~ 
a ae ae 
THE 
AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
Vou. x.— MAY, 1876. — No. 5. 
ANIMAL HUMOR. 
BY REV. SAMUEL LOCKWOOD, PH. D. 
“The heart is hard . . . that is not pleased 
With sight of animals enjoying life, 
Nor feels their happiness augment his own.” 
War deep philosophy might be evolved from an honest con- 
templation of animal sports! Just here a child may turn 
catechist, to the confusion of the wise man. Whether well or 
otherwise, Cowper’s words have been allowed to push us into the 
vein. He gave us our first draught of literary humor. It was 
long ago, but it comes up to-day as a delicious vision. The first 
poem that made our almost baby cheeks to dimple with ringing 
laughter was John Gilpin; and when told that its author kept 
three pet hares, Puss, Tiney, and Bess, in our boyish estimate 
ce a right proper man. And the later judgment 
confirms the youthful verdict. It has seemed to me that it is 
with animals much as it is with other folks; the jocose and the 
Pathetic, the gleesome and the sad, are very often from the same 
k born. There is a rough-and-tumble mirth, enjoyed alike 
PY dogs and boys, yea, and those semi-barbarous ones denomi- 
hated -s Troughs.” It is observable of this kind of play, with both 
dogs and the urchins, that, however high their glee, a small 
is ta put out all the fun. A decayed apple rightly thrown 
ie n sufficient for this purpose: the whole effervescence is over, 
the fun is flat as stagnant water. 
, the departed days when one chair in college took several 
. ogies,” our good old “ Prof.” was a very funny man. He was 
amg Practical. His jokes, even, were kept in stock and cal- 
«ed; each had its own time and purpose. There was his 
Star Joke » 
» always pronounced “huge and capital.” This bit 
Fla stately introduction, was regularly aired in sopho- 
Ben. A Wicked junior informed us just when to expect it. 
no longer fresh and green, it was resolved in class 
Copyright, A. S. PACKARD, JR. 1876, 
