Word: humorous
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...Again, humor, to be pleasing, should be natural, should spring forth of its own accord. Nothing is more displeasing than a labored production, especially if it aims to be witty. True wit resides in the man, and is not the result of education; it is the gift of nature. The more manifest reasons that the so-called funny writings are not favorably received in college journals is, because they appear to have no point to them; or if they have their applications, they are so poorly carried out, either by inability on the part of the writer...
...language cannot be expected; style is formed by long-continued practice; and since witty productions depend to a considerable extent upon the use of language and upon style, it cannot be expected that those who are but tyros in the art of writing will find their forte in humor...
...room, which is the favorite rendezvous of Harvardites. Here the first serious efforts of the brain and body should be expended on the delicate ivories. As everybody is here, the programme for the day is usually laid out, at the same time that the latest scintillations of wit and humor are exchanged. This is only the beginning, but we cannot delineate further. Lunch, calls, driving, dinner, theatre, supper, and so forth, follow. There is no break in the possibilities of enjoyment, except perhaps in the afternoon for a couple of hours, when, in this slushy weather, the Park does...
...three blocks behind. 'Love of ventilation,' or the knack of keeping the door wide open on cold nights while joking with the driver. 'Politeness,' mingled with authority of tone, so as to be able to say, 'Now, then, step, lively, old lady; don't keep us here all night!' 'Humor,' or a fondness for starting the car just before you step off, thereby causing you to shoot forth into the mud. 'Mystification,' or a capacity for mistaking 30th for 13th street. 'An eye to the beautiful,' or a habit of staring ladies out of countenance or the car. 'Disinterestedness,' when...
...were possible, I would annually elect this consummate work of Grecian literature. Its chastity of style, the spirit in which it was written, cannot fail to win the admiration of scholars through all time. Of the author's ability I am convinced; and since the concession of his humor is hereditary, I am obliged to acknowledge that, though I candidly believe that if the inhabitants of the moon - hypothetically speaking - were provided with an edition of Josh Billings, they would be fully as capable of appreciating its humor as we are that of Aristophanes; and this with no disparagement either...