The Irish standard., 1906-03-17

have often been assured by the
Irish people who know nothing of Eng
land, that there is no such thing as
humor in England. says writer i'll the
New York Sun. That, OF course, is
insular prejudice. and they who say
1t have Ito knowledge or take little ac-
count Of the great English humorists,
for every man almost who has been
prc-eminent in English literature has
been a great humorist. 1t. would in
deed be /, sad literature over which the
light of hunor did not play.
What is actually true is that hunor
is the birthrisht Of every lrishman.
In England tho possession OF the gift
is far rarer. There are great tracts
which 1t does not illuminate ut all; and
there will be more laughter over n
single Irish dinner table than over n
whole district oc respectable English
folk.
1t cannot be explained as u matter
of race. 1t would be easy to say. and
II would be true in limited sense,
that humor only comes with u Celtic
strain; but this would not explain at
all the cockncy wit for example. which
is something quite independent OF race.
although In the great humorists Of lit
crature one suspects always Celtic
blood.
One h:.s to be quite an old resident
in England before one gets accustomed
to ones jokes not being responded to,
il one does ever get accustomed.
asked the conductor of an electric
train which was humping US on the
way to Hammersmith tho other day
and finally flung us from our seats. If
the line was not controlled by a man
named Jerks. He only stared, and my
fcliow travellers looked IN nffronted
alnazemcnt.
AS we came across from IIolyFcal
recently the Irish ticket collector on
the boat scrutinizcd our return tickets
closely.
They're Il fortnight old" said one of
us.
"Bcdad then they're wcarin' their
age WE'LL" he replied delightedly.
When we lunc1led In tho train our
supply of salt was of the sparscst. We
addressed the English waiter.
'"Thc tax is on sugar. not OH salt
we said.
We had to repeat the remark several
times and afterwards to state plainly
| that we wanted more salt. Afterwards
the waiter and several of his fellows
looked at us surrcptitiously from be-
hind barriers. We were apparently
taken for n pair of escaped lunatics.
In Ireland the whole world Jokes and
the responsiveness is delicious. In
England you have learned a sober de-
mcanor. AS soon as the first velvet
breath of Irish air blows on your face
you begin to rollick.
launching ut a Dublin restaurant q
friend OF ours Of an impassively dry
demeanor tried joke on the waiter
When the bill was brought he placed
on 1t n bright new farthing and went
III talking to US. apparently unscon-
scious Of his mistake. The waiter
stood by patiently till there was o
pause in the conversation.
II beg your pardon. sir" he said
but have you no smaller changer?
The Irishman's wit is humor as vel
as wit. and 1,umor Is own sister TO wis.
lom. No true Irishman is ever guilty
Of punning, that dreariest of all forms
of fun.
The Irish hulnor Is a rich humor. Il
Is found ut its best in the Irish -Amcri.
can "Mr. Dooley." Mr.. Dooley is q
least as great Il philosopher as he Is {
wit, and in both capacities l salute hin
as one of the immortals.
1t is this quality of humor tina
makes the Irish life SO varied, SO be
wildarlnsly pleasant. It Is this qualit!
which makes material pleasures coun
for very little in the ordinary Irisl
life.
An Irishman will not think Of hi
Inner 81 long as he Is hearing goo
stories. He may be buttonholed in tn
street on his way to dinner and forge