THE HUMOURIST'S 146070 WN BOOK: A CABINET OF ORIGINAL AND SELECTED ANECDOTES, OF CHARACTER: INTENDED TO FURNISH OCCASION FOR REFLECTION AS WELL BY THE AUTHOR OF THE YOUNG MAN'S OWN BOOK. PHILADELPHIA: DESILVER, THOMAS & CO., 253 MARKET ST From this book every thing has been excluded which is unfit for reading at the family fireside. Entered according to the act of congress, in the year 1833, by KEY & BIDDLE, in the clerk's office of the district court, of the eastern district of Pennsylvania. STEREOTYPED BY J. HOWE. THE NEW YORK C LIBRA PREFACE. THE Compiler of the following work is among those who believe that the occasional indulgence in sallies of wit and sports of fancy is not only perfectly innocent, but entirely compatible with true manliness and dignity of character. He has not formed this conclusion hastily; but, from a pretty extensive observation, he believes himself able to pronounce, that men of the highest intellect in the various professions and circles of society, are generally characterized by a strong relish for humour, and a fondness for observing traits of originality and eccentricity. Indeed, it may be considered a pretty well-established fact, that a fine stroke of humour-a fair hit-finds a ready reception with the learned and the illiterate, the grave and the gay, the young and the old, or, in other words, approves itself to the common sense of mankind. Most of the compilations of anecdotes, however, are rendered-unfit for the perusal of a pure-minded and modest young man by the frequent recurrence of indelicate allusions and profane expressions. It was for this reason that the publishers of the Young Man's Own Book formed the design of a work of a suitable character for young persons, and committed to the Author the task of preparing it. In accomplishing this, it has been his principal care to introduce such anecdotes only as were distinguished by genuine wit or humour; a striking moral ; a fair stroke of satire at some vice or folly; or an exhibition of some original or noble trait of character: and he has been equally solicitous to exclude from the collection whatever may be offensive to true modesty or sound morality. He will consider himself singularly fortunate if his humble efforts should contribute in any measure towards establishing the young men of the present age in the belief which seems, indeed, to be daily gaining ground among them, viz. that there may be such a thing as genuine wit without the slightest tincture of profanity or impurity. |