i5 2 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



unique humor tone. The uniqueness of the tone is the crux of the 

 matter. The mental tension preceding the humor process, although 

 an essential condition thereto, is not a differentium, for it precedes any 

 and all emotional states. 



The clue lies in the nature of the humor stimulus, and the relation 

 sustained to it by the individual. This is in line with Dr. Dewey's 

 theory of the differentia among the several emotions themselves. He 

 holds that each emotion is marked off from other emotions by the 

 different reactions produced by the exciting fact. I have indicated that 

 the humor stimulus belongs to an order of knowledge whose laws, uni- 

 formities, manners and customs have arisen since the human mind has 

 attained its present estate. Contrast with the humorous stimuli the 

 non-humorous, and it appears, humanly speaking, that the latter has 

 always existed. The heavens, the laws of matter, cosmic forces of 

 whatever sort, were in full swing when human consciousness dawned, 

 their operation has participated in mind evolution and to that extent 

 has impressed law and order upon it. Therefore, when we are engaged 

 with these things, sober thinking, pleasant or unpleasant emotions, are 

 the outcome, but never humor. But it will be noticed that the humor- 

 ous stimuli consist of departures, of exaggerations, even of violations of 

 the laws, uniformities, concepts and what not that have evolved out 

 of man's experience. The significant fact for humor is that these 

 departures, and exaggerations do not disturb the recognized values of 

 good and evil. The mind maintains all the while a disinterested atti- 

 tude toward the object of its activity. We seek neither to correct nor 

 further to exaggerate the departure from the normal. It is time to 

 feel and not to act. We enter into aesthetic rather than practical rela- 

 tions with the object of our humor ; should we seek the practical, humor 

 at once ceases, issuing perhaps, in bitterness or joy, sarcasm or flattery, 

 indignation or admiration. 8 Penjon, 9 writing upon this point, says : 



August, 1893. 



I shall have to distinguish these varieties of the comic laugh, sometimes so 

 near to tears and often so cruel. But if one separates, as must be done, the 

 causes which too easily deform the comic and make of it an emotion of wicked- 

 ness or bitterness, the comic emotion will appear purely disinterested. I mean 

 by this that the object or the event which is the occasion of the comic excludes 

 every idea of loss or of profit, that it makes us conceive neither hope nor fear 

 and seems to us at the same time neither advantageous nor harmful to any 

 one; it is worth in itself what it is worth without adding to our idea of it any 

 consideration of end or ideal. The comic emotion is then essentially a play 

 emotion. 



The humor process then, like play, is its own end and justification. 

 The kinship between humor and play already indicated not only sug- 



8 For subjective proof of this one may read Benjamin Franklin's " Polly 

 Baker's Defense " ; also Dickens's satire on American life in " Martin Chuz- 

 zlewit." 



9 Penjon, A., " Le Eire et la Liberty," Revue Philosophique, pp. 113-140, 



