Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1909-02-24


for the humorist
lie had taken the trouble to make
the joke, and yet this man. seated com
fortably within hearing. had the au.
dacity to ignore It. The fact that he
was stranger made no difference.
the humorist and were strangers
when we left London, but after few
miles quaint and unexpected phrase
Of his about the behavior Of the train
made us friends at once. was glad
60 enter into partnership with him,
and to share his capacity for seeing
the other side of things
But the third man looked stolidly
out OF the window. and gave no sign
OF having heard. could see no
merit in so churlish an attitude. and
felt inclined to ask him why he had
failed to give the joke n welcome; but
instead turned to the humorist and
led him TO other ground. which |
knew he would not be able to resist.
And soon he was telling me some Of
the best stories have ever heard, in
SO irresistible way that could not,
for my life, have kept serious.
Stitl the other man paid no atten-
tion. and grew to dislike his firmly
set face. J wanted to criticise hts per
feet frock coat, his geometrical tie, his
shilling cigar and his magnificent hat.
And by this time the humorist him
| self was in my state of mind, and !
could see that he was puzzled and
offended by the stubborn seriousness
of the man.
Therefore, we talked the widest
nonsense that we knew, but nothing
we said had any effect: and eventually
] decided that was justified in speak
! ing to the man. ! wanted to know how
he had come to be so independent OF
Joke, and turned to him and said
rather In the JohnsOnian manner:
Sir, ! have a charge to make against
you"
He showed no surprise, but looked
quite amiably at me, and said: "Tha;
Is interesting; be good enough to ex
plain"
Very seriously, therefore, ! wen
on: The charge against you Is that OF
this, the 2Sth day of June, 1908. yo'
have refused to laugh at IL jokes
eight humorous stories, and four ex
cellent puns. Do you plead guilty o
not guilty?"
Guilty" he replied.
81 am glad you are honest" ] said
Have you anything to say in you
defense?"
Il have" he answered, "a great dea
to say"
That" ! said "pleases me. but yo,
must remember to keep to the point
want you TO tell me why you hav'
not laughed in the last hour"
IL have not laughed" he replied, "be
cause ! am, as you can see. successful
There is no need for me to laugh
l do not want to escape, as you dc
from serious things. II my bankinI
account were smaller. ! might be abl
to enjoy your jokes, and II were les
contented ] might be able to listen L
your stories, but, as ] am, it is in
possible"
you mean," said, that II is nece;
sary to fail before one can see
joker"
Exactly" he replied. 1T is discoI
tent that drives men to humor. The
are not satisfied with seeing only on
side OF a thing; they want to see al
other. A man with a large bankin
account is satisfied with things as the
are; a man with a shilling in hi
pocket is anxious to see things as the
are not. To the prosperous the worl
is kind; to the poor only joke is me
ciful."
Il should have thought" said. "tha
a man with a shilling in his pocke
would resent joke. and refuse, as
were, TO take II In"
mot at ALL" he protested; 'he is {
all men most qualified to appreciate I
because II suggests to him that ther
is, after all, another and a happier sid
to things. He welcomes joke as
would welcome a miracle"
II am afraid" said. that we al
getting into a discussion which threa
ems to be long You. seem to thin
that a joke is the one luxury OF III
poor"
Il do" he replied. "and In a way.
envy them. II may be strange. but
am so rich that ! can't afford 10 30
a Joke. ] must always take myse
quite seriously. You can, II you lik
pity me-"
Il see," said.
But" he went on. ''if you pity n
you must pity Napoleon and Caesa
and all men who have been success
full. You can't imagine Napoleon rea
ing Punch, or Caesar pauslng in h
career. II l put It so. to laugh at
good story"
There the talk ended. as he had
get out at Arundel. Before he left, !
asked me what the verdict was, bl
had dificulty in knowing what
say, and left It TO the humorist. TT
humorist said at once: II think v
must find him guilty. He has ADM
ted that he has not time to laugh, an
that he is too rich to see a joke.