South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-28
WIT AND HUMOR
ARE EXPLAINED
Dr.. F. H. Green at Teachers
Institute Tells of the Differ
ence Between the Two
Pleads For Laughter.

Dr.. F. II. Green in his lecture We'd
nesday afternoon on the subject, wit
and Humor', at the county teachers
institute. being held this week at the
high school. made a strong plea for
the spirit Of laughter, Joy and sun
shine in the school as well as IN the
home and everywhere.
The session was well attended and
at It's close II was decided 10 hold
the winter meetings Of the association
on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 81 and
Nov. 1, instead OF at Thanksgiving
time. and the association fee was
made 20 cents. The program commit
tee will consist OF Supt. r. II. Long
field. ]. T. Nuner of Mishawaka and
Supt. L. ]. Montgomery. The best
talent available will be secured.
In his lecture OF the afternoon Dr.
Green said that wit is that subordi-
nate quality Of discourse whose object
is amusement, whose elements are
surprise, incongruity and perversion,
and whose for mis- brief and antithei-
ical. He said that humor is that sub
ordinate quality OF discourse whose
object Is pleasure and whose elements
are surprise, sensibility and kindness
To distinguish the two, he said:
wit laughs at you; humor laughs with
you. Wit is a brilliant flash; humor
Is lingering sunbeam. Wit is tran
silent; humor is permanent. Wit is
bold: humor is gentle. Wit is indif-
ferent; humor is kindly. Wit is de-
structive; humor is constructive. Wit
focolizes; humor radiates. Wit
sparkles; humor glows. Wit surprises
and humor pleases."
Dr. Green aptly illustrated such
forms Of wit as repartee, retort, the
bull and the pun, calling man the
laughing animal, who laughs at de-
formities in spelling, pronunciation,
diction, rhetoric, language, concep-
tons. truth and movements.
The foul mouthed stories, dirty
jests and profanity. which are too
prevalent in some places, were con-
demned in scathing words by the doc
tor. He put the question to the
teachers as to whether they were ever
grouchy and always agreeable.
DR.. ). G. Schumucker's theme for
the afternoon was "A Family of Spin
ners", having reference to the spiders.
He declared that the bite Of the spider
is harmless, saying that he would
rather be bit by a spider any time
than to be scratched by a pin which
such as a street car.
One of the big programs OF the in
stitute will be held on Thursday, while
on Friday, DR.. Schumacher will use
his big subject of the program. THE
Future Of America Agriculture, for
his mornings lecture.
Dobbin, our good old family friend,
has had an interesting history, so DR..
S. g. Schumacher told the teachers at
the county institute Wednesday mirn-
ing In his lecture. The Story of the
Horse"
Dobbin, in prehistoric times, was
no larger than a terrier dog, the lee
turer said, but by patient effort, and
continuous development he had risen
TO present high estate. He showed
how the toe, leg, body, head and teeth
OF the horse as we know him. has
been evolved by his adaptation to
changing environment, food and en-
emies.
Dobbin should worry if the automo-
bile grows up and takes his places as
a beast of burden. In that case, DR..
Schumacher believes, he will be raised
for his meat. Horse flesh is better
than beef. the lecturer said. Our
ealliest ancestors. before they had use
for the horse as a work animal, used
his flesh for food.
DR.. F. II. Green spoke to the teach
ers at the first period on the subject,
Cambridge University and Her Lit
erary Men. He described each of
Cambridge's II colleges and told
stories of their famous men.
DR.. Green recommended the book,
Yesterdays With Authors, by James
T. Fields. for those who wished to
study the lives Of noted English writ
ers.
Miss Fife Hartman worked out two
new songs with the institute as a class
during the music period.