I am not sure that I can draw an exact line between wit and humor (perhaps the distinction is so subtle that only those persons can decide who have long white beards), but even an ignorant person may ex- press an opinion in this matter. I am quite positive that humor is the more comfortable and livable quality, for humorous persons, if their gift is genuine and not a mere shine upon the surface, are always agreeable companions. They have pleasant mouths turned up at the corners, to which the great Master of Marionettes has fixed the strings and he holds them in his nimblest fingers to twitch them at the slightest jest. But the mouth of a merely witty man is hard and sour. Nor is the flash from a witty man always comforting, but a humorous man radiates a general pleasure. I admire wit, but I have no real liking for it; it has been too often employed against me, whereas humor is always an ally. It never points an impertinent linger into my defects. A wit's tongue, however, is as sharp as a donkey's stick—I may gallop the faster for its prodding, but the touch behind is too persuasive for any comfort. Wit is a lean creature with a sharp inquiring nose, whereas humor has a kindly eye and a comfortable girth. Wit has a better voice in a solo, but humor comes into the chorus best. Wit keeps the season's fashions and is precise in the phrases and judgments of the day, but humor is concerned with homely eternal things. The distinction between wit and humor is______.