WIT AND HUMOUR

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 3103, 27 June 1929, Page 5

WIT AND HUMOUR

ENJOYABUI LECTURE. ', : BY EEV. L. H. HUNT. It Was most unfortunato that Tuesday night was cold and wintry, which doubtless accounted for the small attendance, at the Peace Memorial Haljl hear a ? lecture on- " Wit and, the Eev. L. Mi Hunt, of .Auckland. Howover, all present were kept in a simmer of laughter, and the address was immensely enjoyed. The "Key. Hunt is a most fluent andploasatit speaker with a ready wit. For well over twd i hours he held his audience closoly, and if there is any truth in the oft-quoted saying that laughter is as good as a tonic, those present on 'Tuesday night will not b.e seeking the doctor for many a day; : ~"-- r:

The Eev. Hunt said there was a; great sphere for the humorist, for wit and humour- played an important part in our. lives. Unfortunately -much alleged humour -w'as v vulgar, but it would be his aim to show that it was just as easy arid effective to be humorous without «ari'y vulgarity. The lecturer pro'ceededi to say that there was a difference • between wit and humour, and he quoted an instance where a person was witty-without being humorous, and viceversa. .' :• ,

It was a" remarkable thing, said the Eevl Hunt, that man was the only animal- with the power to laugh intelligently. It was well that that power shduld be exercised to help lighten the burdens of life, for, as was well known, ,a.good laugh acted like good medicine. Punch *s contribution to the war was of incalculable value, inasmuch as it helped people to laugh and to preserve their balance. Pew appeared to realise the real value and power of humour. Ab an instance, the speaker referred to a recent debate in .Auckland between visitors from Americayand New Zealand University students. The visitors made free use of the gilt of .humour to such advantage that they at once set themselves right with their audience, whereas I.' New Zeatanders, with one 'exception, were rather stodgy, and' lost grip with their hearers. Thus humorists had a great advantage,. arid if anyone did not possess that faculty he should try and develop it. _ ; The Eev. Hunt went on to refer to the different varieties of wit and humour in different countries, declaring that each country developed some peculiar characteristic. For instance, American humour depended to a certain ex- : tent on exaggeration. The Scottish people were easily the "most humorous of the three portions of the United Kingdom. Scottish stories generally revolved about the Scotsman's love for his church, whisky and economy. -The Irishman was more jovial and of lighter vein than the Scotchman. He generally spoke first and thought afterwards, and the for which, the Irish were famous*were the outcome, of his •iilogical Vriiiad.- The Irishman was also inclinedrto. mil»'his--tttetaphors in a most The.English people were fond s offthe * ludicrous. Much of their •humour'applied to-social and political life, and to the Law Courts. The humour of children was also touched upon.

The lecturer quoted innumerable excellent stories, of which he appears to have an inexhaustible supply, to illustrate his points, and the lecture was a dolightful one in every way. ~Tn response to a hearty vote* of thanks,; moved by the Eev. Jas. Hay, the'lecturer stated that •he might possibly give a further address at a later date—i'an' intimation that was received ■' During a break in the lecture Mr. A; Towsey played a delightful piano solo in artistic style, being encored.