Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-10-13
FAMOUS PUNSTERS.
Good Things said by Canon Anger
aud Archbishop Burney.

consider him us n blographcr. a preach
ar or a man, was rather charming
than Il commanding personality. while
his life was as unevcntful ms that Of
any country Clergyman The canon's
friends. no doubt ana he had per-
feet genius for friendship will enjoy
his recently published letters Even
the puns Ia the letters need, you feel.
FOR their apt and adequate setting the
manner, voice and action of the canon.
Here are two or three excellent speci-
mems of this sort of wit. To which the
canon was AS much addicted as Lamb
himself.
"Ainger made a canon. 80 tbs said.
Because so very well he read
AN. then. said Smith. demurely wink
Ing.
Hes cannoned on the read. I'm think
ing"
The chancellor had been less blamed
II suihc great preacher he had named
An. them" said Smith. not even blushin'.
He'd then have oannoned off the oush.
ION
Apropos Of punning. Anger. In spite
OF being himself so inveterate pun
ster. has said IN Il letter where he jus
titles sallies Of this sort In Hood all
that can be said against the habit:
To hear of any ordinary man that
he makes puns is properly a warning
To avoid his society. for with the funny
man the verbal coincidence is every
thing There is nothing underlying II
or beyond H. The ordinary pun is for
the most part profoundly depressing.
being generally M impertinence. hut In
the hands OF Hood the pun becomes an
element in his fancy. his humor, his
ethical teaching. even his pathos. As
ordinarily experienced the pun is the
irreconcilahle enemy OF these things.
II could not dwell with them in one
house Hood saw and was the first to
show that the pun might become even
their handmade"
The best pun In the volume. aud. in
deed. the best pun have ever heard Of
its kind. Is not Hoods or Lambs or
AingcrS. hut one OF Archdcacon Bur
neys:
The ueatest thing ever heard was
said by Archdeacon Burncy the other
day AT meeting at Rochester. where Il
list of subscriptions was being read
of. Mr.. -. $50 That's pretty good
whispered Burney to his neighbor.
Archdcacon Chcetham. who. knowing
that the giver was exceedingly rich.
murmured. IT ought TO have been
$500 All. rcjoIncd Burney Instantly.
he forgot the ought"
wonder, by the way. II Archdeacon
Burney had had in his mind n similar
pun of Douglas Jerrold's. When the
friend of Micawber who was always
being helped out of pecuniary difficult
ties called for the third time on Doug
las Ierrold 10 ask for another subscrip-
ton. the Wit inquired.
Well, how much does - want this
time"
Il think four and two naughts will
about put him straight"
You may put me down for one OF
the naughts"
Here is a specimen Of Anglers Inn
promptu cpigrams. one on child be-
ing born 10 his friend IIaweis stimuli
taneously with the publication OF his
Music and Morals"
Little baby Haweis
Playing with your corals.
PA will mind your music
Who viii mind your morals?
Anger who was guest nj the mar
rage Of Hawies 10 Miss JOY. bride as
diminutivc as her bridegroom. said
she evidently didn't wish to he "A JOY
forever and described their union as
"a fortuitous concurrence of atoms"
find that the well known nonsense
verse on Crockett's "Cleg Kelly" was
an impromptu of the canon's:
There was an old person OF Delhi
Who couldn't read wCrockctts "Cieg
Kelly"
when they said. ITS the fashion,
He replied In n passion.
''What then? So IL Marie Corelli,"
Anglers best known bon mot Is prob
ably that on the style prescribed to the
contributors TO the Dictionary OF Ma
tiona Biography" His suggestion
was mo flowers. by request" Alto
gethcr his biography leaves on you the
impression OF gentle soul who was
an absolutely Ideal friend. - London