The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-08
In Lighter Vein
Ike Our Humor Straight.

rake HumOr straight.
writer N recent number of Serb ner's
expresses in excellent form the idea t. 1t is
doubtless common to many men. 1t is that
we Americans take our humor very seriously
In other words, we will not permit humoi %
be mingled with grave matters. We are m
tensely solemn or We are wholly frivolous.
business man complained the other day
that he had done himself great injury in
a business way by giving free vein to his
love for humor. He is well known as man
who can crack joke while accepting a
check, and, better still, indulge in little
1oshing while paying BILL He has made
up MS mind that after this he will be en-
tlrely devoid Of sense of humor during
business hours, and that his attempts at wit
uclsm or humor, his little jokes and his
hearty laughter will be relegated to the
cluslon OF his home or his club He has
discovered that the preternaturally solemn
business world discounts the value of the
man VINO does not go through business hours
looking as If the world would stop turning
II ne Ior moment gave evidence of any but
the sraVest thoughts. The prevailing opin-
ION OF me business world is that the joker
In business is a man to be watched.
The FaIIacy.
This opinion is based on deceivine hard
and-fast classification. We insist that man
is elthef wise man or jester He cannot
be both. II we catch a man Joking if va
hear outlaws proceeding from his office wa
conclude that he is a JESTER We become
suspicious or him in business. We cannot
understand that very serious business can be
faithfully attended to with jokes and puns
and funny stories on the side. When bust
ness man jokes with us in business we don't
Know just where to place him or ourselves
we are not certain that he is not making
run OF us. We cannot understand that there
may be serious meaning to a witty or hu-
morous remark. We want to know precisely
what we are getting. So much do we CLASSIFY
men by salient traits that We assume that a
man VINO is given to blending humor with
business or serious thought is essentially a
Joker rather than man of thought OF ac-
ton II we are reading book that is de-
voted 10 generally serious disHssion We
resent the introduction of HUMOROUS vein
When we are solemn we awfufly solemn
Let man establish "a reputation as h,,
lilorlSt, aao II is almost impossible for him
10 cause himself to be taken seriously Mark
lWaln mas written some things in which the
'humor was Incidental and not essential hut
the public has refused to take them in that
way Let an actor establish reputation as
comedian, and it is uphill work for him
10 get nearing as a tragedan, even if he
be in reality far better in tragic Than in
comedy roles.
We Americans pride ourselves on our free
oom and liberty, but our good nature and
our reluctance TO raise row" often cause
US 10 submit TO personal rudeness that would
NOT De tolerated in such old-fashioned coun-
trles as England and France. Travellers saw
tnat no London or Paris bus guard or con-
ulctor or Whatever they call them would
care tc push and hustle and imperiously
command his passengers as do our conductors
Z hn 1ooe
ness on the part of the conductor is ant "a
ne met with very smart check from men
WHO are prepared to back up their words
win force If the conductor persists It is not
INTENDED to imply that our street car con-
ductors, mere IN Minneapolis are really ruda.
lot, II taken in the right way, they are uuitn
the contrary, being in many respects really
pol1te and courteous. But when a difference
WIN d passenger over a question of fares ~.
slreets or rough Jostling does arise many of
tnem are SO lmpudent and eXasperating that
tnere are tunes when the single thought or
whole car load of people is that the con-
ductor needs nothing so much as a good sound
tnresnlnS. In fact, if some strong man vera
to rise up and administer a beautiful nr,,,
melng to the conductor who tells q woman
tnat she mas no brains because she savs-as
she probably did not-that she gave hin, -
nan dollar, while he says it is quarter The
'"hole car full of passengers would apnlau5
Voclferously. But the strong man never rfsee
up. lie groWls little sometimes butzneyer
uoes anything more to assert his right m he
treated respectfully.