STYLES OF HUMOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1928, Page 7

STYLES OF HUMOUR

ANG LO-AAI ELHCAN CONTRASTS

SO.ME GOOD STOBIES. An American contributor to the Landmark. the organ of the EnglishSpeaking Union, on the subject of Anglo-American contrasts, repeats some jlc<kkl stories in order to ilnstrate Ins < onteiilion. which is that the English maintain a distant attitude.

Ili> recoils that when Walter Page, while United States Ambassador 'n London, urged a British nobleman to visit the United States, the Englishman demurred, saying “It is so remote.” To which Page retorted: "lie mole'from what?” This reminds bin of the story told concerning the wifi of a brewer who had recently been eu Molded ‘ she wrote to Airs Johns Burns when Air Burns was a Cabinet. Minis ior, just before the Great War, inviting Mr and Airs Burns to dinner, and apologising for not having called previ ousiv upon Airs Burns, and excusing herself on account of the distance from Grosvenor square to Battersea. r l o this Airs Burns (with Air Burns looking over her shoulder, smiling) replied that they regretted their inability to accept the kind invitation because the distance from Battersea to Grosvenot square was the same as Irom Grosvenor square to Battersea. In short, San Francisco is as remote irom London as London is from San Francisco.

At one time it was considered smart to ask the question : ‘‘ When is a. joke not a joke? ” to follow it with: “AVlien you tell it to an Englishman.” This question (comments the writer of the article) is a serious matter! It hie caused, I am told, many divorces, under the heading of “incompatibility oi temper.” An American was telling how his friend Smith Irom San Francisco was engaged in seeing the sights of London 'from the top oi an omnibus. Tim driver told Smith that the dignified passenger on the hack’ seat was the Archbishop of Canterbury, whereupon Air Smith goes to him and asks: “Are you the Archbishop ol Canterbury ? ” To which the supposed ecclesiastic replies : “ And what the hell if I am ? ” Smith returns to the driver and reports : “ Yes. he says lie is.” AY hereupon mi Englishman, hearing the story, icmarks seriously: “1 beg to assure you the Archbishop of Canterbury would never use such language.”

American humour is based upon gross exaggeration and crass incongruity. To speak of a high building as a “ skyscraper ” is typically American; the tall structure is not a cloud-piercer —that, would not sullice; it scrapes the very firmament —a gorgeous exaggeration! Our airmen “hop” across the Atlantic. Such exaggeration does not. make a humorous appeal to an Englishman ; lie does not “ get it.” AA hen Sii Owen Seaman, the editor ol Punch, was crossing the Atlantic—so he told mo—a fellow passenger won three auction pools in succession, whereupon somebody exclaimed, ‘‘lf that fellow fell overboard lie wouldn’t get wet! ” Because, of course, he was so lucky. The editor of the centre of gravity ol tlm British Empire remarked to me in a tone of surprise: “And everybody laughed.” Later lie informed me that lie liked the Americans whom he had met, hilt, lie added, “ they have a queer sense of humour.” Yes, they have—but they get a lot of fun out iff it.

A contrast in humour may ho borrowed from tlie amenities of telephoning. New York Life depicts a lathci about to use that instrument of irritation. whereupon mother asks Johnny to go into the yard while 'father apostrophises the operator. London 1 uneli shows a gentleman who says meekly: “Central please tell me what particular wrong number 1 should ask lor in order to get Mayfair 12:14.” Speaking of meekness, it will lie remembered (hat Al/irk Twain, on his return Irom a. voyage round the world, remarked. I observe that the British are mentioned in the R'ible—‘ Blessed are the meek, lor they shall inherit the earth.” The Englishman derives as much humour out of umler-stateincnt or excessive moderation of speech as the American by addiction to the other extreme. Thus Mr Robert Jones is described by our scribblers as “the most wonderful go lifer of all times,” whereas Mr Bernard Darwin, writing in The Times, might state that Air Jones with a little practice, could develop into an excellent- player. AYhcn Mr William Tilden won the championship at AATinblcdon several years ago a reporter in the London Daily Telegraph wrote: “Ho

plays tennis very well indeed.” It is not good form to rhapsodise, lwo Englismen were ga/.ing at a wonderful panorama in the Bernese Oberland—high peaks, snowflelds, glaciers, ioresti—a grand picture. One of them remarked : “Not had that.” To which the other responded: “It’s all right old man; but you needn’t rave about itlike a bally poet!”

CONVICTS’ HOLIDAY. Smoking cigarettes and pipes, and giving the appearnce of having had a good time, a party of 32 convicts serving long sentences left Cowes on their return to Maidstone Prison. The men had had a few weeks change at Champ J-lit! Prison, Isle of AYight, spending their time tree-felling and wood sawing in Parkhurst- Forest, with intervals for recreation and concerts, in which the prison orchestra took part. They wore grey civilian suits and lookoil sunburnt and healthy after their “holiday” in the Isle of A\ ; ight.

AYHEN BIG FAMILIES WOULD PAY. At the annual conference of the Labour party, held at Birmingham, the representatives of the I.L.P. delegation, headed by Air James Maxton, AI.P., proposed that there should he inserted in the party’s general election programme a proposal that the State should pay, out of Exchequer funds, a weekly allowance to every workingclass mother. The scheme is as follows: The allowance to be at the rate of 5/ a week for each child. It should be paid at once, in respect of all children in the family who are under 16 years of age, i.e.. in a family of six children the mother would draw 30/ a week. That with the arrival of each now baby there would be an additional 5/ a week for the mother. The allowance would Ije paid weekly to the mothers, through the Post Olfice, and not being used for the welfare of the children there would be provisions under which the- allowance would be withheld.