The St. Louis Republic., 1905-12-24


in my pocket now" After thoughtful silence.
he added: Il think SEE some light this Anglo
American joke business.
Possibly he having joke with me. do
not know. bu, l thought began sec some light
myself. though l Handicapped by American
slang. The whole discussion alsut national di;-
ference III L,:nior seems to lie in speed.
On the point Of speed Of jokes. TO speak.
Englishmcn still satisfied to get their jokes in
due and proper course. they get their ktters-by
mail. Now the American IS younger and hvclicr
man (or nation) because of his climate. He wants
speed in everything. even in humor. He demands
his Jokes by wire telephone. by wireless
telesraphy. Il am told ether is sIeedier than
electricity or sound) Like messages by telephone
or wire. they may come at any and all times and
under all circumstances The trouble is that
after awhile Americans will become like the girls
in the swccts-shop: they will Ovcrsio this joking
business. The result will bc that lcforc long the
nation viii not bc able to bear the sight Of joke.
any more than the swccts-shOp girl can bear the
sight taste Of swcct-stu!
American humor is too much like the traditional
DonnybrOOk shilllah: ready to hit any head that
may show up. This is hu,,or run wild. and much
out Of harness. There Is too much Of II: that Is
probably the reason Americans demand cxtraordi-
nariy keen and sharp points whitfield on their jokes.
The epidemic Of joking las reached such 4 point
tnat everything must te made Iunny. rev tn1nSS
escape II now. and before long those few will
bc gathered into the fold. Journalists must present
the humorous side Of politics. trades ard pro-
fesSiOns Criminal trials. sermons. speeches and
books. even criminals themselves. must lc funny
to ic successful. II the wicked burglar Of the
future can MAX. the people laugh while he burgl.s.
then he will Ike welcome as desirable addition I"
society. II 10y any mischancc the witty burglar
arrested bv the Comica1 policeman he will ic merely
given wider scope to display his wit in court during
the progress Of the trial. which will Ike assured
SUCCESS in advance. conducted in presence Of low
comedy judge.
Nothing is too serious to escape the modern joker.
From Southern town comes a story Of a COlorcsl
man trial for completely in murder. 1t seems
the body of a negro had 'ccn found railroad.
One Of the accused offered the following defense
(Which lscame representative joke
'"Yor honah. I WASH, guilty: sab! Now I'm
goin' confess an prove II; ] swar an dcclar' |
didn't have no,hn to d. with that what they
foun' the tracks. ccIa OF, Y ] hol;.j tic him
the track
After AL. Joking is a matte, wherein conscience
plays. or should play. IN important part.
There Is grave doubt about this question oi the
foundation Of hu.nor Suppose there scientists
assert. arbitrary nu:ii er ii original jokes: II
the conscience oi the modern ohc-,nikcr troubles
him alou. the real h,:nor ." the original fossils. hc
cannot consistently deal III derivatives 81 the fos
SLICED Jokes. His conscience cannot help hut worry
him. II he has any doubts. thcr: is nothing lc., for
II: he should abandon his avoSltnn and seek out
homes. rIp!c OF making 4 living
Assume arbitrary n,.;n'sr Of Jokes in original
hu;nor. The fahl,i thirteen original jokes have
been divided and subi.v,,ici many times. Tier
very number adds TO-DAY. you might say. to their
weakness. Ii they ,o.es built sand tno slang
in:c,dc D. their numerical, weight merely tends the
d,splacc the s!.;,y foundation upon which
they were built
!, - the fashion twi, the Enslishman abn,it his
fidelity 20 old Jokes and his inability to "s.c new
II the orig,nal-jokes theory is correct.
Engiish:ncn should rather c laudcd for their taste
selecting the hest humorous material obtainable
merely mention this matter 0! hcsedity Of Jokes