San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-03-17
THE CA5LE CAR JOKE.
He of the Jadked Taste Tells Why 1t Does
Not Appeal to Him.

Not Appeal to Him.
81 have never been told by nay
friends" said the dyspeptic man, shat
I lacked a sense of humor." His man
ner was earnest, although it was per-
fectly plain that anybody who had at
tributed such an amiable quality to
him had fattered the man rnconScfon-
ably. II can see a joke, and l have oc-
casionally got off few myself that
have made my friends laugh because
they did not happen to like the other
man. Usually they were about a man
didn't like, come to think of it. But
at all events, people laughed, andI have
never been accused of lacking a senseof
humor.
"But I refuse to laugh at the one
thing which is most frequently pre-
scented to me in the light Of joke. I
refuse even to smile at circumstances
which seemed to me deficient in every
element of humor. But, perhaps, three
or four times every day am asked, if
not by word, at least by manner, to eX-
hibit hilarity over one particular Incl
OSuI VI LllC hllu L ulCdIl.
at confropts me usually in its most
aggravated form at Fourteenth street
md broadway, or at the corner Of Fit,
fy-third street and Broadway. Then it
is liable to occur at any other point
ulong the cable line when a persop of
inferior mentality and an UNFRAMED
gripman come into temporary cunjunc-
ton. What they want me to smile at
comes about in this way: The cable
car dasheS around the curve. \ man
thrown violently forward tra1nps all
over my feet, or dashes headlnng ct me,
knocks off my hat. and leaps into my
lap. Then he looks at me and smiles
at the joke with O geniality that plain
ly invites me TO laugh with him. It's
very funny says his manner unmis-
takably, and we'd better laugh to-
gcther.' I am asked to laugh because
my toes are crushed, my hat mashed or
clothes mussed- Naturally refuse to
respond to any such invitation. When
I go into any joke of that kind want to
do it voluntarily, and If I'rrf to be sub
jected to any such physical strain, ]
won't laugh unless I'm allowed To have
as much of a chance at the game as the
other fellow. II I'm allowed To jump
on his feet, mnsh his hat, and other
wise damage him, I'll smile back and
think the joke Just as good as he does.
But ] see no humor in the thing when
am reading newspaper and he goes at
me without a word of warning. The
game is too one-sided to amuse any but
one of the men that is init.
Every time they look into my fact
and expect me TO laugh at anything o.
the kind, whether it be a man or d
woman, or only a 9o-pound cash CIR
going home from work. can't helI
thinking Of the magnificent prospect
for a philanthropist's efforts that yer!
question opens up. Think of q gen
erous-hearted citizen who would Civ
SONIC of his millions toward the estab
lishment of branch of kindergarten
learning by which people would b
taught to ride in cable cars. No NOR
sudden and disastrous rushes from on
end Of the car to the other, a finish T.
the desperate cfutching at elusly
straps, and the resulting tumble int
the lap of the passenger beneath. VIVA
a saving Of narrowed tempers, straine
nerves and damaged feet. Possibly som
people would never be able to Learn
but the younger generation might TAX
to it What am achievement for o phi
anthrupist! What generous use {
money!"-N. z. Sun.