1933-01-04 — Page 7

ENGLISH LIGHT VERSE

INTERESTING ADDRESS AT ENGLISH ASSO. BY MR. H. C. MACNAMARA

THE GREAT NAME OF GILBERT RECALLED

"At the Helena May Institute yesterday evening Mr. H. O. Hao- namara gave a very interesting and witty, address on the "Light Verse" in the course of which he quoted extensively from some of the beat examples.

Sir William Hornali presided over the meeting, and there was a very large attendance. In the course of his address, Mr. Mac- namara gave a brief historical turvey of English light verse, ba- ginning in the seventeenth century down to the present time, and also referred to the work of present day writers of light verse.

The address was followed by a very interesting discussion in which Professors Simpson and Middleton Smith, Father Byrne, Mr. Edgar Davidson, Sir William Hornell and other members of the audience took part.

WHAT IS LIGHT VERSE?

In the course of his address, Mr, and many others which are the Macnamara said:-Mr. Chairman, despair of less gifted persons. In Ladies and Gentlemen: The first the case of the word chortle," he question that presents itself in definitely added a new word to the opening a discussion of "Light English language which you can Yerae is, "What is light verse "verify for yourselves by consulting Is it to be contrasted with heavy the Oxford dictionary, verse 1 Certainly not! Heavy verse is merely bad verse. The most sublime

"Paradise Lost" poetry," -for example, is not heavy. The

only thing that can make it scemt 80, is to hear it badly read..

As in the case of many other inquiries the appropriate answer to the question can best be given by a comparison. Think for ex- ample of some lines of the finestį poetry you know and contrast them with the following short poem, the title of which is "On a dis tant prospect of an absconding

popular childrens' poet some years age and, I hope, is still so. Chil dren will always enjoy making, ac- quaintance with the jumbles the "quangle-wangle" and "Aunt Jobisca.". He also popularised the limerick,

Gilbert.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS,

ST. NICHOLAS OF

HONG KONG

Anonymous Treat to Beggar Children

(CONTRIBUTED)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1933

ROTARY CLUB

Sir William Shenton Congratulated

AMERICAN TRAVELLER ADDRESSES ROTARIANS

In recording the festivities and the various methods adopted by residents to make the last night of 1933 a pleasant memory, we

The first public congratulations feel that we should not be doing to Sir William Shenton-on-his aur duty if we did not recount knighthood, came from the Rotary the following happy little story Club yesterday, when the Hon. Dr. which tells of a well-known local 8. W. Tso, presiding over the gentlenian who, although he spent Club's weakly luncheon at Glou his evening in a way totally difcester Building, said: One of our ferent to his fellow colonists, never members has just recently had theless did we are sure derive more the honour of knighthood conferred happiness from his novel exploit on him by His Majesty the King. 1move that this Club write Sir than the majority of us-

William Shenton a letter of con gratulations, wishing that ha and Lady Shenton may live long to enjoy the honour.

*

*

The proposal was carried with loud applause

There were a large number of guests at yesterday's meeting in-

Professor Robert E. Park of the

University of Chicago, Rev. F. E Ford and Mr. H. P.

Chappell of "Too H.

Mr. F. Arndt, of Canton. Dr. Hai Shi Tse of Hong Kong. Mr. Burton Preston of Mansfield,

Ohio,

Mr. E. M. Avers of Zanerville,

Ohio.

Professor Park was introduced by Sir William Hornell, who stated that the Professor was interested in mixed races: "That is not, the rea- son why he came to Hong Kong," added Sir William, who went on to say that the Professor is shortly going on to Manila (Laughter, and

Hear! Hear!")

The gentleman-in question, who have now rightly deserves to Nicholis added to his other Chris tianTM names, at 9:20-on the Eve of the New Year commenced tour of the main streets of the town and on his way gathered up the waifs and beggar children of the city.|cluding the following: At 10.15 quite a procession was to be seen wending its way along Queen's Road, the European gentic- man at its head, a general at the head of bis troops, having as his lieutenant and interpreter a young and well dressed Chinese, and in their wake their little army of some This art of creating curious thirty poorly clad beggar children. words he had in common with the next author I intend to discuss,Their route march did not take Edward Lear. Lear was 8 very them very far along the main street, their objective being a prominent Chinese restaurant. Into the eat ing house they trooped and before many minutes had passed, the gen- tleman having given his orders, his little guesta were partaking of a meal the like of which they had nut tasted before in their young The great name of Gilbert raises lives. Whilst they were all thus an interesting thought. To what engaged and far too busy to worry extent, if at all, is the writer of what was happening around them, light verse aided by his verses be the gentleman thanked his aide for ing set to music? In the case of the assistance given," paid, the re- Gilbert, I think he would have staurant keeper his charges, stóle been a great and much-admired out into the night and wended his writer of light verse, if no line of way homewarde. Truly a benefac his had ever been set to music. On tar, and how happy he must have the other hand, it is certain that been at the thought that he had his collaboration with Sullivan did brought a certain amount hap enormously enhance his reputation pimass into the lives of many who Gilbert besides being a writer of until that hour had never known

the meaning of the word. The distinction I wish to em-light verses was a very real satirist. phasize is apparent. The object of He acted by the light of his own great Vorse is that it should be precept given through the mouth beautiful; the main object of light of Jack Point. verse is that it should amse us.. At the same time verso that amuses us is not always light verse, in the Kense intended

in this paper. Verso may be quite amusing, to some people at all events, and still have no literary merits at all. Light verse in the sense I am try ing to indicate should havA, BOMA beauty of form.

bookmaker."

་

"Alas! What boots it that my

noble steed, "Chosen so carefully, the field

outran..

"I did not reckon, bookie, on

your speed,

The proper study of mankind

is man..

available.

'One of Gilbert's Light Operas deserves special mention; "Prin- cess Ida." In the other operis, the parts that are not sung are in prose. In "Princess Ida" they are in blank verse. It is the only in- stance I can recollect of "light" blank verso.

Living Arthor.

FATAL FIGHT IN A SLAUGHTER HOUSE

KNIVES USED IN SILLY QUARREL

Gilbert, I think, is the greatest

A stabbing affray in the Kennedy name that can be mentioned in Town Slaughter House on the morn connection with English' Lighting of Dec. 10 had its sequel at the Verse!

Central Magistracy yesterday when Chinese was charged before Mr. W. Schofield with murder.

Mr. J. A. Fraser, Assistant Al- torney-General, prosecuted and the accused was not legally represented. Outlining the facts of the case,

ket.

Many Good Writers. What I propose to do this even- ing is not to try to analyse or at tempt to propound theories about authors. Here there is the same I now propose to consider living light verse but simply to make a difficulty in selection. I am rough historical survey of English lived to think that the object of light verse beginning in the 17th this paper is to start a discussion. Century and continuing down to rather than exhaust a subject. I M, Fraser said that the accused the present time. The difficulty in will menting at once the names of and the deceased were fokis employ. dealing with this subject is that we five living exponents of the art of od by beef stalls in Central Mar- have too many writers of really writing Light verse." They ars good light verse and it is impos Messrs. Cheaterton, Belloc, Graham,

On the morning of the tragedy sible to give more than a mere out Herbert and Wyndham Lewis both were engaged in cleansing the line of their work in the time Some may consider that the most entrails of cattle at Kennedy Town perfect light verse is produced by Slaughter House. Another foki The first post I shall deal with Harry Graham. There is. An ex- came in and deceased told him that is Samuel Butler who flourished in quisite neatness about bis lines that the accused had stolen some fat from the entrails Accused resented the reign of Charles II. His great few other writers can be found to this and, a quarrel ensued, which poem "Hadibras" was a satire on ¦ equal. ... the Puritan and Military party, Mr. Bello is nother example of developed into a fight. Both had To read it without full notes rend the truth eximplified by Gilbert butchers' knives in their hands at ers much of it incomprehensible and that the writing of light verse does it was alleged, the accused stabbed the time, and during the struggle no prevent composition on more severe labour. Still I do know peo-serious themas. Mr. A. P. Herbert the deceased under the arm-pit. As ple who have the highest regard for is a popular writer of light verse

a result of this wound deceased died two days later in the Government and I mention hit here because he

Civil Hospital. "Rejected Addresses." is popular sad because, he is try ing, I think, and sometimes with success, to follow in the steps of the Brent Gilbert,

to read it with full notes is

Perhaps the richest and mest vari- ed collection of English light verse is to be found in a book once well-

Chesterton.

known (my own copy is of the 18th edition) but now, unfortunately, practically unknown. It is called A very charming writer of light Rejected Addresses." The au- and serious verse is Mr. G. K. thors were James and Horace Smith Chesterton. Of his serious verse i who wrote it in the year 1812. An is fair to say that it standa higa advertisement had been put in the in English poetry. Unfortunately

The accused was arrested the next night by friends of the deceased while in the act of boarding a train at Yaumati Railway Station.

After formal evidence had been taken the ease was, adjourned.

The Hon. Mr. W. H. Boll who in- troduced Rev. Ford, said that he was travelling through the East in the interest of Toc H. and that he was accompanied by Mr. Chappell.

The address yesterday was by Rotarian E. M. Ayers, from Zaner- ville, Ohio. He has travelled half way round the world in 83 days, of which 32 have been spent in transit mainly by air. He set his audience in roars of laughter when he de scribed his journey across Europe to Hong Kong, Referring to Bagdad which he said was one of the worst places he had seen he said." If I never saw it again, it will be too "Baarn, he said, was: The Garden of Eden," and oddly enough they had fruit for breakfast includ ing apples (Loud applause.) The speaker said he obtained a huge fig leaf from Baara and sent it to his wife for a Christmas present with a note expressing the hope that it would fit," because it couldn't be changed. He had not heard from her yet!-

Iraq was described by the spanker the most desolate place in the world" and Cassa Rossa as the worst dump I have ever se

CORRESPONDENCE

[All lettera intendea jor publ vation must be accompanied by the name and nildren of the writer," not for publication, unless, so desired, but as evidence of good faith -ED.]

H.K. BOXING ASSOCIATION

[19 TEM EDITOR OF THE

+ HONG KONG -DAILY' PRESS,22] ...

Sin,It has been stated in the local Press recently that this Asso siation has arranged for a boxing tournament to take place early in February and various members of His Majesty's Forces have beco mentioned as having bean engaged to fight at that tournament..

I have to inform yo

you that this Association has, as yet, raude no such arrangements although its re- presentatives are endeavouring to do so

Iwould draw attention to the fact that no member of Hia Majesty's Forces is permitted to jake part in a contest arranged by this Association without having previously obtained the sanction of his Commanding Officer. This rule 1 one upon which the authorities insist and which this Associati is careful to observe,-Yours, etc,

PJ, HUGH JONES, Hon. Secretary, Hong Kong Boxing Association. Hong Kong, Jaa chỉ 1993.

C.P.R. AND THE DEPRESSION

STERN DETERMINATION TO WEATHER THE STORM

The local offices of the "Canadian Pacific" have received the follow- ing message from Mr. E. W. Beatty, Chairman and President, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal

The improvement in Canadian conditions anticipated at the end of 1931 has not taken place though on more than one occasion during the present year the hopes of Canadians were raised by favourable indica tions that turned out to be only temporary in characters (12

We have therefore been forced to additional curtailments in our operations and to add personal

Becrifices:

"While not minimizing the seriousness of the general situation we may still retain our courage and our confidence in ourselves and int Canada.

"Problems' which aro particularly. our own because they relate to Canadian conditions are receiving serious attention by our public men ́and leaders in finance industry and agriculture and the world's best The upeaker painted a glowing minda are grappling with the com picture of Athens and appeared to plicated economic and international have been very much impressed by problems which prosently exist. the magnificence of the stadium. The result of these efforts must there, which was on the site of the ancient stadium built in 500 B.Oven if slowly indicate itself during There was more history in the the coming months,...

view from the Parthenon than in any other place in the world, He described the renovation of the an cient buildings, and the many im provements made in the Town A real thrill was provided by land ing at dawn on the set of Gallitee. I don't know why you call it a sea, as it isn't as big as some of our city reservoirs," the speaker added

..

Mr. Ayers paid, a great trihnte to the pioneer work of Imperial Airways but seemed to think they allowed too many delays The ships were, however, very comfortable. The Dutch KLM, however, won his heart. Referring to the last lap of the journey. be said: "We flew 1,000 miles to Bangkok in just over eight hours and it was as steady as this TOO TLA He said that aviation in the United States was by no means so smooth as there were dangerous dir pockets in may places bad when crossing the Rocky Mountains, airmen bad to know the passes,

The speaker whs thanked ·-by,

London papers shortly before the 1 have been unable to find a suit While the tie spurs clanked for 10% Rotarian T. B. Wilson for his amur

14

*** I am satisfied that our officers

and employees will not only meet. these unusual conditions with their accustomed courage and ability but will make their own, not inconsider able contribution to the solution of our problems

"We have the certain assurance, that even a moderate improvement in the general situation will reflech itself immediately throughout the Company's varied activities,

I wish you all the best of health with which to meet the personal and official problems of 1833."

PRISON OUTRAGE RECALLED

CONVICT CHARGED WITH WOUNDING -

VICTIM'S, LUCKY ESCAPE

Smartly the Archangels, Sprang to the salute

The recent outrage at Victoria book was written asking for ad ahle example-of-his-light vene to On Rud's boat.

present to you tonight. I may say

I have given you an to briefing and interesting addresa Gaol in which a prisaber was at 'dresses to be sent in for an open that the ballade is a form of verse account of some of the writers of gam

** tacked with an axe by a fellow.con competition in which the winning

The Anniversary Dinnar vist was recalled at the Central address was to be read at the open-in which he has shown both skill light, verse I most admira There

are others known to you all. Bome The anniversary dinner of the Magistracy yesterday when the lat ing of the new Drury Lane Then and humou

I have no doubt. missed. Others Rotary Club will be held at the ter was charged before Mr. Wynne tra. The authors seized on the idea I do not know whether Wyndham do not attract me so much as those Peninsula Hotel on January 14 Jones with causing grievous bodily of writing phrodies on the best Lewis bas published in book for have mentioned For example, About Afteen members of the Charm. known authore and publishing them the verses be used to write in the A. A Milm jaga writer with a ton Rotary Club will be present According to Inspector John as the addresses that had been sent Daily Mail. If he has not done so, wide appeal. I must confess that as guests. It was decided that Murphy, who prosecuted the ha in and rejected. The book contains 1 am surprised as it is excellent. to me his verses have always seem Rotarians be allowed to invite other cault took place at 2.10 pm, JD excellent parodies of, amongst Some years ago, Mr. Kipling exad somewhat insipid and it a child guests but that no ladies be invită | December. 71. The accu others, Lord Byron, William Cob pressed an admiration for no less had the misfortune to be called ed.

ployed in a bett, Thomas Moore, Robert a person than. Jane Austin, in one Christopher Robin, the fact should Soutboy, Bir Walter Boott, Dr. of his books and wrote a poem be kept in the family circle rathor Johnson, Coleridge and Crabbe, about her. M Wyndham Lewis than be recklessly broadcast.comed at yester

The next writer of light verse I thought it would be a good thing |-- In conclusion I will quote you would mention is Calverlay a very to write dimething suits shout Mixfew lines whose patriotic sentir great, scholar and parodist. His Kipling, and here are the first two will be a fiting conclusion tô my best known poem is. the Ode to verses of his poem. It is called

Tobacco. Calverley was one of the

few meti who live beon. members

of both the University of Oxford Rudyard was

and of Cambridga k This reminds That wast

hat another writer isoflight.

Carroll, was in Ox

Vialtor.

aradise

efforts to amuse you'

The Garmans live in Germany The Roinane live in Rome, The Turkeys live:

New Members. Center complainant worked "as painter in- another shop which, wds, quite The following

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Harper Rand

-Brüno Hahn, Or › Männers S. C.

Wong AE

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