WIT ON TOMBSTONES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17350, 15 May 1924, Page 3

WIT ON TOMBSTONES.

A vast amount of wit is to be gathered from tombstones; mortuary puns havo long been famous. The epitaph of the witty divine, Dt Thomas Fuller, is worthy of himself: “ Puller’s earth.” There is a professional point in the epitaph of the eminent barrister, Sir John Strange: ‘ ‘ Here lies an honest lawyer—that is Strange.” And by what an outrageous quibble has the name of William Button, Esq., been handed down to immortality! The epitaph is to be seen in a churchyard near Salisbury : ** Oh, sun, moon, stars, and yo celestial poles, Are graves then dwindled into Button holes ?” There is something quaint and touching in this epitapli of Grimaldi, the distinguished clown : “ Here I am.” One of the best of the briefer kind was proposed by Jerrold, whose wit did not always wear so courteous a dress Charles Knight, the . Shakespearean critic, was the subject, and the words were : “ Good Knight.” Piofessional rivalry produced this illnatured inscription for the tombstone of a Western editor: ** Here lies an editor.” It is added that the injured man recommended the author to use the :u----scription as a mottp for his own journal. Of histrionic epitaphs the best is the following on one of Shakespeare’s actors: {i Exit Burbage.” In a similar vein a wit gave a couplet to Mrs Oldfield, the most celebrated actress of her day; ”This we must own, in Justice to her shade, ’Tis the first had exit Oldfield ever made.” Something of compliment js here sacrificed to make the point. It is the reverse to Malcolm’s Eulogy on Cav- “ Nothing in this life Became him like the leaving of it.” Tho comedian Foote takes his turn thus ; ‘‘Foote from his earthly stage, alas! is burl’d ; Death took him off who took off all the world.” The following officers were appointed at the annual meeting of the parishioners of the Church of St John the Baptist. Rangiora :—Vicar’s warden. Mr C. p Boyce; parishioners’ warden. Mr T Leech; vestrymen, Messrs E. N. Blackett (secretary). J. Inch. M. C. Ormandy, W. Hamilton A. Cambridge J M Dawson. W. S. Shilton, W. Hoirel, R. Lace and J. A. Ivory; Hall Committee, Messrs H. J. Gulliver. T. Shankland and J. A. Ivory.