New-York tribune., 1908-07-26
WHY Is A JOKE?
Theory of Fresh analysis OF
HumOr and Laughter.

What is the secret Of humOr and why 90 we
laugh? All kinds Of philosophers have puzzled
over this problem from classic times TO the pres
ent without getting very near the solution II ls
a startling thought that humor has been proG1ced
for so many generations. and people have laughed
off uncounted buttons without knowing the reason
why If we did not know that everything which
has right TO exist we might conclude. .tnat hi-
manity had wasted its time listening 20 AIS
topIlanes and Mark Twain. There is reason Tor
the Joke apart from the living the funny man
makes out Of IT.
A fresh ANALYSIS and dissection Of the joke prob
lem. by ellison Gardner. in ''PuJnams Mag
azne' makes the discovery. firstly. that taere IS
something wrong in everything that is funny We
must be careful not 10 turn this statement the
other end to- If there was something funny Il
everything wrong would be put in good sP-E-Is
ny a visit TO the Jail and the asylurls- Pam OF
great suffering accompanying q wronS Vi-'2'es
humor ANY conflicting emotion, as sympa1hF'
hate or love. spoils the effect NOBODY lalsHs
when he is afraid angry The appreciation q
hurnor belongs "A mind that is free ot care a--
ready for an intellectual frolic.
The merely silly viii not do for real hu-loI' a.
though odes 10 the purple and jabberwocN
stuff and HmerfcIs appeal to many intellects- ne
obviously wrong statement IS silly and mas 10
power to raise a laugh The humorous les some
where between the extremes Of absolute truth ard
absolute untruth There must be a similarity OF
resemblance between fact and the humorous sIi-e-
ment The wrong idea must keep within a fA-F
distance of the right The similarity must Pc. oe
new and unexpected sOrt- a similarity "4-~-
actually Geceives does not make Joke
The answer to the riddle why is a stick o.
CANDY like a horse THE you HEX Il tHe
faster il goes-iIlustrates artificial reseroanI'
of words, linking the with the false n
humorous manner. The pun is a low FORM q
humor based on the similarity Of sound between
words and other ground of likeness Parou5'
burlesque and farce exaEserate the right OF St1-
ard concept by putting undue burden OF r1lc-.9
on the wrong. II similarity or resemblance j
the basis of hurnor. il might be argued that -
NOR is deception. As a matter OF fact, WhelAs-
the humorist is a liar or not depends on rs 49,
enee If the audience is deceived. he is AaF-
Former analysts OF the problem have held Ia
man laughs because he enjoys the counterfeit anu
fraudulent or because he rejoices IL his supe1'o
smartuess over others in catching point b~. =
is evident that this Man laughs %
cause his mind, being alert. detects the fraud 80
with pleasure repUdiates H. lie does not go
the contemplation Of the wrong, but ITS de'Se'-'-
| and repudation. -
Naturally. there must be common staA11'u - -
| right and wrong. as well the same sTade o. = =
/ telugence between him who jokes and hiii ". ~
/ laughs. Here comes a fool; lets be grave - -
/ Charles Lamb. meaning that there was no cV--- -
| ground for the play of Jest between tAe 1a@- =
/ intellect and tn. fool Every trade every - -
! ton and every nation it's own jokes depe''-S
| on It's own peculiar standards of the nofH'1i = -
| the abnormal As the world changes 0R'-o
| alter and each produces its huiioF Sli -.
/ pirate TO the prevailing ideas once tte ,,.
was a serious figure. Don QuiXote rlnds AIM to 49,
| when his economic usefulness had passed ana - -
/ he is out OF date for any purpose. The save - -,
/ formerly laughed at To-day the trSsnp aA1 -
mother-in-law share the honors but 1t Is esl- essr
/ they cannot serve indsdnitely. Conclusions rs
| be drawn from the vaudeville iests 1T the eNpSI-~
| of politicians and the heayen-and-heu ti-S0s'-