STUDENTS' “HUMOR.”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16722, 6 May 1925, Page 10

STUDENTS' “HUMOR.”

A GRIM JOKE. “IN EXTREMELY BAD TASTE,” AUCKLAND, May 1. University students, with an, eye to advertising' their comedy, “Tilly_ of Tamaki,” perpetrated wither a. grim joko shortly after noon to-day. when they carried an imitation coffin froin the University, via Anzac Avenue and Queien street', to the Civic Square site, where a form of burial service was performed over a “civic square‘corpse.” Heading the procession was a. student, in Mayoralliko robes and chain of office, and hv his side was a colleague in gown and mortar, suggestive of the town clerk’s official dress. Immediately behind this oouplo were four poll-bearers carrying a black box covered with a pall. A singlo wreath of chrysanthemums lay on top of the casket, on the sides of which was the inscription: “The Civic; Square, erected 1926, died 1925.” The youths were grotesquely attired, the outstanding features of their gave being hard bowler hats, old “top” hats, glaring bluo ties, and yellow buttonholes." Most of the young men had paint on their faces. A brass band played tlm funeral music, at least the time of it merited that description. An invitation to “come to the funeral of Civic Square” was carried at the head of the procession, and by Ihe timo the civic square site was reached a very largo crowd of citizens, mostly girls, had/gathered. In the centre of the situ a platform was erected, and the student in red robes and wig pv'Oceedfcnd to harangue the crowd, calling for “sobs” and “weeping” from the other students. These were regulated by means of an amateur “stop-go” signal. .Several students’ songs were sung, and then tins procession returned to the University. “Although harmless in itself, the whole affair was in extremely had taste,” says the Star. “There was little humor about it, but no doubt the students’ talent in that direction has, been more or less exhausted in the production of ‘Tillv. ’ ” ....