Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1906 THE COMIC MAN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVI, Issue 8627, 8 December 1906, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1906 THE COMIC MAN.

At a fashionable concert given in Masterton, one evening, a lady was heard to remark, " I would not mind Harry Hall on the stage now." Harry Hall, we understand, is a popular comic man, who has toured the colony, but who does not appear in classical programmes. Even in a concert programme, where a primu donna of the singing art charms the lovers of the musical world, the comic element is needed as a contrast to complete the happiness of the audience. Harry Halls are of use in the world if they make men and women laugh ; for cheerful laughter is good for all people, and tends to brighten a dull existence into real life.

The world in which we live is all the better for laughter of a certain kind, whether it be caused by the broad humour of a Harry Hall or any other innocent amusement. A great charm in children is their frequent and unrestrained laughter. Even a smiling face in a thronged street is a benediction, and everyone who sees it, feels all the better for it. In a home.too, it is a great happiness. Of course, people cannot always be gay and beaming. There are times when a man is glad to turn his face to the wall and shun all who are gay and lively, but in every day life human nature craves a certain share of fun and enjoyment.

Laughter is a sort of snnshine which is necessary even for health. Gloom is almost a kind of death, and merriment a quickener of life. Nature is never very far wrong. She gives us, as our weather records show, an average of sunshine throughout the year which works out at about five hours per day. In a similar way she gives man an instinct for enjoyment, which really needs to be met by a certain number of hours of relaxation and amusement. Even an hour a day is a great boon and may add years to a man's life. One man may take it from a Harry Hall, another from a book, and a third from a social company where the cup which exhilarates is to be found. We do not say there is no sunshine in a glass of beer or even in a whisky, but this kind of enlivenment sometimes leads up to sunstroke and cannot always be recom-

mended,

Every man is entitled to a certain amount of enjoyment, and is, usually, all the better for it. If he does not get it one day, he ought to look for it the next—for he will not do justice to himself unless he obtains a fair average supply ; he will not bring out the best qualities that he possesses without the sunshine of happiness. His nature will become stunted and pallid. It does not follow that a man should say to himself, " Never mind other people, I'm going to have a good time!" and go and spend the money which may be necessary for the comfort and happiness of his family. If he be wise, he will study the pleasure of other

people, and be satisfied with catching happiness himself On the rebound.

Nature calls upon man to be bright and cheerful. Even religion becomes unpopular if it be associated with too much gloom. It is not, perhaps, a sin for a man to sleep in church, but it would be most improper for him to laugh. Religion, to catch and hold the young, wants to be bright and joyous, and there is no reason why it should not be so. It was once urged against a popular divine, the Rev. Mr Spurgeon, that he was a comic man, because he frequently made his congregations smile. Yet he also attracted large crowds of people, and we believe that his sermons are still read. There is a general idea that the life beyond the grave is a brighter and more cheerful existence than the one this side of it; and, if ?o, religion ought to be so adjusted that it would tend to make people cheerful instead of gloomy.

Wβ once knew a comic man who was a Church Organist, a musician who composed oratorios and who played divinely. Yet away from his organ he was a man of infinite jest, a splendid mimic and a marvellous singer of comic ditties. His artistic sense was two-sided, and when he was not sublime, he was delightfully ridiculous. Years ago he passed to " the summer land," and we wonder whether in his new abode he maintains his reputation as a comedian as well as bis genius for sacred music. We do not see why he should not exercise both talents there in much the same way that he did here. Few people can doubt that on the other side good music—and as an American preacher said, "All good music is sacred"—is to be found. Music was not invented on this plane. Its harmonies floated down from a higher sphere into receptive intelligences on this planet, who gave expression to them. Wit and humour, too, are not human inventions, but rather a human endowment; and possibly our old friend, the Church Organist, is by this time familiar with certain less gross forms of it which he is able to exercise for the delight of his friends in his new sphere. Comedy is, of course, less important than the eternal harmonies of beautiful music, but it is also immortal and has its place. The lady who, at a Masterton concert desired " a song from Harry Hall," had a right instinct, and the comic man has his mission. The mirthraiser of humanity is, on suitable occasions, a benefactor to a community.