Joel Chandler Harris’ Favorite Things

Inevitably, you’ve read quite a few “Best of 2007” lists already in the past few weeks. The staff at the Wren’s Nest has recently uncovered one of Joel Chandler Harris’ “Best of” lists, originally published over 100 years ago in a publication called “The Critic.”

I can’t say that this one is any less boring than those you’ve already read nor does it even list Harris’ favorite bloggers.

At least it doesn’t mention Kanye West’s Graduation album. No matter how often Miss Nannie makes me watch the video for “Good Life,” I just don’t think it measures up to his earlier work. Anyway–

MR. HARRIS’S “FAVORITES” PRINTED IN “THE CRITIC”

JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS

My favorite authors of prose:
Hawthorne, Thackery, Lauder

My favorite poets:
Shakespeare, Burns

My favorite painters:
The Four Seasons

My favorite composers:
The People

My favorite book:
Vicar of Wakefield

My favorite play:
[King] Lear

My favorite heroes in fiction:
D’Artegnan

My favorite heroines in fiction:
They are all ______ from any mind except ____ Touchett(?)

My favorite heroes in real life:
Lincoln, Stonewall Jackson, Father Damien

My favorite heroines in real life:
[More or less unreadable, sorry]

What I enjoy most:
A whirl at Kalamazoo Whist

What I detest most:
Applications for autographs

The historic event at which I should like most to have been present:
I give it up.

The quality which I admire most in men:
Modesty

The quality which I admire most in women:
Charity

Where I should like to live:
At home

My ideal state of happiness:
A cold night, a hot fire, and ___ in ___ ashes.

The occupation that I prefer:
That which I can never engage in.

What gift of nature I should like to have most:
The gift of gab.

My motto:
Wait for the wagon.

I can’t say I’m surprised that Harris enjoyed Shakespeare, but somehow I doubt he was talking about me.

Harris’ favorite composer is my favorite answer, and it’s cool how he admires both Lincoln and Stonewall Jackson.

But really, Kalamazoo Whist? There’s nothing better than Kalamazoo Whist? Come on.