The Detroit times., 1914-05-25
JOHN K. BANGS
WRITES BOOK ON
HOW WTOBEFUNNY
Intends 1t As Text for Cub Re-
pOrters Turned Out BY
Journalism Schools
HUMORIST TALKS TO
BANKERS THIS EVENING

81 am writing book" said John
Kendrick Bangs, Monday morning, In
the University club and he lit a long,
thin cigar, passed one 10 his inter
viewer and crossed his legs-Bangs
legs. not the interviewer's,
Il am writing serious humor
book" he added, thoughtfully.
You are?" said the interviewer
much interested and trying To look
intelligent
Il am This book Is TO be my
at this point MIR. Bangs used Latin
phrase that the interviewer does not
know how TO spell, so he will call IL
masterpiece" book is TO be a
textbook on humor. After reading
one copy OF this book the patient will
that is, he will be able--No, hold
on. Let's get at II this way.
When the school Of journalism in
Columbia was started they picked out
man to head ii that was highly cap.
able in everything but humor. He
didn't appreciate humor."
| IT this point Mr.. Bangs sighed
gently and retrospectively and gazed
with unseeing eyes at the clubs Japa-
nese school boy who was busy polish
| ing the bottom of a chair-with the
seat OF his trousers.
This man sent some OF his stu
dents To work on the New York pa.
pers, and the city editors told them
to go forth and be funny" he contin-
lued. The editors wanted funny
stories and the boys couldn't do IL.
Therefore, the head OF the school
wrute me a letter asking me to name
80 books for use as textbooks In a
course OF humor. | told him TO read
10 Henry. Mark Twain, Mr.. Dooley
and some others
Now this sent me 10 thinking
| 'Why?' said /. can't | write text
book on humor. A serious one that
will show the internal workings OF
the thing. can give examples from
| Adam and Ade and make blue prints
OF the Jokes and also go into the con
struction, Instruction and destruction
1 OF humor' The more | thought about
It the more serious the thing appear.
ed and after a while | made up my
mind to do IT. II Is now being done"
This was a bit OF news and like a
good nedspaper man Mr.. Bangs told It
first and then politely waited TO be
questioned.
THE city editor says you dabble in
politics" said the interviewer,
thouRhtlessly.
"He did Ell? Young man, he was
right I am a progressive stand-pat
Republican stand pat until see
something TO progress and then
progress IL. A. Conan Doyle wrote a
story while back about poisonous
vapor that descended on the world
and everybody went mad except six
men who we're sealed In a glass
house believe that wave Is here
now. Look al the l5-cent magazines.
Insane literature, Look at Bryan.
IIn-say. am ready and willing to
take all active and able part in any
discussion under way among the In
mates OF Mattewan. but the man who
saws Bryan is the best man since the
Apostle Paul, and Woodrow Wilson
the wisest, sanest. greatest president
since Washington can't even talk
70 me
Politics? Great Scott. This is a
period I'm politics as well as In other
things where every other man with
an insane idea Is trying TO fasten his
insane ideas on other men with ideas
more insane, and the Oldest inhabit-
ant in Bedlam Is a plker and four
/ fusher and.
John Kendrick Bangs almost swal-
CONTINUED on Page Nine).