Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-09-04

Arc Men More Humorous Than Women?


Arc Men More Humorous Than Womenp
Are men more humorous than wo-
men? The general impression seems
to be that they are, than the sterner
sex: that is to say, have really an
almost complete monopoly of that
precious quality which we call hu-
NOR. Mark Twain. the veteran au-
thor has, of course, an international
the way. did you ever hear of Il
funny woman, in TIE same sense?
This is merely an Interpolation. But,
really it has bearing on the sub
ject A man, often enough at great
sacrifice. does eventually acquire the
reputation of being " funny, and
the said reputation clings to him.
For instance our own Congressman
Cushman, some Eastern writer has
dubbed the clown of the Senate. "
But did you ever encounter woman
who seriously set herself the task Of
earning such a reputation?
The question is not without inter
est. when you come to consider Mark
Twain.
Mark, rs / have said, has an inter
national reputation, and it must be
admitted that the poor man has
striven heroically to live up to that
reputation. But has it never struck
you. in reading the accounts of some
of Mark witicisms. that they are
rather poorstuff? That, as matter
of fact, you and have heard, amongst
a crowd of our friends, lot of good
things just as sparkling many a
time in the comparative Obscurity
of our own individual circles? This
is how the thing appeals to me, at
any rate.
But let us get back to our mutton.
a SeriouS-minded writer suggests
that the real reason why men are re-
puted to be funnier than women is
not that men have a keener sense of
humor, but that they have practi-
cally no sense Of shame This is
the argument: Men will venture
bright thoughts, which they fondly
believe to be jokes, with a reckless
disregard for the feelings of their
hearers that is seldom found in wo-
men. The result of this conflict OF
opinion between the SeXeS-the one
holding it quite proper to be funny
as frequently as possible, and the
other having the good taste to Stitle
feeble jokeS-is that men who really
are witty have ample opportunity
for exercising and nouriShing their
faculty, while women only ventur-
ing jokes that they cOnScientiouSly
believe to be good. get no practice,
and gradually lose the gift.
1t seems to me that there is some
thing in this, though not, perhaps,
SO much as the writer seems to imag.
inc. 1t is true, of course. that wO-
men have an innate refinement that
makes them naturally shrink from
appearing ridiculous - which eX-
plains the extreme rarity of the
really successful female Low com
edy' artist on the stage. But | am
inclined to think that the root of the
matter lies somewhat deeper. Wo,
man is essentially illogical. She
And life. as keen thinker reminds
us. " life is Il comedy to him who
thinks, tragedy to him who feels.
You must admit that the Joke.
makers of the United States are
"huStlers in humor, as in most
other things.
Take. for example. the latest story
which brings Padercwski. the fam
Gus pianist into the side light of pub
licity once again.
He, as the story goes, was in q
New York hotel and had retired tC
the cloak room to wash. 4 New
} Yorker rushed to him noisily, say,
ing:
Say, friend, you're very much
like PaderewSki. DO you know
him.
Padercwski stopped in his wash
ing and faced the interrogatcr.
/ am Paderewski, he answered
quickly.
What screamed the inquirer
eagerly grasping him by the Soapy
hand. Here, ali of you, h,
shouted down the corridor, after
dragging the musician to the door
come here!' His guests, a GROVE
of men in evening dress, poured in
Say. boys, let me introduce you t
my friend PadcrewSki!'
1t must be also admitted that oul
joke makers are gifted with tha
, rare quality which is generally
called unconscious humor.
There is, for instance. the story
which has tloated out here from
, Philadelphia, about one Warrcr
. Harris. who resides in suburb il
the city of Brothcrly Love. Mr.
= Harris is n sort of human barometer
, | learn that his natural color, whlcl
= is light chalk grey, varies with The
: condition of the atmosphere. Tht
( weather forecast can, in fact
: be gauged by watching Harris
: face. Sometimes it is light blue, a
: others violet, occasionally it is deer
: purple, and all these chameleon-llk,
: changes have meteorological mean
: ing Now it is obvious that nt
lOther nation may hope to compel,