The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-02
CLEVELAND As HUMoR1sT.
Unexpected Role for the Former
President.

course of long, and in many ways,
remarkable career, ex-President
Grover Cleveland has been accused of
enough things to satisfy even his en-
emies, but no one ever thought of in
dieting him as a humorist. Those of
us who were conscientious enough to
read his state papers and speeches al
ways arose with sense of safety and
the feeling of having performed pa
triotic duty, but no one can truth
fully say that Mr.. Cleveland was ever
guilty of being funny. He was solid,
Informative, and an adept at striking
phrase making, and a satisfaction TO
people who take life seriously. He was
not enlivening.
To have Mr.. Cleveland suddenly
a humorist is, therefore, surprising
thrust upon you in the character of
and bewildering. AS might be expected
he is somewhat ponderous in the role,
but, nevertheless, he is genuinely
amusing and diverting. 1t is our own
fault that we have just made the dis
covery of Mr.. Cleveland's unexpected
talent, for the book in which he ex-
hibits it is made from collection of
articles that he has contributed to
various weekly papers and magazines
from time to time. How we came to
miss them we do not know; we can
only make our confession that We did,
and let it go at that. The articles
are upon the ex-president's fayorite
recreation, fishing and shooting, and
in their book form have been giventhe
title of Fishing and Shooting Sketch
es." They are all in the nature of a
plea for the value of outdoor spot,
morally and physically. A spirit of true
craftsmanship animates the little
sketches, and hearty contempt is
manifested for the man who kills fish
or game for the mere sake of killing.
Mr. Cleveland is very funny and
gravely satirical at times, as note this
chapter, headed "Why Fish Stories
Should Be Believed" ut is sometimes
said that there is such close relation
ship between mendacity and fishing
that in matters connected with their
craft all fishermen are untruthful. It
must, of course, be admitted that large
stories of fishing adventure are some-
times told by f1shermen-and why
should this not be so? Beyond all
question there is no sphere of human
activity so full of strange and wonder
fud incidents as theirs. Fish are con-
stantly doing the most mysterious and
startling things; and no one has yet
been wise enough to explain their ways
or account for their conduct. The
best fishermen do not attempt it: they
move and strive in the atmosphere of
mystery and uncertainty, constantly
aiming to reach results without clue,
and through the cultivation of faculties
nonresident or imperative In the COM
mon mind. In these circumstances
fisherman necessarily see and do WON
derful things. If those not members
of the brotherhood are unable to as
simulate the recital of these wonders,
it is because their believing apparatus
has not been properly regulated and
stimulated. Such disability falls very
far short of justifying doubt as to the
truth of the narrative. The things mar
rated have been seen and experiences
with fisherman's eye and precep-
tions. This is perfectly understood by
listening fishermen; and they, to their
enjoyment and edification, are permit
ted by a properly adjusted mental
equipment to believe what they hear.
AS to non-members who accuse
true fishermen of falsehood, 1t is per-
fectly clear that they are utterly I'M
fitted to deal with the subject. The
only theory fitting the condition leads
to the statement that any story of
personal experience told by fisher
man 1t to the fishing apprehension in
dubitably true; and that since disbe-
lief in other quarters is owing to the
lack of this apprehension, the folly of
accusing fishermen of llabitual un-
truthfulness is quite apparent" Now,
isn't that delicious?