Humourists on “Humour.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 5, 31 January 1912, Page 50

Humourists on “Humour.”

A writer in “La Revue.” M. Maurice Dekobra, lias been inviting representatime humourists in various countries to define “humour,” and publishes the results of his inquiry in the current number of that periodical. Many of his correspondents declare the task to bean

impossible one, while others bring much learning and ingenuity to bear on the required definition. Eight well-known English writers contribute their ideas on the subject. Mr G. B. Shaw, whose own humour M. Dekobra says is “saturated with ferocious irony,” tersely dismisses the question in these words: “Humour cannot be defined. It is a primary substance which makes us laugh. You might as well try to prove a dogma.” Mr Jerome K. Jerome writes: “I do not think humour can be explained. 1 would define it as that which strikes US by its drollery.”

This, M. Dekobra remarks, is evidently “the idle reply of an idle fellow.” Mr Owen Seaman, editor of “Punch,” takes the matter much more -seriously, and devotes two and a half pages ol

print to his conceptions of humoar, pointing out that it depends largely on contrast, incongruity, and a subjective sense of superiority. In America one of its leading characteristics is exaggeration, while in England it finds expression in. implications equivalent to the reserve strength of an athlete. It embraces irony in the largest sense, and the art of delicate suggestion. •Mr Anstey suggests this definition: “A delicious cpncqption pf the incongruous,” but he admits it is not complete. The particular humour appreciated b;> different races is, he thinks, largely ti matter of climate. Mr Zangwill says: “Humour is the smile in the look of wisdom.” Mr Pett Ridge declares that the most modern tendency in England is to laugh at our heroes of romance, instead of laughing with them. ’ -mod story, he says, should have an : -ted ending. Every country has its .1 humour, an i thinks it the best. Jokes which make an American laugh till he cries leave an Englishman unmoved, and some French comic papers do not even make him smile. The English have more affinity with the Germans.