New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-12
A HEMOROES LOTRNAL.

There isn't a paper in all the world that Is
really ms funny as "The Saturday Review
Its severely scholarly typographical appearance
has deceived even some Brtons themselves,
while on this side Of the water. where punch
IS taken as the type OF English humor. ne
Saturday Review is spoken OF as a serIou,
journal with conscientious convictions ana
solemn purposes That is because we. with our
somewhat more bolsterous humor, do not as a
peopla APPRECIATE tho refined clcverness OF the
cultivated Engshman. who can have fun with
A serious subject with all the surface ndlca-
tons Of perfect earnestness. But those who
have studied The Saturday Review" have long
recognized II as Engands supreme funny
paper In tho first place. IL has the joke on
everybody who doesn't take It as joke. Its
business Is to say smart things not true things.
and when it fools somebody into puzzng over
some of IFS startling and vehement sayings II
has accomplished the purpose Of It's editor.
II plavs ducks and brakes with everything 50
cleverly that good, dull people suppose there
must be- some meaning in It ALL forgetful Of
the fact that the supreme art Of funnness Is
getting fun out OF other peoples lack Of humor.
Long AGO we learned the secret Of The sat
urday's" existence since when, taking up the
finite enjoyment has been our portion from the
perusal Of its pages Especially since this war
began have we delighted TO drive dull care
AWAY with the paradoxes it hides In solemn
discussions Here. for instance. Is one which
doubtless has SGT some people wondering while
the editor chuckled over their stupidity:
II IS worth remembering that the Cubans are
the early Spanish settlers. and in Cuba. the
vtleaf ~ -
World and now nearly her last, the aboriginal
inhabitants the Carihs were most cruelty HI
used and al last cNtermnated by their Spanish
masters The Indignation with which the rough
English seamen regarded these atrocities -
known 70 every student OF Hakluyt, ana In us
deep seriousness Is interesting to compare with
tho Interested Mysteries OF the United states
to-day. II must bc remembered that the Eliza
bethan privateersmcn had TO avenge the Ind
ians' wrongs on we-armed adversaries, who
outnumhcred them twenty TO one. and were in
the heyday Of their power and wealth. To-day
Americas action. unfortunately We can fa'rly
say Justly, suggests the attitude Of n huge and
boastfu bully attacking efete and gentle
manly old roue. with whom one cannot help
sympathlzing In spite Of his sins. especially
when the bully. not content with thrashing his
feeble old opponent and stripping him of his
valuables bellows out with tears and protesta-
lions that he does II unwillingly and with the
highest moral purpose.
"fIow's thls?" says the serious minded citi-
zen The Spaniards who abused the Indians
80 that even the rough old English royers and
pirates OF the Spanish Main were shocked now
"abuse their own descendants till they revolt.
The pirates who hung around the West Indies
"to loot Spanish treasure-shps and sell negro
Slaves were heroes for killing Spaniards who
Oppressed Indians. The American finds the
"Spanlard killing his own daughters, and he's
"a bully for interfering. The Spanlard Is now
"an old roue, and consequently he ought TO have
"freor chance 10 kill his own children than thc
English sailors who stole his silver allowed
"him in the case OF Indians. The American
"who is avenglng the Cubans wrongs should
mot exhibit any moral purpose. He should
treat the old roue in true medieval buccaneer
fashion Then he might be embamed In Hal-
"luyt and be free from the reproach Of hys-
"tercs don't understand II al ALL" says the
serious minded citizen. 81 can't make ont what
It's driving at."
or course you can't dear serlous-minded
citizen. II doesn't mean anything. II was
written 70 puzzle You. That Is the editors Joke