DANGEROUS HUMOUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 114, 6 July 1911, Page 6

DANGEROUS HUMOUR.

It is well-known that in the British Parliament, a man who gets a rojjatfitioji as a joker stands a poor chance ox over being taken seriously, .ulr “loinmy” Bowie's is a case in point. The House of Commons regarded him as a humorist, and refused to recognise his undoubted ability in finance and other serious subjects. A w riter in “McClure’s” tells us that the same thing is true of Congress. “If you would succeed in life,"’ you ■ must he solemn—solemn as an ass,” .‘'.lid Join Corwin, one of ihs greatest of American legislative humorists. i J oor Corwin died embittered by the conviction that his reputation as a wit had barred the way to greater success as a public man. Life in Congress, however,'would be very dull if it were not for the flashes of wit and humour that enliven the debates of which the writer in “McClure’s’’’ lias made an interesting selection. Some of the sayings quoted have become famous, such as T. B. Reed’s definition of a statesman as a successful politician who is dead, and doubtless the world will not be allowed to forget the reference of Samuel Cox to a particularly sour-visaged member —that his only regret was that there wore not more commandments to lie obeyed. T. B. Reed convulsed the House one day, by pretending to weep while a representative from Kentucky was speaking in funeral tones. Holding his handkerchief to his eyes, he said to a neighbour in a clear voice: “Joe, ware you acquainted with the deceased?” The same man made a retort once that had important results. “I would rather be right than be President,” cried a member, quoting Clay. “The gentleman need not worry,” drawled Reed, “for he will never be either.” The retort clung to the speaker,, and cost him election to a high office. In a speech against the Senate a few years ago, a representative with the famous name of Adam Bede uttered this pungent sentence: “1 would rather leave my pilitical rights in the keeping of a member of cither Hoirfto. of Congress from the Rocky Mountains, and representing nothing but the sunset, than to one standing in the shadow of a trust company and representing the unearned increment.” But right through the article theie is the same moral—. be funny and you miss high office. The Americans love humour, but apparently they do not like it in their public men. 1