"George Washington’s Use of Humor during the ..." Topic

… Revolutionary War.

"Most early portraits of George Washington represent him as serious and even dour, and more than a few contemporaries described the man as aloof. It is thus perhaps surprising to learn that he actually possessed a fine sense of humor. David Humphreys, Washington's own secretary and official biographer, wrote c. 1788 that "grave & majestic as he ordinarily was in his deportment, he occasionally, not only relished wit & humour in others, but displayed no inconsiderable share of them himself." Humphreys also stated that "notwithstanding [Washington's] temper is rather of a serious cast & his countenance commonly carries the impression of thoughtfulness; he perfectly relishes a pleasant story, an unaffected sally of wit, or a burlesque description which surprises by its suddenness & incongruity with the ordinary appearance of the same object." Washington himself wrote to a fellow Virginian, Colonel Theodorick Bland, that "it is assuredly better to go laughing than crying thro' the rough journey of life." For his part, David Howell, delegate from Rhode Island to the Continental Congress, described Washington in September 1783 as having "a pleasant smile and sparkling vivacity of wit and humor."…"
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Amicalement
Armand

A …. rough humor

Shift that fat ass Henry, but slowly, or you'll swamp the damned boat."

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

a burlesque description which surprises by its suddenness & incongruity with the ordinary appearance of the same object.

This is the best description of dirty jokes I've ever read. It makes them sound downright classy and intellectual.