5
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1935.
SOLDIER ON SERIOUS
THE SERIOUS USE OF HUMOUR
It's "Bit During The
The World
World War
INTERESTING TALK AT ROTARY CLUB
Referring to the humor us trend in modern advertising, Mr. P. L. Collision, O.B.E, speak- ing at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club, said that he would appreciate the day when some local firm who were agents for the particular Hae in question, would blossom out with an ad- vertisement of a robust Chinese lad, shooting a magnificent goal with his right Hong Kong Foot!
The speaker made special mention of the advertising of such world famous concerns as Eno's, Bovril, the Oil and Soap concerns, which during the past few years had altered very con- siderably. The oil concerns, the speaker added must be spending a dollar a week on he him- self, but the soap concerns could not be sɔ optimistic: (laughter).
In calling on Mr. Collison to deliver his address, the Chairman, Professor R. L. Foster said that he had an apology to make, not to the gathering this time, but to the speaker him- self. Mr. Collision had agreed to speak at very short notice, as he (the Chairman) had ar- ranged for another speaker to address the gathering, who had been due to arrive in the Colony yon August 2 last. A telegram was subsequently received which stated that he would not arrive until August 10, and Mr. Collison had, as a persona. favour, agreed to speak. For this very sport- ing gesture, their very hearty thanks were due.
W
Addressing the gathering. Mr.; Fruit Sa t. They were very Culison said:-"
far, ever there was one. while a hum-
from humorous in fact they were, I have never in all my life laid and I believe they were intended an egg. Yet in spite of this phys:-o be, thoroughly depressing. cal disability I am perfectly well able to tell a good egg from a bad one, and to enjoy it.
remarks I purposely begin my this afternoon in this manner. in order that I may at the outset disavow as completely as I can the least possible claim to be or pose as a humorist-however that word may be spelt in the local press but I do claim to share with you all the power to enjoy a joke. And the man who cannot enjoy a joke who cannot appreciate humour, is losing one of the most priceless possessions that life has to offer. He is indeed a duil.dog..whatever his nationality, whatever his pro- fession, who cannot on occasion see, and make serious use of the funny side of things.
Some nationalities are credited with being slow at appreciation of humour, slow at seeing she point of a joke, but they all see it, in the end even though their enlight- enment may come a long period afterwards and possibly at an awkward moment.
|
i
I remember one of an old man, apparently. In the Inst stage or some morbid disease, riding a horse, suffering so far as one could judge' from a similar disease, going slowly along a disma: road on a gloomy murky night. The vertisement claimed that Eno's would cure any a sorder leading to such deep men.al depression.
ad-
Now look at the advertisements of Eno's to-day. Picture after ple- ture by a celebrated artis, showing a Generaan Admiral, a Landlady shouting to a guilty-looking lot of soldiers sailors, or boarders "Who's been at my Eno'?" Why the very picture puts you in a good mood as a potential customer!
Again I remember a picture of a lady of uncertala age but of quite certain debility looking with sus- picion at a bottle of Tonic Wine and the inscription, was Doctor ordered
ple curate in a famous London Parish, began his address some- what in this fashion. My dear Friends, I always thought it was the privilège the young ladies. of the congregation to Khly socks for the Curate. I have been curate here for a great inuny years but not one of you has united me a pair of Bucks!"
He paused, just to let that slak in, then continued! "I want nut one palr," he said. "I want. 500 by next
CHARGE
Manslaughter Of Indian Alleged
The manslaughter case against Private Cyril Compton, of the Lincolnshire Regiment was heard yesterday before Mr. E. I. Wynne-Jones at the Kowlooh Magistracy when Mr. J. A. Fraser, Assistant Attorney General, prosecuted. The defendant was not legally represented, but his Commanding Officer, Major B. St. G. Thorts was present in court.
It will be recalled that the accused and another soldier from the same regiment were earlier" charged with the unlawfully kille ing of one Haider Khan, an ex-police guard on July 19 but the second man was discharged by the Magistrate in an earlier sitting last week.
In opening his case Mr. Fraser i said that on the afternoon of July 19, the accused and another soldier George Chapman, were riding bl- cycles along Saigon Street into Shanghai Street at the junction of Jordan Road.
"
Chapthan was slightly ahead of the accused and got out.
Both were then under the influence of alcobol. Compton while getting out fell and the Indian who was
alking along Shanghai Street, in the opposite direction 'crossed the road to help Comptoh up: He was at once struck by Compton and he retreated. Compton followed him and when near the corner he was pushed by the accused and fell down.
In falling down the deceased
mas." And then went on to ex-struck his head against the con- crete stairway. There was a stall plain that he needed them for the postmen of the parish. Needless to occupied by a Chinese craftsman say he got them and won the who, seeing the incident, ran away hearts of the ladies of his congre- thinking hat "discretion was the gation and his socks by his humour. better part of valour," but another aged Chinese saw the incident and he would testify that the deceased was struck and pushed and while he was down he was also kicked.
TO EASE THE STRAIN
On the sake of course and in the film, the use of comic relief to ease the strain of the dramatic moment, to clear the throat us tnut little choke is as old as the
"The Alm...
stage itself and far older than the Shakespeare, Golbert and it." Nowadays Sullivan, practically 1 serious these tonic medicines are adver-tums and plays make use of it. The. tised by pictures of beautiful girls other day the A.D.C. put on "The who if not too modest in exhibiting Ten Minutes Alibi" and you may their charms are at any rate ob- remember how there was jutro. Some professions, too." areviously in the very best of health duced just for one minutę, and I thought by laymen to be dry as
and spirits.
don't believe it'was a second long- dust. to be monotonous, to be by
er, a perfect little cameo of the their very
nature less
free, for
Manager of a Restaurant speaking frivelity than other professions. Yet it is these very professions tha, provide us with the sharpest and cleanest of wits, the most spark- lng of aphorism and epigrams.
Surely a judge, for instance, must be a model of decorum and sobriety in his work. yet the wit issuing from the Bench is proverbial.
Bovril, the pioneer in humorous, advertisement, has never looked back from the time many years agʊ when it started with its famous slogan and picture "Alas! my poor brother!"
F
Yes, our advertisements now are as readable, as entertaining, as our
letter press and I cannot help wish- ing that one of our local firms who advertises in gruesome detail the
broken English. It came just at the right moment to light on the play.
The comic landlady, the silly 253, Mrs. Malaprop, the Jovial
drunkard and so on are common
examples of the serious use the tragic stage makes of humour,
. TWO VERSIONS
· FACIAL INJURIES
Dr. Thomas described the condi- tion of the deceased when he was first admitted. Не was » un- conscious, both eyes were discolour- ed, he right being worse than the left. There was à quarter inch cut- on the right eyebrow and the right side of the neck was swollen. From the Injuries he formed his opinion at the time that the man was suffering from head injuries..
The man
died on the 20th at 2.55
3.m.
IF
At the post mortem held on the same day the injuries were cop- firmed, externally, with the ex- ception of the swelling at the neck which had subsided.
"Invernally he found no bruise on the scalp. The skull was unusually thin but there was no fracture. On opening the skull he found a very large blood clot or the sur- face of the brain. The brain ap peared to be normal and the in- ternal organs were all normal." The cause of death was due to this large piece of blood clot within the skull which was due to the rupture of a blood vessel in that
Questioned by Mr. Fraser witness said that it was possible that the injuries could have been caused by a wooden clog. Deceased had been a blow with a fls or blows with
a patient of his and he recom mended his discharge from the guards after consullation by the board because deceased was suffer- ing from chronic bronchitis,
There was some conflict of opin- locality. Such was due to an im on about the incident and there Pact of the head with some object. were two stories told One was that the deceased was pushed into the alleyway and the accused pick- it. The other was that the accused ed up a clog and struck him with
used his fist only. After the as sault the accused came back and picked the injured an up. Dur- 18 the whole of the incident it was shown that the deceased did not use violence at all.
After a In answer to his Worship's ques- crowd had collected the two mentions witness said, that the chronic made their way out and were met bronchitis was not responsible for by Sergt. Parker. Chapman was the death. A sudden impact or a asked what the trouble about and the accused then sald through a ruptured fessel. He was was all jar could have produced that clot that he had "penned" an Indian
positive that the man was not suf- fering from T. B.
after the Iatter had thrown a wooden stool at him. The Indian then came up and accused the de- fendant of attacking him" which he; defendant, admitted. Bergt.
A parson, too, is of course de-cure for a disease peculiar to Hons dicated in h's profession to the most serious side of Life. Yet whof a fine picture of a heal.hy Chinese dicine. While it 'a dentist could Parker at this stage asked him not
will question or deny the wit at such divines as Sydney Smith or Father Healy? The Ingoldsby Le- gends were written by a Parson, a Canon of St. Pauls-and he was blind.
MANY HUMORISTS There is need, however, for one to be either a professed or pro- fessional humorist in order to get
full value ou.
of the fun of life
Kong would burst out one day into
a shooting a magnificient goal with his right Hong Kong Foot!
But after all the Rotary Club is cot entirely confined to merchant millionaires there are also pro- fessors. lawyers, doctors, parsons
and even humble Government off- clals. May I plek out one or two of you at random?
A sense of humour in a doctor can be as valuable as his hottest poultice or his most nauseous me-
keep bis victim roaring with laughter he would not have to use that beastly gag.
DURING THE WAR
1
|
to say anything and the party were then brought to the Station.
The deceased was then taken to the Kowloon Hospital and later Government transferred
to the
Civil Hospital -
suppuse the greatest tragedy to the human race that has happen-
The first witness called in was Mr. ed in our or any other time was The Great War. Its death roll, its hor- | M. E. de Ville, land surveyor of the P.W.D. who produced plans of the locality after which Dr. G. Thomas of the G.Q.H. gave medical
Of humour in official matters Irs, its terrible and lasing results
dare not talk too much. As some of you may remember I have, as a and in any case we have plenty lady of a certain nation is credited of professional humorists in Hong with saying, already 'slobbered a Kong and right good value they bibtful on the subject. But I must give us. I expect many of you, like myself, glance at the snappy little catch hold of my green pencil very confess that I have sometimes to paragraphs on the front page of lightly to prevent it running away the morning paper before getting and possibly getting me into trou- down to the latest disturbing news ble. But in ne sphere of life 15 about the dollar. I believe that humour more welcome and useful my own staff know whether I am going to be in a good or a bad tem-than in the dull round of oficiai
per that morning even before I have signed the attendance book by seeing if there is a good laugh or a gentle chuckle in the "Bird's Eye View" or "Bulls and Inners,"
I take it, gentlemen, that I am talking to a hard-headed, far. seeing, calcu'ating audience struggling, bustness men who from
of
a in the morning to 7 at night have their noses right down to the grind
routine.
are fresh in the minds of most"oI us and would at first sight seem scarcely to form a suitable back-evidence.. ground for humour.
Yet who can measure the allevia tion of pain and distress, both brought about by the serious use physical and mental, that was
of humour.
because he sang of young ladies in Harry Lauder was not knighted kits sitting on thistles, nor did Clenrge Robey get his C.BE. be- cause with uplifted eyebrows he tried to make us blush. No! they received, and earned their honours
On a rather'serious and lengthy report of mine-n another Colony the Governor's minute WES Humph," yet that humorous 11tle and their profession did in taking because of the work which they
word did not clog the machinery of
the nation's thoughts temporarily results. The famous Lord Curzon
away from the horrors of the time. was not exactly noted for his
in the blackest weeks of the war humour but even he unbent on the Barns father's pictures in the By- occasion and brought it into serious arunder and the jokes in Punch use to convey a neat little reproof could raise a laugh from the moal
JUSTICE AND HUMOUR As I said just now the humour of the Bench is poverbial and there are one or two gentlemen here who could I am sure support my state-
ment.
Did Mr. Justice Darling or the famous London Magistrate Plow den "lose face" by the little jests that fell from their lips and were dutifully laughed at by respectful counsel and even occasionally by the prisoner-in-the dock? I ven- ture to claim that they did not and that British Justice remains all the armer in the eyes of the world be cause It can be tempered with humour.
When a Judge asks innocently in
i
ASSAULTED BY SOLDIER Ghulan Sarwar, the son of the deceased, testified to the identifica- tion while Wong Pak Mink, a 75- year-old fortune teller and letter writer of 110 Shanghal Street, de- posed to the incident. Witness waS positive that the Indian retreated upon being assaulted by the soldiet and when he was knocked down the soldier hit and kicked him.
Witness further said that as the
Indian fell the right side of his
head struck the concrete staircase. At this stage the hearing was ad- journed till to-day.
as to the boredom of travellers' yarns but just briefly I should like to quote my personal experience in this respect. Make a nigger laugh and that nigger wül work
Many a time have I at the end of a long day's footslogging in the bush found the carriers and myself lagging and used some joke to spur them on. True, the Joke had it-
self to be somewhat primative anu possibly a bit Rabelaislam but get your little procession laughing and with 80-lbx loads" on their heads they'd do the last 2 miles of a tiring journey in half an hour.
There was a little trouble in Kenya the other day with the Masal They are the humorists" of to one of his Heads of Depart-wearied war-worker. Concert Court "Who is Mae West?" or Africa All six foot in height börn stone, earning their meagre pitments. He had got tired of wad Parties like the famous Roosters "Where 1s Ice House Street?" might fighters, reared almost entirely on tance by the sweat of their brong through pages of almost leg could make the soldier fresh from he not be doing so with the ex- a diet of meat, milk and blood, they in a serions struggle for detenceble handwriting and finally mine trenches, or immediately due to press intention of relieving a tense are innate humorists
Don't you find occasionally that uted on one batch of files "I agree reurs, forget for a moment the atmosphere by making a judicious things are the same now, as the 'mot juste, the latest joke, a with the views of the gentleman reale, tore the horror of and serous use of humour?hey were some. 15 years ago, this funny story will ease the tension | whose signature resembles a trom-
One could of course go round the is in short the explanation of the of a business argument, will possi- bone."
Surey, and not for the British professions and trades butcher,
Incident. For countless genera- Nat on only, humour did its bit baker, candlestick maker all can tions no Masal warrior, has been in the Great War.
make serious use of humour.
considered worth his salt, worthy One good thing about humour of being a husband until he has
bly lead to the clinching of a "de-
cate bargain, will add just that.
IN BELIGION. Humour in religión needs very
lalty?"
it all.
And talking of Punch I am glad.
little weight in the balance to a skilful handling but I see no rea hesitating customer? I feel sure son why reverenice and wit should to and myself in this respect in that you needn't be clever to en-shed blood. Well obviously if he you do, for the serious use int humbur by the mercantile com- no occasionally en hand in hand agreement with the old Buffer who joy a joke, need not be educated is casting his eyes about for a munity has now been definitely re-to serve the same ideal. As Father was talking on the wireless a few, to go even further, need not suitable mate he must come with cognised. Great arms like Bovril, yan says in the famous song weeks ago and who placed Punch even be civilised and humour has proper credentials, also obviously Eno's, the Oil, the Soap Firms musty leave the galety all to the among the Nations assets and Yes been officially recognised and en- this sort of thing cannot be on
nations need can benent by hncouraged as a suitable hedge bez cially countenanced? Bo some be spending thousands of pound. It is not so long ago that in St. moun just as much as individuals. tween, primitive native races and years ago District Cancers and dollars in humorous advertise John's. Cathedral the parson got And I am so glad to see that the civilised, Lord Lugard in his sent hither and thither to explam ments The Oil and Petrol firms up in the pulpit and without any books such as "Memories of a Gamp classic "The Dual Mandate" fald what a splendid manly must be spending about a dollar preliminary introduction began Follower" "The Lighter Bide of considerable stress on the use that a week on me alone, the Soap Firms Rhodal shut the door!" and Inel The Great War are now appear may be made of chart and barzer need for however are hot "To optimistic.
you, I sat up listened to that sering, not as a belittling of the seri- with primitive natives
think: 10: - onsricas of war but giving outstand-
TRAVELLERS" TARNS »149 to get ma May I give another using examples of even in such awful I have not forgotten bir, Charao- the early advertisements of Eno's | Father Stauns a real Saint ** times, of the serious use of humour. - kin's warning of about a year ago
THEN AND NOW
I wonder if any of you remember
WBSVOL 1
(Continued on Pare
• FURNISHINGS
EVERYTHING FOR
LANE, CRAWFORD'S GUARANTEE OF COMPLETE SATISFACTION COVERS YOU IN EVERY TRANSACTION.
TIE -OLKL IOM"
LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD
FURNISHING DEPT.
4
PHONE 28151. SIX LINES.
SALE
OF
COLUMBIA
AND
REGAL-ZONO
RECORDS
FROM 50 CENTS EACH.
ANDERSON'S
Ice House Street.
EVERYTHING
Tel. 21822.
GEC ELECTRICAL
G. E. C. Radio
PRICES NOW AS BELOW
“A. C. MAINS SETS
BC. 3440 5 VALVE SUPERHET BO 3480
3480 8 Valye SuperHET BC. 3620 3 VALVE AC/DC MAINS.
(FOR LOCAL B.O. ONLY)
77.50 100,00
57.50
BO. 3540 5 VALVE SUPERHET A. V.C. BO. 3548 5 VÁLVE SUPERHET RATIOGRAM 200.00 BC. 3480-7 VALVE" OVERSEAS"
110.00
185.00
SHORT WAVE
D. C. BATTERY SET
BC. 3568 6 VÁLVE SUPERHET
Less Batteries
05.00
ALL COMPLETE WITH OSRAM VALVES
SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR
THE TROPICS.
MADE IN ENGLAND