E-text prepared by Hilary Caws-Elwitt, Huub Bakker,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
()
Compiled by
CAROLYN WELLS
Author of "Such Nonsense,"
"The Whimsey Anthology,"
etc., etc.
NEW YORK
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
[Pg iv]
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO
ROBERT CHAPMAN SPRAGUE
[Pg v]
A hope of immortality and a sense of humor distinguish manfrom the beasts of the field.
A single exception may be made, perhaps, of the LaughingHyena, and, on the other hand, not every one of the humanrace possesses the power of laughter. For those who do, thisvolume is intended.
And since there can be nothing humorous about an introduction,there can be small need of a lengthy one.
Merely a few explanations of conditions which may becensured by captious critics.
First, the limitations of space had to be recognized.Hence, the book is a compilation, not a collection. It isrepresentative, but not exhaustive. My ambition was towarda volume to which everyone could go, with a surety offinding any one of his favorite humorous poems betweenthese covers. But no covers of one book could insure that,so I reluctantly gave up the dream for a reality which Itrust will make it possible for a majority of seekers to findtheir favorites here.
The compiler's course is a difficult one. The Scylla ofPopularity lures him on the one hand, while the Charybdisof the Classical charms him on the other. He has nothingto steer by but his own good taste, and good taste, alack, isgreatly a matter of opinion.
And no opinion seemeth good unto an honest compiler,save his own. Wherefore, the choice of these selections, likekissing, went by favor. As to the arrangement of them, everycompiler will tell you that Classification is Vexation. Andwhy not? When many a poem may be both Parody andSatire,—both Romance and Cynicism. Wherefore, the compilersorted with loving care the selections here presentedstriving to do justice to the verses themselves, andtaking a chance on the tolerant good nature of thereader.[Pg vi]
For,
"A jest's prosperity lies in the earOf him that hears it.Never in the tongueOf him that makes it."
Which made me all the more careful to do my authors justice,leaving the prosperity of the jests to the hearers.
Carolyn Wells.
[Pg vii]
The compiler is indebted to the publisher or author, asnoted below, for the use of copyright material included inthis volume. Special arrangements have been made withthe authorized publishers of those American poets, whoseworks in whole or in part have lapsed copyright. All rightsof these poems have been reserved by the authorized publisher,author or holder of the copyright as indicated in thefollowing:
Little, Brown & Company: For selections from the Poemsand Limericks of Edward Lear.
The Macmillan Company: For selections from the Poemsof Lewis Carroll and Verses from "Alice's Adventures inWonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass."
H