Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-09
FUN DUE To ITALY.
Lots OF Amusement Contributed by . Mach
Abused People.

Abused People.
In all this abuse OF the Italians nowadays
ono hears no mention Of the valued gift "
laughter and happiness which we. particularly
our children, have received from them In the
shape Of Punch and judy" said a scien dist at
tached to the Smithsonian Institution 20 q SrAn
reporter Once upon time there lived near
naples vintager named Puccio a AnieIlo, Who
Possessed. In addition 10 q wit Surprisingly
acute physical aspect most grotesque and
aroiL lie was humpbsck and his voice had
squeak surprising that Of our Stuart Robson;
Out ms most surprising feature was an enor-
nous nose. formed rs IL designed 10 furnish q
model Of comic nasal deformity. This honest
and merry ,intager Was induced 20 Join q
troupe OF strolling players. and 50 mirthfula
success did he make during HE lifetime that
upon ms death. other actors preserved his part
IN the performances with the aid 81 a mask q
hump. and limitations OF ms dress. squeaking
voice and humorous manner.
Such, at all events. is the best-aocep,.a fra
dition respecting the origin of Mr. Punch
Later on IL Is supposed that his character VS.
transferred 60 the miniature stage. so that ID
o n WIN the ltalisns. aud subsequently, for
all the world. the prime favorite among ali
puppets Some authorities have asserted tbat
funch and Judy 10 taken from an ancient
mystery play Of q religious nature. in which
the powers FOR good and evil are made 10 con-
emu ior the Possession OF the merry gentle
man soul; but this theory should take 20 be
rather far fetched. During the seventeenth
century Mr.. Punch was utilized to great En-
Vent Tor the expression Of political satire.
PuScH's rXpERrEScrs.
During the earlier days Of Punch's appear
snce on the stage, in miniature or otherwise
ne fought against many allegorical foes. such
as want and WEAKNESS. as well az with hs wife
the police and the hangman. He was on init
mate terms with the seven champions %
christendom, sat on the lap OF the Queen os
Sheba, and cheated the inqusition as well as
'ne ciNn enecutloner. Mr.. Punch wife. JUDY,
was introduced presumably for no other pur.
pose than to establish for himself domestic re-
latlons necessary for dramatic coustrnction
No one knows the origin of the dog Toby but
cat mas at times been substituted for him in
France. 80
THE PANroMIMH.
There is another joy that the children and
ourselves owe to the Italians and tina, is the nam
tomime. with Harlequin, Columbine. Pantsloon
and the clown. They were brought over the
Alps centuries ago by Italian PLAYERS. Column
bine was originally the daughter Of Harlequin.
but later on the two were represented as loxer.
with whose love making the buffoons clou-n
ana fantaioon were naturally engaged in in
krierlng, just as the sman bow Bobby ,,r
Jimmy, OF the present day appears in the
newspaper Jokes as a marplot Of all Cupid's de-
signs Both are developments OF the assailable
nature OF the incipient amour on the ground
of the ridiculous, which is simply due 10 . want
of sympathy at large with personal illu-
sions. Harlequin is a name derived from
haliekin-Le,, he'll skin, signifyine a demon
that plays tricks. Originally he was associated
with the storm as player of diabolical tricks.
In this shape he came down through tradition
for hell and its devils were very prominent
features OF the medieval stage. Later on he
appeared as an intriguing and mysterions
creature which Is dressed In q shining armor Of
spangles and defes ordinary human ingenuity
TO catch him, with the aid OF devices SUPER
natural. At a moments notice be clothes him
sell In the gleamings OF his sword and disap-
pears. Ii Is very amusing TO realize that this
creature OF the comic stage Is only burlesqus
reproduction OF the devil Of earlier ages"