The Father of American Wit: George Horatio Derby

By Richard Paskowitz, M.D.

George Horatio Derby, also known as John Phoenix and as Squibob, is the Father of American Wit. He influenced Mark Twain.Modern comedy owes a debt to John Phoenix (for example Andy Kaufman and Jim Carey).Laugh out loud at his wit;enjoy his humor,as relevant now as it was 160 years ago.Discover for yourself this master of the English language.The last book that Abraham Lincoln read was by John Phoenix. Theodore Roosevelt said he could be tested on Phoenix's books. Both men enjoyed his humor.Many of the stories contained in this book have never been published.Several stories were written at Andover in the 1830's. Some were written while Derby was at the Military Academy at West Point (Class of 1846)He was truly a SOLDIER JOKER.
Humor dissected ceases to be funny. In these pages, Derby's humor is special and is great fun, and is left to speak for itself without annotation.
Your role in reading this book is to enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781105518898

Book preview

The Father of American Wit: George Horatio Derby

The Father of American Wit:

George Horatio Derby

The Father of American Wit

George Horatio Derby

ISBN: 978-1-105-51889-8

Publisher: Lulu.com

Rights Owner: Richard Paskowitz, M.D.

Copyright: 2012 Standard Copyright License

Language: English

Country: United States of America

Table of Contents

The Father of American Wit

George Horatio Derby

Introduction

Reflections on the Man in the Moon

Chapter One

Work Men

Fellow Army Officers

Perfect Strangers

The Moon

Chapter Two: The Early Years

My Dear Coz

Impudence

Fear

Novel Method of Angling

King George III

Laziness

Little Girl

The Peppermint

Snobble and I

Journal of the Toad

Chapter Three: Adult Wit

Derby and a Bakery Truck Driver

Derby's Superior Officers

Derby's Toast at His Own Wedding

Derby's Mock Initiation

Another Shop Keeper Anecdote

Derby's Prank: Unacceptable

Derby and the Pistol Duel

John Phoenix's Greatest Exploit

The Practical Joke on the Two Marys

The Extremity

Introduction

Reflections on the Man in the Moon

The Moon

This resplendent luminary, like a youth on the 4th of July, has its first quarter; like a ruined spendthrift its last quarter; and like an omnibus, is occasionally full, and new. The evenings on which it appears between these last stages are beautifully illumined by its clear, mellow light.

George Horatio Derby

For the last 10 years I have been trying to pigeonhole (classify) George Derby. He has defied classification. Due to this situation I had to pen eight books that touched on aspects of his life and works. Derby's own books (Phoenixiana and The Squibob Papers) have been described as poorly edited and disjointed. Of these characterizations, I agree.

Georgia O'Keefe, the painter, kept repeating her paintings of doors and of poppies---obsessed with these objects. I, in turn, am obsessed with George Derby---trying as have others, to understand Derby.

In this book I have endeavored to put some of Derby's work in a semblance of order. The overarching theme is the demonstration of his intellect, his wit. This wit does not go to endear or profit him. This wit brings out the emotional responses of those at which the wit is directed. These emotions could be incredulity, pity, laughter, scorn, disgust, or displeasure. Derby's canvas was the people around him---none were exempt.

The 20th century iteration of Derby was Andy Kaufman. Both men seem to me to come out of the same mold---both strived to explore the human response to stimuli: Pavlovian responses by humans. Both Derby and Kaufman projected a scenario,(Derby by words, Kaufman by appearance and actions) meant to elicit responses. Both, to me, had no evil intent. Both had a curiosity to see the result, the response, to their stimulus---how indeed would be the response.

Whether Kaufman knew of Derby or read some of Derby's (John Phoenix) work is unknown. Kaufman took this Performance Art to extreme levels. Derby, AKA John Phoenix, lived at a time when there were not classifications