“Oh, but,” said the German, “that is not humor, that’s a tamnt lie!”
And he is still convinced that he can see through an American joke.
.......
Grand Rapids, April 24.
Have had to-day a lovely, sublime example of that preposterousness which so often characterizes American humor.
Arrived here this morning from Chicago. At noon, the Grand Rapidite who was “bossing the show” called upon me at the Morton House, and kindly inquired whether there was anything he could do for me. Before leaving, he said: “While I am here, I may as well give you the check for to-night’s lecture.”
“Just as you please,” I said; “but don’t you call that risky?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I may die before the evening.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” he interrupted. “I’ll exhibit your corpse; I guess there will be just as much money in it!”