Evening star., 1911-08-13

center producing the howls. by misdi-
rected sense of humor than by any otner
agency in real life that | can think of.
The sense OF humor as handled by the
average husband and representing the
brand. as one might say, for which he is
famous out among the world OF men, and
for which his most intimate friends are
and slay him by slow torture, having
gathered together for the purpose all
they can find of his favorite jokes. is cal
culated, if tirned loose in the family cir
Gle, to devastate it severely.
X
circle of man friends. you understand,
has a certain redress The component
parts Of the circle are free, male and
over twenty-one. and can be depended
upon to get even in time for being made
the butt of sense of humor which, re-
garding no obstacles. strides ever onward,
even though feelings suffer. friendships
wither beneath its glare and revenge lies
stealthily about its pathway.
But when you get the thing free in the
home circle, which consists, as one might
say. of unprotected women and children,
1t Is apt to be more generally fatal in re-
suits
This is especially and notably and
doubly and even trebly and four-ply true
when 1t gets to working overtime and be-
fore company. In this case it not only
seriously cripples the affections but gives
a wound to delicate little personal prideS
anS sentiments and things like that which
1t As as much as a mans life is worth TO
triie with II he expects to have left any
thing remotely resembling his wife's love
and the tenderness and respect of his
children.
You take sense of humor like this and
let 1t get busy when the minister is
guest at tea and encourage it to make
witty bat not necessarily admirng COM
ments on the biscuits, the childrens man
ners and the way the wife does her hair,
and the clergyman is going to be en-
barrassed by perceiving right before his
eyes parishioner vanish from existence,
II said parishioner' wife's glances succeed
in their valiant endeavor. But if the hus-
band is too hardened to be thus evicted
from being. the wife herself will, so far
as concerns her self-respect become
evanescent. even though what the min
ister might properly call her earthly
frame Is In her pew at church every
single Sunday he breaches.
If it is the poor things mother who is
present when the dog of war-nay. the
sense OF humor-is let loose at the dinner
table at her expense. it is only too likely
that the owner of the offending animal
may begin for the first time to suspect
that his wife really has mother Which.
of course, makes for less peace and. more
fun for the neighbors even than had been
the case before this happened
II the children become the object OF
this sense of ,humor the situation is still
further complicated by the fact that the
children's mother will. If she amounts
to hill of beans. have the entire sur
face of her sentiments and feelings and
theories as to what constitutes a kind
husband, ripped up and excoriated rather
than permit a hair OF her babies little
heads to be ruffled by the gusfy laughter
Of a fathers wit.
This sense of humor is the sort that
deals in personalities. II wouldn't know
a legitimate subject for jest if ii should
meet one face to face. but the little deli
cacies which all young people worth a
picayune cherish in their shy hearts are
to it the veriest joy.
II can tell to a nicely just how much
mother is going to stand on the subject
OF her housekeeping before she throws
the coffee pot.
1t is aware of the hint about her
freckies which will stir Jennie most
completely to the depths. And the sly
hint as to- athletes of the hour which
will cause affiiction to the son who
failed to make the track team is, aimed
and ready for business at moments
notice. ~s-.,
Thus all the members of the family