WHY PEOPLE LAUGH AT ME

Manawatu Times, 4 May 1926, Page 9

WHY PEOPLE LAUGH AT ME

THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS: BY SIR HARRY LAUDER. Noo, I’m askin’ ye—why dae yea’ lauch at me? D’ye kon yersel’s the reason o ’it, or dae ye no’ ? Whit is it that male’s a comedian differ from other men so that the meenutc ho gangs on tae the stage, folks’ mou’s a ’get shaped ready for lauchter? It’s no’ entirely in the appearance, ye ken, for there’s times w'hen I look just an ordinal 1 ’ auld Hiclan crofter —an’ gin there’s a muir sober body onywheres on this airth I challenge ye tae bring him tae mo next time I’m in yer toon. “Boss o’ the Hoose.” Nor is it just my appurtenances, for all the twirly stick an’ the umbrella an’ ilher things is verra great help in their way. It's no’ altogether the wee songs I sing, neither, line though they certainly are themael’s, and though the liltin’ tunes o’ them are the kind that rin in the head for days afterwards. Hundreds o’ times people ha’ asked me: “Harry,’’ they’ve said, “whit’s yer secret, man, and hoo is it ye’re always sure tae be ‘Boss o’ the Hoose’ wherever ye gang?” Perhaps the real reasons are these: First, it’s aye my object tae mak’ the whole hoose forget for a while that it’s get oot an’ come tae the theatre wi’ the decided purpose o’ bein’ amused, an’ consequently foolin’ critical an’ bored like a lot o’ auld wilies at a tea-party. ’Tis my object to make everyone there foci as if they were present at a gatherin’ o’ jolly acquaintances—an’ once that’s done, their lauchter comes spontaneous.

Then I use a’ my endeavours tac male’ people lauch wi l me, an’ no' at me. Rather than tell them jokes I appeal tao them tae see the humour by makiu’ them a’ feel I’m tellin’ them in confidence. I wink at them tac show them whit I’m drivin’ at, so in a little whiles every ither thoucht is charmed awa’, an’ they’re a’ drawn aboot me like a circle o’ auld frien’s o’ my ain. The rest’s nae more than a few jokes an’ songs, some amusin’ clishmaclaver, an’ maybe a tune or twa on the bagpipes if the audience is good. But much o’ the secret o’ my humour is tae keep a’ my jokes an’ my wee songs simple an’ homely an’ wholesome. People dinna care for bad jokes there’s nae fun in, nor yet involved jokes, but somethin’ straight an’ humourous gangs richt tae their hearts.

An’ lastly, my frien’s (as the mceinster says), a’ the world just loves for its care tae bo maglcked awa’, an’ for an hoor or two tae feel there’s naethin’ but lauchter an’ hapiness on a’ sides, an’ everybody like brithors an’ sisters the whiles. So I just try tae do a’ that, yo ken, an ’erhaps yon’s the verra greatest secret o’ my success—that I’m no happy mysel’ unless trouble is a’ banished awa’, an’ there’s the joy-ous-hearted, smilin’-faced ring o’ my frien’s a’ aboot me.