New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-21
THE COMIC ASQU|TH
a Popular Jest-Sydney Smith
-HocuS PocuS.
London. April Q

- opponents when il was first heard in
"a. Of the outbreaks OF heckling. A
~s~raer greeting OF chuckling and de-
-s,,,e hooking was obtained when il
IS -epeated % another harassing cues
.,ore~ = few minutes srterwsrd. and
,rs-e we're loud outlaws and furious out
lists OF ridicule when il was adopted
- CONVEX lent phrase for blocking mis-
.h,svous inouisition from the Opposition
,e-~hes. The members, new and old.
consider II one II the funniest things
,..s- known IN the annals OF the House,
nd there is superintendent nirth when
ever the Cstchword is flung across the
focr.
outside ~ Parliament IL has been re-
-s,,-s6 with equal favor, and II Is now
heard o. every turn az political clubs, in
s,ops and railway stations at weddings
srs funerals. on Change and in bar
-oor-s. whenever there are signs Of i'm
ustience and haste and bystanders
.hoose 10 regard curiosity and energy as
,.rnecessary. There lie now a Wait and
See Ministry" as there was a Who Who
Ministry" IN 1852. when the Duke OF
wellington from deafness could not hear
-he names Of Lord Derby's obscure as
sociates and kept asking who the ciphers
were.
Erusiye appreciation OF a Joke is not
always q sound test Of the quality OF the
runor. There is Goldsmith's dictum.
The loud laugh that spoke the vacant
mind" and there Is George Meredith's in
5icfrent o. the excessive laughers.
ever laughing. who are as clsppers Of a
ben thai may be rJng by a breeze. a
grimace; Who are SC loosely put together
mat a wink VIII shake them" When
Wait and see" as a stock Joke OF cur
-ert politics is compared with the best
.-vention q the reform movement OF
$50 the deterioration OF humor is sp-
ra-ent
That as sydney Smiths famous ref
e-ence 70 Dame Partington Of Sidmouth
When be vas deploring a collision be-
tween the houses Of Parliament and at
The same time Affirming his faith in the
triumph az the reform bill. His descrip-
ton o. the good lady battling on the
reach with tempest. tide and food.
'-lndling her mop. squeezing out the
sea water and vigorously pushing away
the Atlantic. made every Englishman
laugh and helped 10 carry the reform
Bill. The Lords remembered II when
Lord Grey obtained the sovereign's con-
sent 70 the creation Of a hig batch OF
peers. They were warned. and there
vas no further opposition 20 reform.
The Atlantic Ocean beat Mrs. Parting
ton. she was excellent az a slop or a
puddle but she should not have neddled
with z tempest" In comparison with
that triumphant outburst Of sarcasm the
Prime Minister'S Wait and see" seems
th0ughtless and futile indeed.
One ought. perhaps. 10 be grateful for
ne smallest Jest IL this turgid period OF
political agitation. The debates in Par
lament are serious enough 10 suit
council % Highland ministers. and II
there he the evanescent sparkle OF pleas
entry in the byplsy or Joke be substi-
--ted FOR solid link in the constitu-
..lal argument the moraIist viii be an
urvelcome interloper when he under
takes 20 snalyze the humor critically.
as. the comic Gladstone was rewarded
rt- pesls o. laughter on the rare occs-
SONS when he had recourse TO artificial
-asetv o. spirits and labored jests, so.
also. the comic Asquith ought 20 be al
owed 20 be as funny as he can. espe-
-an- during the question hour, when
min s-ers are bsited and worried by willy
artsgorists and the galleries are filed
r.'h loungers eager for racy sport.
Never leok a Parliamentary joker in
t- face" is the maxim OF the listIess
rler-- and Il serves 10 justify the daily
rrsoJice II drawing blood from ministers
systematic heckling. on the principle
'0l- huck-3umping broncos VIII be dull
I'D spiritiess unless they are stimulated
torment from having their ears
listed or the girth pulled Up unna1u-
a- -.ght
Tie testers NAY be benefactors n a
small nav when political excitement is
drought and partisanship is super
heated. Yet they hang their Jokes on
..c fr1iiest o. pegs and produce merri-
- out = proportion 10 the merits OF
--e.r drollcry. The standards Of humor
-rs Commons have not been lower for
's-g zine than they are at present, but
nobody would suspect the deterioration
rLe frequency Of outbursts OF
ought ess laughter
The Commons is the House OF Mfrth
.Eht after night. and the Jokes are
rr-e- worth repeating, and are down
rr- silly when bracketed with laugh
Pop "a tre press reports. Lord Hugh
a is an inventor Of polished phras-
Nr. r. Z. Smith is labored humor-
'' without spontaneous overflow uf the
.o1-i, spirit; Mr. Balfour end Mr.. Lloyd
Gorge sre dexterous masters % ssr-
r@-u and raillerv, and Mr.. Birreu Mr..
rarco-r-. Mr. Bovles and Mr. Hesly
So brilliant wits. but the entertain
mt ~ the members no longer comes
r.-l unexpected repsrtee and passages
s' eEuberant hunor. They laugh over
Pc clsconfture Of opponents. leg pull
processes whether successful or
'1erVlse. debating devices bordering
-rcr buNoonerv and the trivsalities Of
l'cfl part .salship. There IS inces-
So seof1ng a. the expense 81 adyer-
fcr-es. ana ;here is no Illuminating play
~ -uI0o- over the sUrfac- Of good sense
I'd common patriotism
-.rs. Partington was invented when
.-r Houses 81 Parliament were in deadly