The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-05-05
MARKET FOR FUNNY STORIES
nayIas or ReadaG Bright Anecdotes
the Latest Device Of Persons Win
Regulations - speakers.

Funny stories have always been
marketable TO a certain extent. After
dinner speakers aud post prandial ora
tors. with regulations greater than
their capabilities for retaining such
have always been more than willing
TO q a fair price for the amusing
stories and anecdotes wherewith the
aforementioned regulations have been
bolstered. Political speakers and GER
tain legal lights have never disdained
the story which was bought with
good, honest dollars, even though 1t
was the product Of some other fell
lows brain and only became theirs
by right of purchase.
But the field has grown wider OF
late. Women have invaded precincts
long sacred to the masculine humor-
ist, and many women know what It
Is to buy funny stories nowadays.
The price of a story varies all the way
from a bunch OF violets to five dollars
with an average OF about $3.50.
A bright paper had bean read at n
of the larger clubs recently and the
reader was standing in the clubroom
receiving the congratulations of her
friends, when abe became aware of a
strange woman who was making des-
perate efforts 10 attract her stten-
ton.
THAT was q hne paper" said the
stranger
Thank you" said the woman who
had written 1t.
II have 10 write Q pepper for an
other club before long" the said the
other woman, and I'm not nearly 50
clever as you are"
-No7" said the woman. with the
bright paper to her credit
and I'm quite sure IT'S easy for
you to think up clever Nories," pur-
sued the stranger.
"YeA," responded tho woman, who
began 70 see what was coming.
"And, In short. will you write me
three or four funny stories such 81
you used today" blurted out the
stranger, yielding TO her embarrass
ment; I'm willing 70 pay for then
well, indeed"
"WhAt would you charge for allow
ing me to use one Of the stories you
told Just now al q dinner which ! All
to attend this EVENING"" still another
woman aaked Of the essayist Of tn
afternoon, a little later,
Talking the matter over with som
friends this woman learned that fun
ny stories are frequently bought an
sold in this manner, l~osned-for
financial onsideration-every now an
then. and even openly rented occa
sionally-Ao much for the privilege q
telling a funny story not more tina
. certain number Of times and strict
within the limits Of q certain socis
set. By this means both the purveyo
and the user Of the story are protect
ed. the one from the danger Of he
!, wares being handled too cheaply G
| rendered 700 common, the other froi
all fear OF being suspected OF emplo!
1 ing twice-told tales.
Among club women the funny stor
barter reaches it's highest proportion
IL 10 distressing 10 be called upon
make an impromptu speech and
have nothing clever or amusing 10 ga
} Tho society woman, whose reputatio
, for luncheon-time c%leverness or afte
noou-tea b~rilliancy has outrun h
I natural inventiveness, makes by I
I mean a bad second to the ambition
I member OF half a dozen clubs. I'll
4 fashionable physician, man or woma
{ who like. 70 be credited with Gwa,
3 having something bright or amusiI
3 to say TO the patient who needs e
Z livening, has also been known to Pt
( chase good stories occasionally, a
4 there are several ministers in ChicaI
: who are ri least supposed to do Z
3 same thing once In awhile.
And, after all, be the story pu
chaser club woman, a~fter-dinn
speaker, minister OF the Gospel,
: tired-out society woman, il 1t not b
ter, on the whole, TO buy good stori
Z than 70 beg, borrow, or steal then
= The men and women who do bl
them, secretly or otherwise, are FIR
In their adherence to this view Of Il
case, and there would appear to be
good deal of common sense and ju
tice in their position.LChicago Tri
ma