Lexicon of Politics: Day 44
Corwin's Law n. [after Senator Thomas Corwin (Ohio); who also beat out an incument, in 1840 for Governor of Ohio, and then lost as an incumbent after his first term; then he went on to be a Senator] the precept that a candidate should maintain a serious demeanor.
1867 L.J. Bigelow Bench & Bar: digest of Wit (April 22) 175 [ref. to comment by Corwin in 1860]:
Do you know, my young friend, that the world has contempt for the man who entertains it? One must be solemn--solemn as an ass--never say any thing that is not uttered with the greatest gravity, to win respect. The world looks up to the teachers and down upon the clown. Yet, in nine cases out of ten, the clown is the better fellow of the two.
1956 New York Times (Aprill 22) 221:
Now it appears that once more Corwin's Law is being tested.
1867 L.J. Bigelow Bench & Bar: digest of Wit (April 22) 175 [ref. to comment by Corwin in 1860]:
Do you know, my young friend, that the world has contempt for the man who entertains it? One must be solemn--solemn as an ass--never say any thing that is not uttered with the greatest gravity, to win respect. The world looks up to the teachers and down upon the clown. Yet, in nine cases out of ten, the clown is the better fellow of the two.
1956 New York Times (Aprill 22) 221:
Now it appears that once more Corwin's Law is being tested.
posted by Boz at 7:05 AM
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