Evening star., 1909-05-02
particularly
IL those inha biting the British

Isles, display tendency to
hagge. first. over the exact shade of difference
between wit and humor, and. second. over
the quality and quantity of wit or humor
possessed by their neighbors the Scots and the
Irish. A discussion of the second invariably
eliminates in wrangle over the first. The con-
tention that the Scots deficient in humor is
met with the statement that. while they may
lack humor they abundantly supplied with
wit which brings out the counter charge that
the Irish. and not the Scots. hold the laurels for
wit: and the counter to the counter charge IS
that it is the Irish who possess humor and the
Scots who are witty Naturally the discussion
shifts to the difference between the two words.
To reach an agreement concerning the mean
ing of the two words. wit and humor, appears
| to present no great difficulties. and to appor-
ton the terms it seems to be necessary only to
| compare legitimate specimens of characteristic
anecdotes of the two peoples James Z Fer
nald probably agrees with all other authorities
| in defining wit as the quick perception OF un-
| usual or commonly unperceived analoges or re-
| latlons between things apparently unrelated.
| and has been said to depend upon union OF
| surprise and pleasure. The anaogies with which
wit plays often superficial or artificial, hu-
| NOR deals with real anaogies of amusing or en-
| tertaining kind Wit is keen. sudden. brief, and
sometimes severe. humor is deep. thoughtful.
and sustained With the meaning of the
| terms thus definitely fixed, comparison OF le-
gitmate characteristic anecdotes should de-
termine the class to which the pleasantrles OF
the Scots the Irish belong
To secure Legitimate characteristic anec-
dotes. it is necessary to 60 back to period be-
fore the advent of cheap literature: for what
now masquerades as Scot wit or Irish humor
may first have the light of day in the office
of THE Fliegende Blaetter lie Rire.' or
some of the humorous publications of Spain.
Italy. even the United States The old Scot
| ministry furnished an almost unending supply
| of legitimate anecdotes and one, selected at
| random for comparison with another of Irish
origin. admiral bly, illustrates the difference be-
tween Scot wit and Irish humor
The Difference illustrated
mr. SHIRRA a seeding minister possessing
A'A some eccentric qualities. who was well
known for the quaint parenthetical comments he
introduced in his reading of Scripture, took for
his text one day the eleventh verse of the one
hundred and sixteenth Psalm.
II said in my haste. All men are liars. he
read, and then quietly observed. Indeed.
Dauvid, an ye had been i this parish we might
hae said it at your leisure
That certainly meets all requirements for
classification as wit. 1t is keen. sudden. brief.
| and it is moderately severe 1t also displays
| quick perception of unperceived analogies. To
compare with this. there is an anecdote OF un-
disputed Irish origin.
particularly diminutve Colonel was put
ting strapping Irish private over SIX teet IN
| height through his PAGES Come mani! he
| shouted Hold up your head!'
Higher. man. higher tell you-higher!"
This way. sir?" asked the recruit. raising
his head much above the horizontal parallel.
Yes man."
And am | always to hold it soo"
Yes you are"
Then I'll say goodby to you. Colonel. for
shall never see you again.
| Applying the accepted definition this one
| falls readily under the classification of humor
While it is not particularly deep. it is thought
| full and sustained. 1t certainly is not keen, and
1t is not sudden for the private was forced to
pave the way for his point. Many of the exam
Piles of pure Irish humor will be found to follow
| the same general line. requiring word or two IN
advance of the point and sometimes a rather
elaborate setting to produce the humor.
Fixing His Occupation
ITHIS characteristic of Irish humor is further
illustrated in rebuke once administered by
an Irishman to the famous Mitchner. proprietor
| of an equally famous hotel in Margate The
smallness of Mitchner's wine bottles bore pro-
portion whatever to the high price of the wine
| fact that disgusted an Irishman who frequented
the place.
Look here, Mitchner." said the Irshman.
who had just paid the high price for a short
bottle. Il and my friend have just had a bet
as to what profession you were bred to origi-
| nally, and we must appeal to your good nature
to decide the matter for us.
After some hesitation. Mitchner replied in his
usual affected manner. " ! was bred to the law"
I'm that case" said the Irishman, Il have