The Humorous Story an American Development. Its
Difference from Comic and Witty Stories.

I DO not claim that I can tell a story as it
ought to be told. I only claim to know how
a story ought to be told, for I have been al
most daily in the company of the most expert
story-tellers for many years.

There are several kinds of stories, but only
one difficult kind the humorous. I will talk
mainly about that one. The humorous story
is American, the comic story is English^the
witty story isJFrencrh The "humorous story
depends for its effect upon thfTmanner~oi the
telling; the comic story andjt
upon ihejngAcr.

The humorous story may be spun out to
great length, and may wander around as much
as it pleases, and arrive nowhere in partic
ular; but the comic and witty stories must
be brief and end with a point.


The Humorous Story an American Development. Its
Difference from Comic and Witty Stories.

I DO not claim that I can tell a story as it
ought to be told. I only claim to know how
a story ought to be told, for I have been al
most daily in the company of the most expert
story-tellers for many years.

There are several kinds of stories, but only
one difficult kind the humorous. I will talk
mainly about that one. The humorous story
is American, the comic story is English^the
witty story isJFrencrh The "humorous story
depends for its effect upon thfTmanner~oi the
telling; the comic story andjt
upon ihejngAcr.

The humorous story may be spun out to
great length, and may wander around as much
as it pleases, and arrive nowhere in partic
ular; but the comic and witty stories must
be brief and end with a point.