REFORM AUXILIARY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 61, 13 March 1934, Page 11

REFORM AUXILIARY

ADDRESS ON "PUNCH"

AN INTERESTING EVENING

There was a very good attendance at the meeting of the Beforin Women's Auxiliary last evening, specially considering the bad weather. Mrs. McVicar, J.P., presided. Mr-, E. jSf. Gordon, who recently returned from abroad, and who had special facilities for meeting the officials of the well-known paper "Punch," gave a particularly interesting and amusing talk about that famous journal. After telling his hearers that only since the visit of the Empire delegates "Punch" had alluded to this Dominion as a "darling land," attributing to it many beauties, and to its people a number of virtues, including pure English in speaking, and loyal sentiments towards the Old Country, he gave an account of . its inception. "Punch," Mr. Gordon said, was ah example of continuous and successful team-work, as it was begun in 1841 and had run continuously ever since, and would be celebrating its centenary in 1941. No paper had ever come near "Punch" on the same lines, although there had been many imitators, but most of these condescended to vulgarities, such as would never appear in England's famous paper. It had been the aim of the first promoters to be amusing without sordidness or. vulgarity, <and that ideal had been carried out with the greatest success, showing the world'that-those two elements were quite unnecessary for, decent, educated people. "Mr. Punch" was begun with a capital of only £.23, aiiA Mark Lemon, the first editor, when he j received the appointment, borrowed £5 and married a wife! Messrs. Horuee and Henry Mayhew (London publishers) took up the interests of the paper, and were also against any sort of low so-called humour. John Leech was the first artist, and a most famous one, Sir John Millais being another; they were followed by Tcnniol, whose pictures of women and children were graceful and beautiful. Thackeray, who was an illustrator as well as a writer, applied for illustrating, but was refused, and he approached Dickens with the same object. However, he became a power as a writer himself later on, and was not heard of as- an illustrator. "Punch" had always been the .champion of the under-dogs, and had continued this sterling course all through the years. A'touching story of. Hood, the writer of the famous "Song of the Shirt" was told. He was a most tenderhearted man, and on coming across some, most distressing cases among the outdoor workers for factories, wrote his poem. It was refused by several papers, but "Punch" accepted it and placed it in a prominent Christmas issue, with the result that an immense number of copies were sold, and the "Song" became famous not only in London, but throughout the world. When Hood died, he asked that only his name should be placed on his tombstone, and that he was theswriter of the "Song of the- Shirt." This was accordingly done. ■.'■','. NO SEX BAR, -,"Punch," as well "as being humanir tarian, ;had always been a complete reCbreL: of Parliament- and Parliamentar: ians, of fashionj :and~ of the vogues and follies of society, while all remembered the wonderful and touching war cartoons and pictures; The paper became first Imperial, and then international, and held that | proud' position - with credit to staff and country. It had/no class and no creed, but had always paid reverence to religion, not at any time being among the , cheap, scoffers. "Punch" was devoted to children, and many of the amusing jokes were about, the. little people of the world. In six months, Mr. Gordon.:found when ■• he visited the offices lately;; they had-em-ployed 150 writers, 30/ of these being women, ;and Sthe same occurred on the staff—there was no •■sex'bar, only brains being. the Qualification.: Ecviewing was a great part o!f the work', and Was done in a-cultivated atmosphere. Two hundred: books were received in a few weeks, and all these were sent to London hospitals ■as gifts. "Punch" was a strong advocate for free speech, and, curiously,, in :a paper of its-kind, the first leader written- by Mark- Lemon was orie:..in''favour of the abolition of capiial jpuriish'ment. '.'... -. ' ■ : ■..-. Cartoons, were great recorders in the paper,'. .".Punch"' had a beautiful and touching, one following on the severe earthquake at Hawke's Bay. .'• In visiting the- office of "Punch" Mr. Gordon saw some famous cartoons which- had never appeared,. owing to Mark Lemon's fear of hurting the feelings of.people in distress. There was also a famous table, on which famous men of nearly a century carved their initials when attending the annual dinner party. Mr. Gordon told many other good"stories of "Mr. Punch,'"' and recapitulated many jokes, which kept his hearers in a simmer of merriment. A hearty vote-of thanks was passed to him for his excellent address, and supper followed, concluding a delightful evening. It. was resolved at the committee meeting (at which Mrs. G. Stone presided) to hold the annual meeting next month, and that a social party should follow the business part of the meeting. ..-.-, . ~.r . ,- ... „