New-York tribune., 1905-12-24
] JEROME

only day before yesterday and have the copy
in ny pocket now" After thoughtful silence,
he added: i think l see some light on this Anglo
American joke business"
Possibly he was having joke with me. do
not know but | thought began to see some light
myself though | am handicapped by American
slang The whole discussion about national dl:-
ference in htl1nor seems to lie in speed.
On the point of speed of Jokes, so to speak,
Engshnen are still satisfied to get their Jokes II
due and proper course they get their letters-by
mail, Now the American is a younger and hveher
man (or nation) because of his climate He wants
speed in everything, even in humor. He demands
his Jokes by wire or telephone or by wireless
telegraphy. U am told ether is Speeder than
electricity or sound.) Like messages by telephone
or wire, they may come at any and all times ana
under all circumstances. The trouble IS that
after awhile Americans will become like the girls
in the swcets-shop: they will Overdo this Joking
business The result Will be that before long the
nation will not be able to bear the sight OF joke
any more than the swcets-shop girl can bear the
sight or taste of sweet-stu
American humor is too much like the traditional
Donnvbrook shillaah ready to hit any head that
may show up. This is humor run wild, and much
out of harness. There is too much of 1t; that IS
probably the reason Americans demand eXtraord1-
nary keen and sharp points whitfield on their Jokes
The epidemic of Joking has reached such a point
that everything must be made funny. Few things
escape it now and before long even those few will
be gathered into the fold. journalists must present
the humorous side of politics, trades and pro-
fessions Criminal trials, sermons, speeches and
books even criminals themselves, must be tunny
to be successful. If the wicked burglar OF the
future can MAKE the people laugh while he burges,
then he Will be welcome as a desirable addition to
society If by anv mischance the witty burglar
is arrested by the comCa policeman he Will be merely
given wider scope to display his wit IN court during
the progress of the trial. which will be an assured
,+a11- zoe nt a
comedy judge y
Nothing is too serious to escape the modern joker
From Southern town comes story OF a colored
man on trial for completely in murder 1t seems
the BODY of negro had been found on a railroad
One of the accused offered the following defense
(Which became a representative joke:
"Yo'r honah | wasn't guilty; no sab! Now m
gon to confess an prove it. | swar an declar
didn't have nothin' to do with that man what they
foun' on the tracks, cept on'y holped tie hun on
the track
After ALL Joking is matter wherein conscience
plavs, or should play, important part.
There is a grave doubt about this question OF the
foundation of humor Suppose there IS as scientists
assert an arbitrary number OF original Jokes II
the conscience Of the modern joke-maker troubles
him about the real humor Of the original fossils, he
cannot consistently deal in derivatives OF the tos-
SLICED okes His conscience cannot help but worry
HIM il he has any doubts. there is nothing lett tor
it: he should abandon his avocatlon and seek out
an honest mode of making living.
Assume an arbitrary number OF Jokes in original
hurnor The tabled thirteen original Jokes have
been divided and subdivided many times Their
very number adds to-day, you might say, TO thelr
weakness If they are Jokes built on sand (no slang
intende d. their numerical weight merely tends the
more to displace the shifty foundation upon which
they were built
1t is the fashion to twit the Engishman about his
fidelity to old jokes and his inability to see ne"
ones If the original-iokes theory is correct,