Arizona republican., 1919-07-24
English and American Humor

few days ago received a note from reader enclosing copy Of interview by G. B. Shaw with the former kaiser The interview itself ridiculous that the purpose of the cynical dramatis must have been apparent. The writer called attention to the fact that not withstandng it obviously fake and not meant by Shaw to be taken seriously, some English newspapers soemly declared their belief that it fake and somewhat dignfed it by the expression, alleged interview"
 It was printed in this country by several news papers among them the Los Angeles Times whose headline writer also treated it seriously with the query "Did Bernard Shaw Fake Kaiser Interview" Whereupon correspondent inqures whether our boasoed superiority of of humor does not rest wholly upon the boast and whether, after all we are not "as deficient think the British
 We have often thought that humor is purely a matter of nationality We have German humor French humor and in fact every national humor in- cluding the unlaughable Chinese humor It cannot be said that nation has higher or better sense of humor than another. Its only different and there is international to say that it is better.
 Each nation believes that all of it's qualities are superior to the corresponding qualities of other na- tions. We believe, for instance that we are smarter in every way than other people, that we are braver that better fighters. and that altogether we superior. The Germans believe or did believe the same thing So now do the French, the Spanish and suppose. every other nation people who do not believe that they are the best pretty we'll crushed down. That kind of a belief is we think element of patriotism.
 Getting back to the subject of humor we may easily understand why of people of different languages should differ It is not so easy though to understand why there should be such a wide differ between English and American humor. Our language is the same, have the some literature and there is finer American human than that we find from Shakespeare to Dickens. The English and American of thinking are much the same yet the current humor of the two countries varies widely. Ours more nearly resembles the French To us even German humor is more sprighty than English
 We are accustomed to picture the Englishman as one who takes twenty-four hours to discover the point of joke whereas to the American it is i'm mediatey apparent But some times SLOW! Is not the shoe sometimes the other foot? we nave thought or that ever since we read of the English reception of the League of Nations At the mere mention of it guffaws arose throughout the House of Commons and members hurled jocose ob- servatons and inquiries at the premier, relative to the league. We have cartoon of the scena Tall-hatted gentlemen bending double with laughter the premier his mouth half covered by his hand trying to conceal the merriment which his quizzical eyes betrayed.
 Our senators, and president, and our polti- clans have found nothing to laugh at in the League Of Nations. To them it is exceedingly solemn thing To some it is sacred to others it is devish but funny. On one side we hear of duty" humanity" that suffering world awaits our ac- ton' On the other We hear of "the ensavement of the American people" and the menace of a super sovereignty" Have English cousins developed of humor to the point of ribaldry to an utter disregard Of sacred things? Or, we taking our selves too seriously?