Anecdotes

John Abernethy (1764-1831), British physician, esprecially noted as surgeon and teacher:
A patient complaining of melancholy consulted Dr. Abernethy. After an examination the doctor pronounced, "You need amusement. Go and hear the comediam Grimaldi; he will make you laugh and that will be better for you than any drugs." Said the patient, "I am Grimaldi."

George Ade (1866-1944), U.S. humorist and playwright. His works include Fables in Slang (1899), The College Widow (1904) and Father and the Boys(1907):
Following a well received after-dinner speech by George Ade, a noted lawyer rose to speak. His hands buried deep in the pockets of his trousers, he began: "Doesn't it strike the company as a little unusual that a professional humorist should be funny?" Ade waited for the laughter to die down before replying: "Doesn't it strike the company as a little unusual that a laywer should have his hands in his own pockets?"