The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-05
LAUGHTER In FICTION
PRESIDENT NORTHROP TALKS OF
THE ADJUSTMENTS OF LIT.
ERATURE
WASHINGTON IRVING PRAISED
Ichabod Crane, He Thinks, Possesses
q Quiet Wit Which VIII DELIGHT
Readers for Centuries-WaIter
SCOTS Rare Touches of Humor.
Which Endear Him to Many
Tvnin's Fantasies Delightful.


Berore large audience at the Peoples
church last night President Cyrus North
rop, OF the state university, gave an ad-
dress on the subject. "Amusements in
Literature" which proved a pleasant
treat and unusually Instructive.
DR.. Northrop reviewed his subject with
the confidence of man we'll versed in
the literature of this and other DAYS.
Inc address gave every evidence of a
hne comprehension Of the humorous side
OF English literature. He said In the dis
cussion Of the subject:
Mere effervescence of Thought docs
not constitute humor. That author who
depends upon his flowing style and his
array OF well-rounded periods never will
hold a peoples attention and thought
and cannot satisfy them. Many authors
have failed In their purpose because OF
habit Of taking life and their art toe
seriously and thinking merely of the
solemn responsibility resting on their
shoulders. 1t is a mistake to make life
monetenously solemn, for the spice OF
nn1nor makes the heart glad. Happy is
the man who can be witty without max
ing mirth business or life a comedy
Those authors whom we love best are
the men who, with their witticisms. dc
not forget the more serious side Of life
and impress our minds by first excitine
our risibles.
PURE WIT is RARE.
"Wit in the hands Of man possessing
broadness of mind, strength of purpose
an insight into the more solemn things
and a Kindly disposition and clear COM
prehension, is a power which few can
possess. This characteristic of Abraham
Lincoln made him the man whom Ameri-
cans love to reverence. The story Is Of
ten, told OF the martyred president sit
ting at the side of wounded friend af-
ter one. of the battles of the great war
and telling him funny stories until his
thoughts took a new drift and his mind
was cleared of the depressing mists of
helplessness and consciousness of suffer-
ing.
THE beauty of wit arises from the
qu1ckness Of its production when an &C.
casion offers. Washington Irving, In
this regard, was perhaps, the greatest
OF American humorists.. Though hardly
to be called a wit, his writings, especially
his ichabod Crane and "Knickerbock-
ers' History Of New York. TEEN with a
quiet humor which has appealed to thou
sands, and will appeal to generations
still unborn. These works are to me,
linked and kindly greatness, long-drawn
out.
Mark Twain, a man dear to the heart
OF every American reader, has taught
many a useful sermon through his wit
and humor. What finer demonstration
of the futility Of deathbed repentance
could be pictured than the scene in his
'Roughing It. where, with his COM
panions, Ohlendorf and Bellew, facing
death in snow storm. he resolves to
repent and lead a better life. And what
finer bit of keen insight into life than the
succeeding paragraphs telling of the
speedy resumption next morning In a
place of warmth and safety of the vices
but discarded the night before. He has
taught many sermon which ecclesias-
tics have labored in vain to instill.
SCOTT A HUMoRIsT.
In Sir Walter Scott we have a gen
tie humorist, who has amused generation
after generation for three quarters of q
century. His Antiquary will live for un-
numbered years as a jewel of droll and
quiet humor. Yet in all his writings is
evidenced a knowledge Of the world and
its more serious side, which has led him
to many gem Of thought and many a
striking flash Of true insight into the
sober side Of things.
The most striking characteristic of
American humor IS perhaps It's exaggera-
ton. This is peculiarly American and
even our English cousins do not COM
prehend 1t. Though large part Of the
writings of our famous wits are false to
truth, yet the very play upon facts and
gross exaggeration of circumstances has
served to make them beloved and re-
membered Few Englishmen except
Charles Lamb have ever caught this hap
py faculty Of pleasing falsity, yet his es-
says Of Ella and his charming disserta-
ton on roasting, have been read and re-
read time and time again by the very
people who fail to understand Mark
Twain.
Dickens was of all the English writ
ers, most American. His dashing reck-
lessness and faculty Of exaggeration have
made his character, Of the Wellers, faith
er and son, familiar to every schoolboy
in the land. Not the least part of wit
Is the faculty Of making things seem
what they are not, and by this means
bringing truth the more into prominence.
'Humor is necessity in the whirI OF
the busy every day world. Few there are
who do not appreciate it, from the In
spiredly idiotic Artemus Ward, to the
keen and satirical, withal considerate and
kindly Thackeray. Humor ard wit are
best, when favored with tenderness
kindness and humanity and those who
have written from time to time In this
strain, Will long reserve the blessings OF
mankind