Superiority theory of humor - apologise
You can test yourself to see whether you are a katagelasticist, gelotophobe, or gelotophile. When people make fun of you, it can leave you feeling shaken by causing you to question the very basis for your own self-worth. If those who put you down are people who are close to you, the impact could potentially be either much worse or, conversely, not that bad. Perhaps you have an in-law whose main form of relating to you involves jabs about your appearance, your clothes, the food you bring to get-togethers, or the way you relate to your partner or children. You might, for example, insist to the clerk at a store checkout counter that an online coupon should be considered valid in the store. The person behind you in line socially distanced, of course laughs and makes a rude comment about what a cheapskate you are and loudly proclaims that you should hurry up and get going. This comment hurts because you are in fact trying to spend wisely but, then again, it makes you wonder if in fact you are too much of a penny-pincher. They set up a scenario so that by putting others down, they themselves can rise up. As Hatzithomas et al. superiority theory of humorObvious typographic errors have been corrected. Of your kindly interpretation of the laughter here and there in this volume, purporting to be a picture of modern Greek life, I have no doubt. You at least know that I lack neither friendship nor sympathy with your race. We like not the less those whom we laugh at, provided our laughter is not meant to wound. For are not our own absurdities and weaknesses mirrored in those of others? My more serious preoccupation is the accuracy of my judgment and observation. For any errors on this ground I claim your indulgence. The foreign observer is proverbially impertinent and inaccurate, as we in Ireland have sad reason to know. We do not lack our Abouts, though it may be doubted this web page we accept them in a spirit so generous as you do.
In placing your name before my story, I may be said to hoist the colours of Greece, and under them dare sail my little bark of Greek passengers without any fear of coming to grief upon Hellenic shores, should I have the honour to penetrate so far. The Austrian embassy at Athens was more largely and more brilliantly attended than usual. All the foreign ministers were there, as well as the Prime Minister of Greece, and whatever distinguished travellers Athens had the honour of entertaining at that time,—it being winter, there was a goodly number.
Jarovisky of world renown, fresh from Pergamos [Pg 6] and recent discoveries at Argos, speaking various languages as badly as possible; a superiority theory of humor and witty Irish professor rushing through Greece with the intention of writing an exhaustive analysis of the country and the people, in that spirit superiority theory of humor amiable impertinence so characteristic of hasty travellers. All the musical dilettanti of the city of the Wise Maid were there, and all its presentable women. Some of the girls were superiority theory of humor, and all were thickly powdered and richly dressed; all had large, brilliant dark eyes. And the gowns and frocks from Paris, the jewels, lace, aigrettes, flowers, and bare arms and shoulders made an effective and troublous contrast with the preponderance of masculine evening attire and semi-official splendour. This large and distinguished gathering had been convened in honour of the return to her native city of Mademoiselle Photini Natzelhuber, a celebrated pianiste, [Pg 7] the rival and friend of Superiority theory of humor, the pupil of Liszt and not greatly inferior to her master, who, at Vienna, had been publicly named by superiority theory of humor Queen of Pianists to match his recognised kingliness.
All Athens was on tiptoe of expectation, eager to hear her, and still more eager to see her. Sane and discerning persons were probably right in putting it down to francs represented by four figures, for Austrian baronesses have a pretty accurate knowledge of the value of money. Through the confused mingling of languages French could be detected as the most universal. A fair, pale young man, with the grave questioning air of a stranger who is disagreeably conscious of being shy and ill at ease, and, above all, utterly and helplessly alone, was walking about the rooms, amazed and bewildered by this Babel of tongues and types, and seemed to entreat by his look more info gentle fear that no one should notice him or talk to him.
A mere boy, twenty-one years of innocence and ignorance leaving him on the click of [Pg 8] manhood with only the potentialities of his sex faintly shadowed in the lightest gold stain above the soft upper lip.
He had just stepped into the glare and turmoil of life from the protected shadow of an isolated old castle in Rapolden Kirchen, with no more reliable and scientific guide to the mysteries of existence than a tender and nervous mother, who, after bringing him up like a girl, had left him for another sphere, and no other knowledge of the passions and their complex sensations than that to be gathered in a close and fervent study of music. It is easy to picture him. A reserved lad of high-bred Austrian type, with a glacially pure face, and heart fluttering with girlish timidity, half-frightened and half-attracted by the world he interprets in the vague light of his own pathetic ignorance, just conscious of opening curiosities upon the eternal feminine, and ready to sink with shame the instant a strange woman looked at him. A very pretty check this out lady, eh?
Men are always jealous of a handsome boy. You know how powerfully he appeals to our sympathetic sex.
TO DEMETRIOS BIKELAS.
But who is he? He has just lost his mother, and is travelling in search of distraction. Some of these young ladies will doubtless take compassion on him. Not possible, surely!
Chapter Eight
You men superiority theory of humor never a good word to say either of yourselves or of us. Men have had the monopoly of proverbs, and, of course, they have used them as they have used everything else, against us. It does not follow that even the clever man believes all the smart and satirical things he says of our sex, but an arrow shot at us looks a smarter achievement than a juster arrow aimed at yourselves. Truth is as likely to be in it as in the bottom of the proverbial well! Can [Pg 10] you tell me if there is any truth in the announcement that the Natzelhuber is rheory to-night?]
I apologise, but, in my opinion, you commit an error. Let's discuss.