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Show I I I -.viMl I G1IL I Don't make a mistake -the B excessively witty person is not I always the ond who possesses I superior intelligence. In fact, I if the truth were told, sometimes I the witty person, particularly I clever in the juggling of words, I t without this clever gift of re-I re-I partee would be an insufferable H. bore. If you find yourself in a H position where you have to SUPS' SUP-S' port his presence morning, noon H and night, he becomes a bore I anyway. No matter how bright, H delightful and daring his sallies H my be, just fancy having tc H sit at table with them as a garn- ish for every repast, It would go all right for a while; but the H continual glitter would event-H event-H ' ually become very tiresome. In H- tho first place, you've got to "frame up" for a "come back." H If you don't you might as well H go and join the ranks of the H stupid, and be done with it It H is splendid for a species of men-H men-H tol gymnastics it does you good H to run up against it and get your H head bumped hard once in a H while. It sort of takes the con-H con-H cei . out of you, and sharpens up H your wits. The very finest in-H in-H telligence and the most profound H scholar will get theirs when they H fall into the hands of the wit. H He may be a red-haired pinhead H as far as real brains are concern-H concern-H cd, quick of observation, keen in H v his sense of humor, utterly lack-H lack-H ing in a knowledge of anything H below the surface. But I have H seen one of the grandest and H finest intellects of our time and H country helpless in the toils of H the witty nit. K humor, but he does not exactly H understand the languageof the H. .-: wit. He may be big and broad H enough to enjoy his own fchrash- H ing. All credit to him if he is. H He is splendid enough fc apprec H. iate a gift in another and he H must recognijip that the witty H one is gifted, however barbed H with effrontery his thrusts may H We like the good-natured wit H We cannot fce'p liking him. H . His smile is charming, his gen H! eral personality pleasing. He is H a relief from the heavier affairs H that have been engaging our at- tention. We like to sharpen up ft a tilt with him, and we don't ft ' mind being worsted, ft' But the weapons of the wit arc ft not the most honest weapons K '""' that could be wielded. He has ft become a past master in the use ft of them into play to cover up in- ft sincerity, to foil the eyes of m truth. His reputation as a wit ft protects him ho does not need ft to meet any issue squarely. He ft has a genius to mislead without M direct lying. It all works out ft fine for a while. B M..., ... ,i ! II- . . ! |