
many years, told this story at a politi-
cal meeting in Taunton, at which
speeches were made protesting against
the action Of the lords. 1t caught the
public fancy, and within a week every
body in England was laughing over it.
Mrs. Partington's mop battle with the
tempest tossed Atlantic portrayed the
lords futile struggle with English pub
lie opinion. That funny story was prob
ably more effective than the most elo-
quent argument in disarming mobs,
preventing a breach Of the peace and
converting hostility to the lords into
good natured contempt. "The Atlantic
ocean beat Mrs. Partington."
During the so years which preceded
the Victorian reign Sydney Smith was
almost the only prominent English
clergyman who was interested in re-
form movements, and in his writings
for the Edinburgh Review he succeeded
by his wit in presenting the dullest ar
gument with freshness and force. Wit
with him was the vehicle which carried
good sense and wisdom. He has been in
his grave go years, and hisreputation is
that of a clerical joker.
He expected that a tablet would be
erected to his memory in st. Paul's ca
thedral, London, where as canon he
was a favorite preacher at the close of
his life. There is no memorial tablet
there, nor is there at either Foston
Or Combe-F lorey, the two parishes
where most of his work was done. His
jokes have survived not only his writ
ings, but his services as q reformer who
loved religious federation and political
liberty as the breath of his life.
What his career proves is that wit is
one of the most powerful weapons in
the world. Without it he would have
exerted very much Less influence as q
writer or o preacher in politics With
it his name has been handed down as
one of the great Englishmea of his
time.