IRISH WIT AND HUMOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 199, 22 August 1919, Page 6

IRISH WIT AND HUMOUR.

I IM< i N SIIIN (IR HACK KIT'S 1. El TI" RE I * , i \ "A Night in Oitl.l Ireland was llioj-j [title given to a much appreciated lecture ! t ( I given by Wight Key. Monsiguor llackettj ( .[last evening at the Leys Institute, I'on-i. ;.~onl.y, as part of the current winter I" | course. The lecturer was assisted by j several niuntctir vuculiatM, who gave a '; number of uell-known Irish songs. The , ! ball was completely tilled, and some ; people could not gain admittance. . Monsiguor llackett devoted himself .almost entirely to the large subject of I Irish wit ami humour, and proved to , those who had not previously made his v I nc.|uaiutaiicc that he possesses anil I tiimost. inexhaustible stock of Irish stories j. 'land the ability to tell them really well, i | Added to this, he placed the anecdotes | 1; in a characteristic setting of his own .- I rather dry humour, so that there was t not a dull moment, throughout the even- t II ing. He begun by making a careful disjunction between wit and humour, de- i I tilling the lirsi as "v union of ideas to , I catil.e .surprise and delight." and the • ! .-found as "a fusion of contrasted fini- ' lions." "No country." lie continued, "is so full of both wit and humour as , j Ireland, especially some parts, from' which each Irishman says he comes, nnd'

so do I."' The essential quality of humour, lie explained, was the power to see the unusual ami not obvious side of anything. Everything had its funny side, if one cot.ld only see it. and the ; Irish had an extraordinary faculty in this respect. Their humour was less ill'nutured than that uf any oilier people; iit was a fount of merriment pure mid I simple. , With this explanation, Monsiguor llac--1 k.-tt led the audience on what lie called ii "sctitimeiit.il trip" through Ireland, , beguiling the journey with funny stories !of the Irish bench and liar, the theatre, the ways of jaunting ear drivers, priests anil l licit- people, court: hip nnd miirriiiL'c. orange tind green; in the north. and s i. In conclusion, he commended St!n- grateful care of Irh-'lt folk all the world over for the parents whom tln-V bad left behind iv the search for forjtiim- abroad, and de. hired his belief that !under a system of self-government i lumpier ilnvs were in store for Ireland. j Mr. T. AY. Ley.-, who recalled his 'association with Monsiguor llacketl :I0 | \ cars ago in the advocacy of I lonic Rule, -aid thai the gloomy, picture of Ireland !nri-(-litcd by the current news was fnrI Innately uiiiy one side of Iri.sli life. The I Irish wen- a wnrni-hetirted and witty people hind to their children, happy amongst themselves, and fiipul f beIcoininc- s'.ill happier by iiieaiis that were within their reach. A hearty vote ot thanks to the lecturer and the singers ' was carried on his motion. '. The inu.-ieal programme was provided Iby .Miss ('. I.owry. Mrs. Illylli, nnd I Messrs. Hubert Carter and I'". <•'. Hourke. lit comprised a Very cn'oyaMe selection rl of Irish songs, which wen- well rendered I and greatly appreciated. Miss Ormoiul : acted an conductor and accompanist.