The Washington times., 1933-09-29
Not Funnv?

writer's He skeptica about that but he wrong
Not Funny?
read recently an article by Clifton Fadiman, in which
the idea that Lardner humors rebuked because
1adner harsh and cruel in his creation of character
There to be sure profound hatred of human i'm
becllty in him. but the way he took to express 1t was
essentially funny 1t would be absurd to that Shake
speare was not poet because he hated cruelty.
Here is part of a letter from "You Know Me ALL
pretty picture of sowwitted mlsery fool as was
drawn-but it is funny:
'I remember told you to fix it up hack would
be down the deepo meet tonight and wont get
this letter in time to tell them to send hack
suppose the hack will be there but may be they will be
somebody else that gets off of the train that will want the
hack and then every thing will be O. K but if they is not
nobody else that the hack will pay them p Of
what they going to charge if had came and road
in the hack though don't have to pay them nothing be-
going to ride in the hack but want to do
the right thing and besides will want hack at the deepo
when do they will get of money out of
any way don't where they got no kick comeng
even if l don't give them nlchol now
A Personal Letter
About 10 years ago Lardner and both having
books published and exchange of letters arranged
for publicity purposes Here is his letter.:
"Dear Gilbert (as have learned to think Of you)
'ust reed notice from the Harper bows that YOU have
got book nicknamed the Lively Arts and listen Gil
bert here is the kind of sucker they thought They
said could buy regular copy Of the book for $OO and
hundreds dollars but they also getting out special
autographed edition of 800 copies with each copy numbered
with edges, Javanese bak sides and natural linen
back which the price Of it $1,000 only $500 more
than regular copy. WE'LL of course, can't have
Javanese batk the house acct of the children but
irregardess of that why what do they think paying
$500 for your signature which already it 100 times
and did not think such he'll Of spectacle, and
besides which the next time you drop in at what laugh
ingly call my home will give you $3.50 worth of drinks
and then haul out $OO copy of your book front of
the Great Neck smart set and Gil old boy you will put
your in the front of this and you will say
the wrist of getting bood off Long Island That is how
will get autographed copy of your book and $3.50
and far the 300 numbered copies is concerned why
ain got many books that half to have any of
them numbered. We still call them all by
"Persony whenever I get letter from gal in De-
1roit somewheres asking for my autograph and think
they can't get along without it, why send to them for
nothing and sometimes half to my stamps That
is the difference between you and Gilbert and here
another difference, will be paying $4OO for copy Of
your book but when my book How to Write Short Stories
you will get free gratis copy because you
critic and just about Great Neck. And further
and book autograph right the front of
every copy of book and don't cost $1,000
nowheres that amt As to which book is worth the
money will leave that to clean-vng right-thinking
American citizens to decide and matter what the de-
cision will still think they the fairesmnded jury
in the world else bunch of 70 witted, degenerate
mormons."
What [ write about the who wrote that!