own kind. Many a
boy deserts school because the teacher is devoid of the saving grace of
humor. Her inability to see or have any fun in life makes him
uncomfortable and he seeks a more agreeable environment.

=Humor in its manifestations.=--A sense of humor diffuses itself through
all the activities of life, giving to them all a gentle quality that
eliminates asperities and renders them gracious and amiable. Like
fireflies that bespangle the darkness of the night, humor scintillates
through all life's phases and activities and causes the day to go more
pleasantly and effectively on. It twinkles through the thoughts and
gives to language a sparkle and a nicety that cause it to appeal to the
artistic sense. It gives to discourse a piquancy that stimulates but
does not irritate. It is the flavor that gives to speech its undulatory
quality, and redeems it from desert sameness. It pervades the motives
and gives direction as well as a pleasing fertility to all behavior. It
is pervasive without becoming obtrusive. It steals into the senses as
quietly as the dawn and causes life to smile. Wit may flash, but humor
blithely glides into the consciousness with a radiant and kindly smile
upon its face. Wit may sting and inflame, but humor soothes and
comforts. The man who has a generous admixture of humor in his nature is
an agreeable companion and a sympathetic friend to grown-up people, to
children, and to animals. His spirit is genial, and people become kindly
and magnanimous in his presence.

=One of John B. Gough's stories.=--The celebrated John B. Gough was wont
to tell a story that was accounted one of his many masterpieces. It was
a story of a free-for-all convention where any one, according to
inclination, had the privilege of freely speaking his sentiments. When
the first speaker had concluded, a man in the audience called lustily
for a speech from Mr. Henry. Then another spoke, and, again, more
lustily than before, the man demanded Mr. Henry. More and more
vociferous grew the call for Mr. Henry after each succeeding speech
until, at last, the chairman with some acrimony exclaimed: "The man who
is calling for Mr. Henry will please be quiet. It is Mr. Henry who is
now speaking." The man thus rebuked was somewhat crestfallen, but
managed to say, as if in a half-soliloquy: "Mr. Henry! Why, that ain't
Mr. Henry. That's the little chap that told me to holler."

At the conclusion of one of his lectures in which Mr. Gough told