MARK TWAIN, THE GREAT HUMOURIST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1088, 14 February 1918, Page 5

MARK TWAIN, THE GREAT HUMOURIST.

PROFESSOR TRUEBLOOD'S INTER ESTINC RECHfAL.

Those who attended the Opera House liusl evening to hear Professor Trueblood, Professor of Oratory at the Michigan University, United States of America, in his recital, .Mark Twain were accorded a literary treat which rarely comes the way of local residents. Professor Trueblood handled hi* subject in masterly style, and his audience thoroughly appreciated the- recital In his references to Mark Twain, the Professor pointed out that he was not onlyone of America's greatest authors, but surely her greatest humourist, and one of three of the world's humourists, ranking with Cervantes and Dickens. Mark Twain was a man of great originality, and tinmen and women of his different, books were all highly dramatic characters, who spoke ns folks do in a perfectly natural way. Professor Triiebioocl went on to speak of the groat humour that Mark Twain gives us in his writings,and of the fineness of the philosophy, evidencing his understanding of (lie human heart- and its motives. Attention was called to the fact that Mark Twain's torn- around the world, during which lie visited and spoke in New Zealand on several occasions, was for the purpose of raising money to put his pubUshers out of debt. He was a large stock holder in the company, which went into bankruptcy, and Mark Twain did not think it honourable not to pay up That was the way ho did it, .showing tin- sense of moral right lu> possessed. He was a prolific writer, continued the lecturer. Twenty-five volumes had recently been issued of his novels and travels, and. illustrating the wide extent of their use, had been translated into all the leading languages of the world.

Professor Trueblood then proceeded to give extracts from five of Mark Twain's different books and from two of his guide works, "The Innocents Abroad" and "A Tramp Abroad." The selection, "Our Guides," which is full of humour, and "An Unexpected Acquaintance" from "A Tramp Abroad," which contain many mirth-pro-voking situations, wore given. These were followed with "An Encounter With ;'ii Interviewer," rather an extravagant piece of humour, in which he pictures the interviewer asking a good many silly questions and supplies the answers in a humorous way. In order to show how well Mark Twain had characterised the negro in the United States, Professor Trueblood gave an illustration from "The Gilded Age," in which Uncle Daniel, an old negro, mistakes a steam boat for the Lord. From ".Huckleberry Finn;'! which "o characterised as tin- finest piece of literary work that Mark Twain ever did, ho took as an illustration a colloquy between Huckleberry Finn and Jim, the negro servant of the family, which is a great thing on kings and polygamy, and in which are many discrepancies and anachronisms in history, most amusing to the audience.

During an interval in the recital Mr G. 11. Bennett asked Professor Truoblood if ho could see his way clear to give a lecture on "America and tho War." Mi- M. Cohen supported the request, and in reply the Professor stated that, ho would l>e verv pleased to do so if it- could be arranged. lbi would announce later whether he could do so

The recital concluded with a brief resume of "Ingomar,'' the subject for Friday evening The Professor stated that. it. is one of the finest of modern dramas, and contains two of the finest characters in drama.. Ineomar is a rough mountaineer, chief of a. Germanic tribe, mentioned in '.'Caesar's Commentaries." Parthenia is a cultured rohned and high type of Greek girl from Masilia, in tho south of France, when that was a Greek province. The story of the taming of rough Ingomar, who has a splendid heaii, but a rough exterior, is a particularly fine one. .The recitals are under the auspices of tho Manawatu Patriotic Society. Past evening's was presided over by .Mr J. 11. .Stevens. At the conclusion, Professor Truoblood was accorded a hearty reception from the audience. MRS TRTJEBLOOD'S RECITAL. To-morrow afternoon Mrs Truoblood gives a recital of stories- to school children and young people ' Mrs Truoblood has been speaking at children's institutions in tho South I-land, where her recitals wore enthusiastically received by the children. The I.om>burn school has sent word of the in-' tention of ail its pupils being present, and tho town' schools will also be well represented. Mrs Truoblood would particularly like all teachers and as many parents as possible to be present. Tho recital will commence at 3 p.m., and tho admittance sixpence to all parts of tho house. The proceeds .are for the Sick and Wounded Fund.