JOE MILLER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9291, 18 January 1892, Page 4

JOE MILLER.

Joe Miller has been held as the very model of all funny and witty fellowß. His name is regarded as the synonym of mirth and jollity. And yet, in truth, a more solemn and Bedate individual never lived than was this same Joe Miller. He was an actor, of the time of James 11., and it is said that Oongreve oast several characters in his comedies especially for him —notably, in "The Old Baohelor," Miller'fl face was muoh after the oast of the face of the aotor Finn — so solemn that a' Bmile would freeze at sight of it^ and the reputation of comicality was fastened upon him in derision of bis caturnine taoiturnity. There was a noted public-house in Clare Market, where numerous celebrated characters — wits, authors,' aotors, and sports — were in the habit of meeting, and here Joe was always to be found, when at leisure, away in a far corner, over his solitary mug and pipe. So, when anything excessively funny had been said, it beoaino the fashion, in jest, to ascribe it to Joe Miller; and did anybody tell an old story or retail a stale joke, it would be said at once, "Oh, that's a Joe Miller." And when poor Joe had "shuffled off his mortal coil," John Mottley, a favourite dramatist of the time, conceived the idea of compiling a book of jokes and witticims, gathered up from the floating bon-mots of society, the proceeds of whioh should be given to his bereaved family ; and in carrying out the idea the old system of badinage was adopted, and the facetite all ascribed, to the dead and gone actor. It was called '• Joe Miller's Jests," and from that tune — now almost a century and a half — poor Joe, who never made a jest in his life, has had .to father the jests, good and bad, of many generations. ■ » ■ ■■■