The Washington times., 1901-07-28
ENGLAND'S SLOW HUMOR.
The Masses in Great Britain Sci.
dom Go Beyond Puns.
Some samples Of the Jekes Appreci-
ated In London-Catchwsras Arc
Populnr-Educated Classes TAX
ing to American Vaudeville wit.


There could hardly be more compe-
| ent authority than Mark Twain, who re-
marked few months ago in conversa-
| tion that he believed the English had
fully as much sense of humor as his
| own countrymen. This Is probably true
| of the educated classes though there Is
somewhat more doubt about the man in
| the street. At any rate, the ideas of humor
| TO be found on the two sides of the ocean
are decidedly different, and an American
| going about here and reciting what he
imasin-s TO be jokes will frequently be
met with the comment really"
One thing that is diminishing the dis
similarity in the topic of humor Is the
constant interchange of music-haIl Jokes.
Most OF the funny stories or jests which
become popular in either country are
| picked up by the vaudeville hum .rist. and
there is constant passage G. Jokes
through this channel between the two
| countries. Differences still exist. as In
the greater popularity of the pun in Lon
| don One of the stories that In going
about just now deals with the reyi, al OF
| Corsoianus. which was not a great sue
cess During one of the later rehearsals
a consultation was held on the stage be-
| tween Sir Henry Irving, Sir Alexander
Mackenzie, who wrote the music. and Sir
Lawrence Alma Tadeua, who designed
| the scenery
THREE blooming knights" remarked
supernumerary.
Yes" replied another. "and that's
about as long as the piece will rum"
The most popular form of hufnor for
the moment is also one species of plays
on words, though the punning questions
and answers are perhaps less In vogue
than they were some months ago. Possi-
Diy your readers VIII be able to stand
two Illustrations.
Who taught Water LOOP"
The same man that taught London
Bridge"
What did Anthony Hopper
ITO QIssante"
English humor deals less with exagger-
alton than ours does. Speaking Of the
most popular music-hall comedian in
England. leading actor-manager gave
the favorable expression of this differ-
ence the other day when he said: Dan
Lenos humor Is American. 1t sort Of
leaves something to the imagination" 1t
is partly his use Of grotesque enlargement
that makes the fate Of Mark Twain over
here an uncertain one. 1 have heard
number Of the most prominent literary
men comment on him with surprising
unanimity. They all believe that he II a
great humorist, man of horsepower, as
one of them put it; the most considerable
literary man Of our day in America as
most of them believe. but they draw a
sharp line. Where they would appreciate
fully and even generously. Tom Saw
yer" ''Huckleberry Finn and, indeed,
all the books dealing with American life.
their sense of respect for certain long
established things is rather shocked by
part of Mr.. Clemens work.
One of the cleverest lnovelists here said
that "A Yankee at the Court of King Ar
thur had ruined some of the most beau
tifui stories in the language, and critic
and historian agree with him. 1t would
be hard to imagine an American falling
to enjoy that book, or to have his pleas
ure in Sir Thomas Mallory, Sir Walter
Scott or Tennyson spoiled by reading it.
Another novelist, just now extremely in
evidence with historical or pseudo-his-
torical fiction, said that all young Eng
lish boys read "Innocents Abroad and
"a Tramp Abroad" and thereby lost the
best pleasures OF travel. An English crit
ic said that it was impossible to be funny
in talking about ruin. l asked him II
it could be humorous to make fun Of a
well-built, high building, and tried to
make him take the view that feelings Of
residence must vary with the individual
experience, but only succeeded in drawing
from him confident assertion that there
was something innately ridiculous in the
new and something holy in the old. After
a long debate leading nowhere, was re-
minded of the EngIishman who said:
French is such a silly language. For
instance, you call bread, pain
Yes" replied the Frenchman. but to
US, you know. 1t is just as strange to call
pain bread.
The Englishman reflected 4 suppose it
is,. he said finally, but then it is bread,
you know
This conservatism, however, ought not
to be exaggerated. for a wrong impress
sion might easily be conveyed For in
stance, although the most brilliant toying
With certain legends or certain ruins
might seem only sacrilege, the air is full
of stories which take light view of the
divinity that doth hedge king After
the late Queen died one of her little
grandchildren, being told that she was in
heaven. asked if she would have TO go
out behind the angels, and added that
she would not like that. Very likely some
of the- alleged answers of the present
King to his old friends have reached your
side before this. One of the most anus
ing was in reply to a letter from wom-
an who, having known him very inti-
mately as the Prince of Wales, congrau-
lated him on his accession. and signed
herself Yours affectionately.H In a few
days she received a note. signed by a sec
retary, to the following effect: His Maj
esty commands be to acknowledge your
letter of such and such date and to say
that he hopes he has the affection of all
his subjects
When it comes to the upper forms OF
to deciding on which side the
sense of humor is most widely distrib-
uted, but rather where it is most highly
developed-I feel that England is as far
ahead of US In this as she is in general
literature. Probably the only man to
compare with Mark Twain in the height
Of his reputation as a humorist is Gilbert.
but when We leave the very top you will
ind several writers of very finished hui
NOR in England for one in America
Doubtless when America has more litera-
lure, large part of it will be humorous,
20 hit the genius of the people. But that
lime has not come yet Even the differ
ance between the two countries in after
Inner speaking could easily be overstat-
ID. Doubtless there are more men in
america who could make good after
Inner speeches, but 1t would not be easy
o ind In America any better post-pran-
lial speakers than Zangwill, Anthony
Hope, and various others. Engiishmen
eidom tell stories of any length. How
nat may affect their stump speaking is
mother question, but certainly humor at
! dinner table is better when IL does not