Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-01
CONCEALED PUNS.
lanes Russell Lowell Cleverly Hid
One In a Review.
The Story That is Told Of the Witty
Cleric. Sydney Smith. and the Wager
He Won While In the Pulpit--A
Buried Pun by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

He Won While In the Puipit--A
Buried Pun by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Horace 4. Scudder IN some remnls
ccnces Of james Russell Lowell point
ed out that the poet critic even in his
sobcrcst essays would sometimes hide
away lest for the delectati0n OF spe
cialy discerning readers. Thus in Il
review Of Richard Grant Whites edi-
ton Of Shakespeare. Lowell remarked
Incidentally.
ITO every commentator who has
wanionly tampered with the text or
pbscurcd II with his inky cloud Of para
phrase we feel inclined TO apply the
quadrisyllabic name OF the brother OF
Agis. king II sparta
Professor FELTON, OF Harvard. we are
told. was the first 10 remember or dis
cover that the maine OF Agis' brother
was Eudamidas.
\ more Opaque mystiication is con
tanned IN a passage in the first chapter
OF Nathaniel iInwthornes "Our Old
Home" Opaque only because he pur-
pcsely seeks TO conceal every clew to
the fact that pun is buried beneath
the surface.
The chapter Is headed Consular Ex-
pcrienccs Speaking OF the lights and
shadows of the consul's office Mt Liver.
pool. where he was stationed during
the presidency OF Franklin Pierce
Hawthorne dwells with special pleas
ure on the visits of young English
friend. "A scholar and literary amateur
between whom and myself there sprang
NJ IN affectionate and. ! trust, not
transitory regard"
This friend used to come and sir or
stand by the Hawthorne fireside. with
such kind endurance OF the many
rough republicanisms wherewith | as
sailed him and such frank and amiable
assertion OF all sorts Of English preju
dices and mistakes. that | understood
his counirymen Infinitely the better for
him and WIS almost prepared 20 love
the intensest Englishman Of them all
for his sake. II would crafty my cher
ished remembrance Of this dear friend
IL could remind him without offend
Ing him. or letting the public know it.
10 introduce his name upon my page.
Bright was the illumination OF my
dusky little apartment as often ms lie
made his appearance there"
The casual reader never suspects
that Hawthorne has deity accomplish
him that Bright. the apparent adjective
that So cunniEely begins sentence
and therefore achieves the right TO u
capital initial. may he alternativeiy
read as n proper noun.
Henry A. Bright was. in fact. Iiaw-
thorne's only intimate friend IN Liver
pool He was n man Of wealth and po
sition IN that town. dilettanie who
had published for his own amusement
botanical manual, The English
Flower Garden" With Hawthorne he
would frequently call upon the local
bookseller. Henry Young. making use
Of little nook in the rear OF the shop
10 examine and discuss the recent pub
lications. This came 10 be known as
Hawthorne's corner
There IL story told about sydney
Smith that represents him as carrying
concealed pun into the pulpit with
him. The most familiar version Is that
which Lord Houghton used 10 tell
Nt-hAr. al N.st.ex In
Yorkshire. sydney willingly assisted
his brethren in that neighborhood In
their clerical duties On one occasion
he dined with the incumbent on the
preceding saturday. The evening
passed In great hilarify. the squire.
kershaw by name. being conspicuous
by his loud enjoyment OF the visitors
Jokes.
Il am very glad that | have amused
you" said sydney Smith at parting
but you must not laugh at my sermon
tomorrow"
II should hope | know the difference
between here and n church." remarked
the squire little tartly perhaps.
I'm not So sure OF that"
"Ill bet You a guinea on IT,"
Take you." said the divine.
Next day the preacher assembled the
STEPS of the pulpit apparently suffering
from n severe cold. with his handkcr
chief 20 his face and at once Sneezed
ont the name "Kcrshaw,'' several times
In various intonaiions This ingenious
assumption of the readiness with which
q man would recognize his own name
m sounds unintelligihle 20 the ears 81
others proved accurate The poor
squire burst into guifaw. 20 the scan
dal OF the congregation. The minister
after looking nj him with stern re-
proach proceeded with his discourse
and won the bet
Another version makes the victim
Of Sydney's Jest certain Sir Archi-
bald Macdonald. eqncrry 10 the Duke
Of SUSSEX Sir Archibald said TO the
prelate. who was then n canon az st
Paul's cathedral
II will come some Sunday 10 hear
you preach