The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-21

It is very difficult for a man to live
down his reputation, particularly If
he be q humorist. John Kendrick
Bangs, who has been a professional
funny nan for some years. has been
experiencing all the difficulties or a
man who is trying to change his busi-
ness and he has been almost forced to
resume his trade of joke-maker. He
a confided to a reporter somewhere
that in reality he is not funny at all
which secret some persons had already
guessed-and that his desire was to
p~erpetuate his name in serious liter
allure hat should make 1t something
far better than a cue for a laugh. So
he took charge of a literary depart
ment in a leading magazine and set
tied down to a life devoid of jokes.
He thought he was doing very well,
and failed to see wherein the most
frivolous person might find the ghost
of q show for a smile in his writings,
when suddenly his hopes received a
sad blow. One day going into New
York he a behind a man who was
reading Mr.. Bangs literary news.
First he smiled. then he Iaughed-then
he roared, while Mr.. Bangs in the
back seat writhed and wriggled. Fin
ally he heard the amused man say to
his neighbor, Bangs never wrote any,
thing funnier in his life than that re-
view Of Browns book!" Alasi He
says he sees that he can never
hope to be serious and he sounds a
warning to all humorists who may be
intending to give up the business in
forming them that once it, you are 1t
for life. He says that if he remarks
to a friend hat it is a pleasant day,
that friend throws back his head and
shouts; If he says to a woman that
her baby looks like its mother, she
says 1T is the best joke she ever heard
and tells all her friends what that
funny Mr.. Bangs said! He adds,
however, that once established, a rep
utation for wit is a great saving of
wear and e Of the gray matter and
of mentality, I'M it does not in the
a matter what you say for every
one present will think 1t the most
amusing thing ever heard. Mr.. Bangs
should not be so frank about the Sc
crets of his trade.
Shah Acted Like Other People.
Paris has been quite upset recently
by the informal hale, fellow-well-met
manners of the shah of Persia who
has been making that city a visit. Al
though Parisians are used to royalty
among them and royalty, too, that is
desirious of remaining i%ncognito, the
shah acted so much like everyone
else that Paris is still talking about
him. 1t is recorded hat when the
distinguished guest wen to a railroad
station on his return from seeing the
president of the French republic and
the train was not ready that he sat
down on a bench on the platform like
any third-claSs passenger. This caus-
ed a most tremendous sensation as
Paris is used to royalty stand
ing UP and presenting arms,
furthermore, the president sat down
beside him Inc they conversed as
might two ordinary men. 1t is not
stated whether they were expected to
draw swords and make passes at each
other until the train arrived, but the
fact that they sat down and talked
of the crops made a profound impress
sion upon the French people. 1t is
also vouchsafed to a world hungry for
details of the lives of p~otentates, that
the shah dimes alone at a table, though
surrounded by menials who squat
about the room presumably to pick
up the crumbs that fall from the rich
mans table. Like the sultan of Tur-
key, it is supposed that the dishes are
sealed and tried upon some of the
surrounding dogs before being tasted
by his majesty. If one of the menials
drops from the ranks after this ex-
pertinent. the dish is sent back to The
kitchen with the request that the cook
eat it at once. Thus it is almost as
difficult for the shah to obtain a cook
as it is for the most ordinary Ameri-
"a housewife, in the household of
whom the position is reversed and the