"VICE VERSA."

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 65, 17 March 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

"VICE VERSA."

TRIBUTE TO A HUMORIST. "Vieo Versa," that classic of school lifts and family relations, appeared so long ago—in 18S2 to be prccise—tliat many of the thousands who have chuckled over it must have thought that the author died years since. F. Austey, "whose full name was Thomas Anstey Gutlirie, died a few days ago, and news of his passing 'brings back many memories. "Vice Versa" must have made a. fortune for him. It is one of the funniest books of the lust fifty years, but it may ho doubted whether its humour alone accounts for its continued popularity. It must have gone through many editions, and only a few years ago it was published in an omnibus volume. "Vicc Versa" is also a remarkable study in relations between father and soil, and a ruthless exposure of a type of bad private school. Tho book is said to have worked some improvement in such schools, but judging by present-day novels these are still much more numerous than they should bo. llow many "heavy fathers" tho book reformed we can only conjecture. "Vice Versa" is also a notable illustration of the success with which the Knglisli write fairy stories. The whole basis of the story belongs to fairyland, just as docs tliat of "The Brass Bottle" by the same author. Anstey returned several times to this method.

As u social satirist ho was very gifted. Ho had unusual insight into social weaknesses and a light touch, and his humour was never bitter, lie represented "Punch" reading matter at its best. His veteran colleague, Mr. C. L. Graves, says that Anstey was one of a band of writers who in tho 'eighties and early 'nineties restored the balance between (lie drawings and the literary parts of "Punch," and of these lie was for a while the chief prop of tho journal. "Voces I'opuli," a series of social sketches that he contributed to "Punch," had a great vogue, and can still be read with delight. As a parodist he struck out in a new line, with excellent results not only in tho entertainment of those who read his burlesque, but in tho purging of. the world of recitation. He was the first and best writer, according to Mr. Graves, of "potted plays." His parodies of popular recitations probably will not sound so funny to the younger generation as to those of middle age, for the drawing room and the stage reciter is not nearly so common an infliction as he (or she) was forty or fifty years ago. Libraries of collected recitations were compiled, and family parties wallowed in false sentiment and false humour. "I have heard it said by a brilliant writer, says Mr. Graves, "that Anstey killed recitation for thirty years. . . . But the passion for recitation is deeply ifigrained in human nature, and some of its vices take an unconscionable time in dying." They do, but we owe Anstey a debt for killing most of the liking for the Clement Scott—George P. Sims type of recitation.