I didn't believe so. Leacock produced so many tales and essays in so many different styles that it's impossible to summarize his methods in a few words. In "My Financial Career," for example, the comedy stems from the reader's ability to relate with the narrator right away. The essayist uses this device often. His approach was not to explain ideas but to show them through examples, which is why he was called "a picture writer for the mind." Leacock wrote about anything that interested him; there are tales about Newfoundland, about hockey, about politics. But they all have something in common: They entertain us by showing us aspects of life we might otherwise miss. This entertaining aspect was also what drew readers to his other writings, such as columns, reviews, and speeches. Leacock had a way of telling a story that would make it interesting no matter how serious the subject matter may be. For example, there's a tale about a convict who works on a farm and later becomes a police officer. It's a funny story but it also makes several points about law enforcement at that time.