The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-16
Based Upon a Pun,


Respondent moment, descended to
the infamy of pun. We use tho word
infamy advscdly, and with full know'-
edge OF its connotation; for the pun has
long known tho cold shoulder Of So.
cietS conversationally enlightened. 1t is
the rubber ring on which tho embryo wit
cuts It's teeth, the first wing stretchnys
OF a newly awakened desire to be funny.
Occa sonnlly the habit out1asts tho swad.
ding clothes, which is annoying for the
public generally. The punster is the
drier of the wcll-springs OF llumor and
the bette noir OF drawing rooms. Men flee
before him as before the evil one and
they are right. However, here is what
the paragrapher was misguided into
writing: N
Let us state fairly that a. State fair
must be a splendid and stntcly affair III
order to be fair to the State.
Then, as one inspired to save his face,
he added Contributions solicited to
above continuous pun" The intent hero
is obvious He wished to mako u burles-3
show that he never took the thing seri-
ously for a minute. 1t was Il pun, It Is
true, and his pun at that, but no one
was to be allowed to dream TINT he, for
his part. thought highly Of 1t. Il made
that pun, z he says intcffect, ''but nobody
percclvcs the asninity of it quite so
dearly as do I.
@ But apologies were not in order. The
challenge was plain and was promptly
accepted. Punsters Of the old line heard
the ralying-cry and prickcd their ears
mot that we think highly of the pun
in general" reasoned they, "or least Of
all OF that pun in particular; but There Is
plainly Il case of putting n presumins
dilettantc back in his place. One of these
was Mr.. r. c. NJ, OF Staunton, who
launches into the squelching business
with the following pertinent carollary:
'If we can get the railroads to make
one fare for the State Fair, it will induce
a large attendance Of the far ones OF
Virginia at the fair
There is enough right herein that
pretty concert regarding the fair ones
fare-to make our guilty punsmtE hide
his diminished head. But worse remains
behind We cannot forbear to pay the
tribute of a plaudit to these telling OBJ:
servntions OF Mr., "Blly Wickcrs' of this
city. st t2f
"It would ebe unfair for the statement
not to be made that this pun upon the
state fair is fairly good and deserves
- l,oh do nf mar y NH
crs and also net your estate fair pro-
fit. 1t Is also in order to state that the
prospect is fair for fair railroad fare tc
the State fair for both the fair and un-
fair sex throughout this fair State Fare
well!'
There is little left for us to say. What.
ever there might have been, Mr. Wick.
crs" has said it. We salute him rs all to
the good. If 1t is possible to reverence g
punster, We reverence MI. "Wlckcrs." He
landed on the subject with both fee.
threshed around in 1t till.ihc had kicked
1t to Smitherecns and departed triumph
antly with a CHEEKY and punnng adieu.
That he neglected to express a hope for
fair fare at the hotels was obviously an
| oversight. We have the best authority
| for saying that our Photographer will re-
| tire from the punning business. He feels
that he is not suited to It. And indeed
ha, has been fully punished If, like
Naman In the Book, we may be permit.
ted a single indulgence in an occupation
we know to be wicked, we are willing 10
hazard the assertion that tho most pun
gent punishment that can be laid upon
a somewhat punky pun is to have IL
punctually, yet punctlliously, punctured
But no contributions are solicited to this
one.