L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
72 >
"It means, my dear friend," explained the Woggle-Bug, "that our
language contains many words having a double meaning; and that to
pronounce a joke that allows both meanings of a certain word, proves the
joker a person of culture and refinement, who has, moreover, a thorough
command of the language."
"I don't believe that," said Tip, plainly; "anybody can make a pun."
"Not so," rejoined the Woggle-Bug, stiffly. "It requires education of
a high order. Are you educated, young sir?"
"Not especially," admitted Tip.
"Then you cannot judge the matter. I myself am Thoroughly Educated,
and I say that puns display genius. For instance, were I to ride upon this
SawHorse, he would not only be an animal he would become an equipage. For
he would then be a horse-and-buggy."
At this the Scarecrow gave a gasp and the Tin Woodman stopped short
and looked reproachfully at the Woggle-Bug. At the same time the Saw-Horse
loudly snorted his derision; and even the Pumpkinhead put up his hand to
hide the smile which, because it was carved upon his face, he could not
change to a frown.
But the Woggle-Bug strutted along as if he had made some brilliant
remark, and the Scarecrow was obliged to say:
"I have heard, my dear friend, that a person can become
over-educated; and although I have a high respect for brains, no matter
how they may be arranged or classified, I begin to suspect that yours are
slightly tangled. In any event, I must beg you to restrain your superior
education while in our society."
"We are not very particular," added the Tin Woodman; "and we are
exceedingly kind hearted. But if your superior culture gets leaky again -
" He did not complete the sentence, but he twirled his gleaming axe so