New-York tribune., 1901-02-24
THE HUNORISTS UNION.
TON OF IT'S MEMBERS AND OF
THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE GENERAL ECbA1AN.
Learning that a union had been formed oy the
leading humorists OF New-York and that II
the intention 70 extend it over the country. a
porter OF The Tribune endedve-ed to ascertain the
details OF The plan for the information of the pub
Hc. He applied first the president of the union.
John Oldcastie FastaF. whom he found in cafe
the East Side.
sit here with me" said Mr.. Falstaf "and. host.
bring us a cup OF sack. finely brewed. Thou sayest
true. mad wag. we have a union And tbs for this:
Thou knowest how musty the jokes that go
about. Odds fish they smell heaven. they
stale Wen or them. He that cannot make
jests shall make none. And those that be new
for the most part poor that theyr not worth
the hearing. Go 10. Well none of them. neither.
But thou. sweet thou cOuldst make brave
jests. and thou shalt Join us-nay, but thou
must Wen make the world nerrier with our pretty
wit. and those that crack old jokes We'll crack
their pates across. How jumps il with thy humOr?
Now more; but pledge me in this cup of sack
The vice-president of the union, Marcus Aurelus
Tapley. equally enthusiastic about the organI-
cation. but for different reason. He said: why.
you sir, it's like this Life easy for
: got good pay. Now We'll support the humorists
that's of work and Wen ave strikes when the
hedtors won't print our jokes. or when they prints
jokes what amt uniOn-made. and there'u be end
. OF trouble and 1 'opes I'll ave a chawnce TO
come out strong and be jolly under difficulties. II
want credit 10 a humOrtst 10 be jolly the old
way; weH have plenty of trouble and it'll be
credit
The reporter was somewhat discouraged by these
accounts, which seemed 10 have more Of enthu-
siasm than of information about them. but he
fortunately able 10 ind the secretary OF the uniOu
who requested tnat his name should not be mem
toned. he a practical working humOrist.
and the fact that he leader in the union. if
IT should become known to his employers. might in
jure him.
What you have heard is all true" he said. I'VE
going TO do all the things that most unions
do and also TO have benefit fund. 70
take of aged and imbecile humOrists and dys-
peptcs Those are the dangers of humOrists. you
know. People insist inviting them TO dinners
II II wasn't for dinners humorists might live as
long anybody. but il Is. the insurance COM
panies getting shy of taking risks on them
But numOrists are such good company that peO-
pie will ask them dinner. and then they are ex-
peCted 10 glitter. Now il uses constitution
work for a living all day and then glitter all night
The why the stars last so long is that they
do nothing in the daytime. and they make
any exception Nobody ever says 10 the Great
Bear I am going 70 have Just a few friends at a
lawn party next Thursday afternoon. and 7 know
you would enjoy meeting them and you must come
and dance and do some of those tricks OF yours
that so funny And besides the wear Of being
done by the dinners themselves which humorists
always tempted TO eat. when they are asked
instead OF coming late. because humorists al
always
But the work Of the union which will benefit the
Of fIst Wbar is funny and vbsr iI', Ss
ne regards as funny reply will submit II 70 the
Central Committee and IL il is approved In will he
put on the accepted list This list will be printed
and sent TO every member every week Then each
member can learn as many OF the JOKES as he is
able and use them whenever e gets a chance bur
no Joke must be used from a list more rhan y
month Old Thus the public will always have good
Jokes. and new ones. "A fine for the benefit OF tha
inDecie and dyspeptic fund will be imposed On
yoody who uses a Joke which is not on a current
Another great benefit will be that no hun,or,,,
VII oe compelled 70 write funny story on a sub
Iect "hlch does not appeal TO him as funny Per-
maps you do not know that many of the bad ar
lenpts az nunor are the fault of the editor and
noS OF the hunor1st. The editor chances on some
N II He gives the subject one OF the hurnorisrs
on MS stan and orders him TO write a funny story
Soout H. Now, II often happens that the humOrsr
9elhs an expert al that the subject is moi
Lunny at al. but ne dares not refuse write the
story, so ne does his best usually bad ana
the readers OF the paper the victims.
NOW, under our rules. when editor proposes A
subject IN that II must be referred 20 tho
central Committee. and the committee decides
whether the subject IS a funny or not III II is
and the refusal falls the committee and not on
him. II the committee decides that IL = funny
then the hum0rist write it o the
consequences. and IL he fails he has appeal"
And does The union work entirely smoothly and
harrnOniOusy thus far
1T does except for one thing Some OF the huu,or-
lists themselves appear deeply hurt he
committee decides thar their jokes funny.
The entire committee has been discharged and a
new one elected at every meeting which the union
original members OF the union have resigned on
account OF the committees decisions II the union
Is entirely broken up in this way IL has . Eeat
future"