Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-27
A PLEA ron nUMoH.
An Interesting Address at tho Unitarian
Church by Mrs. Julia Ward Have.


At the Unitarian Church on Satur-
day evening Mrs. Julia Ward Howe
delivered an address, defining the deli
cate distinction between wit and humor,
which was in itself IN example of both.
II was replete with amusing and witty
illustrations, many OF them bon mots
made in her presence. or inspired by
her. Humor guards the equilibrium of
life, wit is apt to lend itself to satire.
Voltaire had wit, it is not proved that
God of Love he engraved these lines:
"whoe'er thou art, thy master see,
That is, or was, or Is TO be-"
On one occasion Louis XIV. ordered
that d certain miracle should not be
allowed to take place, when Voltaire
said:
1.-THE King forbis:s IL to Gods grace,
To work its wonders in this place."
The ability to see the laughable side
of things helps one to bear the strain
of great anxiety. Abraham Lincoln
settled more than one vexed question
by an epigram. When urged to supersede
certain general at a critical moment
of the war he replied: 1t is i'll to swap
horses when crossing a torrent"
Shakespeare fools delight us as
much as his wise characters. The grave
diggers' dialogue relieves the tragedy
of Hamlet. The Greek tragedies gave
no such pauses, but the modern method
is truer TO life even tho blackness of
thunder is relieved by flashes of light
ming. What delight is in the irrepressi-
BILE drollery Of Puck in midsummer
Nights Dream; did comic daring ever
go farther?
Milton upholds the delights of mirth.
Even Dante in 1.-THE Inferno" has
some touches of humor. Carlyle, too,
in tSartar Resartus'' and in the
French Revolution" has given the
double dip to his brush. My husband,
Horace Mann and once took tea with
the Carlyles at Chelsea. Mrs. Carlyle
was i'll and / had to pour the tea Of
which Mr.. Carlyle drank cup after cup
of great strength and blackness; one
could not wonder at his nervousness.
He offered some conserved fruit: "Per-
haps We can take some Of these things
never touch them myself " He was
much interested in my husbands deaf,
dumb and blind pupil, Laura Bridg-
man, and questioned about her. The
story was told Of when, full Of curiosity
about the world she was just learning
\ to know, she asked, "Do horses sit up
late?" Carlyle threw back his head,
laughed in savage manner and ex-
| claimed, Dear childw
OF the two great English hamorists,
Dickens and Thackeray, am afraid to
speak lest | stir up strife as to which
was the greater, but Dickens in genuine
humor has absolutely no superior hc
can make us forget our troubles, how
happy the man who can do that! On
the ieck Of coastwise steamer one
day sat group of people wrapped like
mummies in their steamer chairs and
wondering if they ever were so miser-
able before. Some one drew from his
pocket volume Of "NicholasNickleby''
and began to read aloud. Presently a
faint laugh came from one of the re-
Ginning figures. still more family echoed
by the rest But presently they straight
ened up and found that to forget sea-
sickness is to cure it,
Charles Sumner was deficient in
humor and was sure to spoil the point
of funny story he might undertake to
tell. Theodore Parker's sermons, woighty
with thought, were always lightened
by wit that sent pleasant ripples Of
smiles over the congregation. Father
Taylor, Methodist minister, had q
| like gift. He was once asked il he
thought Emerson would be saved. He
replied: II suppose so, for II the devil
got him he wouldn't know what TO dc
with him." md added: "He's the
sweetest soul ever made, but he knows
no moro about theology than BALKAN &
| aee III Al. !
might illumine the minds of the great
men in Congress assembled, /" but
| couldn't help adding, IF indeed they
DO great men. ;"
Sheridan obscured his bright intellect
by the use of wine. A drunken man In
the gutter once begged his aid to rise.
"No can't help you up,n said Sheri.
dan, "but I'll lie down beside YOU. .
Mrs. Jameson said of Sidney Smith.
HE is a thousand pounds stirling Of
good sense cut into one diamond. q
Landseer, the great animal painter once
asked him TO sit to him for portrait.
He replied, rs thy servant dog that he
should do this thing9n He came IL
see us once in London. NY husband
had fall and was lamo. Mr.. Smith
insisted upon lending him his own
equity crutches.'' He had lost much
money by unfortunate American in.
vestments in 1S43, and at dinner
where we were present at Lady Hol.
lands he complained of this and added,
And yet an American, now in London,
has Just deprived me of my last means
of support
Misfortune may be dnunted IL mel
by smiles. III fortune suddenly lifts
| you, smile at her caprices, il she drons
you, smile; you are still you. Be full
Of the courage which conquers fate and
looks beyond with resolution.
Mrs. Howe occupied the pulpit of the