"CIVIS" AND MR GRUBB, TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9382, 23 March 1892, Page 3

"CIVIS" AND MR GRUBB, TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —One of the complaints that is rightly made against American humourists is that they not infrequently make jokes about sacred things. Now, I can feel for a professional joker (a man with a grin of a size proportionate to the amount of his salary), who, whether he has the toothache, the backache, or any other ache, or is simply for the time being stupid— who has each week to put together a column and a-half of matter which is expected to be either smart or funny, or both; but still I think your contributor shows a lack of delicacy when he fails to remember that, to a number of people who are certainly as good as he is likely to be, what he laughs at are very real and sacred things. Enthusiastic service and self-denial for God and warm spiritual life are actual factors in the lives of, I am glad to believe, not a few in Dunedin; and to such people, at least, Mr Grubb and his co-workers have given much help and encouragement. Your correspondent sneers at the enthusiasm which was aroused. It is the fashion now to sneer at all enthusiasm—especially for that which is good. To the cynic and cold onlooker all enthusiasm is ridiculous. Such people require an education in love, and hope, and sympathy. They have not very far-reaching minds if they are unable to conceive that certain things exist for which they have no perceptive faculty, as there are certain unfortunate people who are quite unable to discover the point or value of some of your joker's jokes.—l am, &c, March 22 X. Y. Z.

— The Hussell matrimonial suit has drawn attention to the fact thnt there are no fewer than seven Lady Russells.