The Republican journal., 1920-04-15

The Woman's Alliance of the First
Parish Unitarian church held their last
meeting of the season Thursday after
noon at the most hospitable home OF Mrs.
Albert C. Burgess. There were fifty
present including several guests. Miss
Charlotte w. ColbuIn, who has served
the Alliance most faithfully for the past
ten years, presided with ease and grace.
She gave a brief review of the years,
noting the Alliances large increase in
membership, it's activitie' in church and
social work, it's most creditable financial
standing with invested funds, and good
bank account, etc. While Miss Colburn
did not mention the genuine good fellow
ship among its members and the deep
love and loyalty for their retiring presi-
dent it was apparent to their guests, who
also share their regard for her. At the
close of the business session Miss Colburn
presented Miss Maude E. Barker, the
newly-elected president, in whom all the
members have faith and confidence, with
the gavel of the presiding officer. Miss
Bankers response was brief but very ap-
propriate. At the close she recited sew
eral original and witty verses suggesting
appreciation, love, ETC., and produced as
an enduring and beautiful reminder of
work well done, dainty box containing
a pearl necklace, the Alliance gift. Miss
Colburn's pleasure was apparent in ex-
pressi IN and also in a short response. The
program was of unusual interest, includ
Miss E. Frances Abbott, and religious
intelligence selection by Mrs. S. A. Par
ker.
At the social hour the hostess assisted
by Miss Barker and others served ice
cream and asserted cake. The members
detained at home by illness, ETC., were
remembered with refreshments.
The following brief synopsis gives an
idea of the style of the afternoon paper.
Miss Abbott gave Thackeray's definition
of humor as "a mixture of love and wit, +"
and said it was an encouraging sign of
human improvement that much that was
formerly considered comic, especially in
the drama, such as pain, deformity,
drunkenness or insanity, was not now so
accepted by people of finer sensibilities.
There have always been those who could
laugh at people, holding up different
hI1t
paratively few who could laugh with
people and leave no sting. Of those
popular in their day she mentioned Geo.
Peck, Bill Nye, Petroleum V. Naseby,
and John Phoenix, the latter known as
the "father of the American tee-hee F"
Mark Twain reached the highest EXPIRES
and to him she devoted considerable
space, giving sketch of his life and re-
viewing some of his books. A contem-
porary friend of Mark Twain was Arte
mus Ward, who was born in Waterford,
Maine, and whose real name was Charles
Farrar Browne. His platform manner
rather than his writings gave him his
popularity. Like many other humorists
his vogue was short, but each succeeding
generation is made happy by those who
make the world laugh She spoke of
Eugene Field, "whose life story seemed
to be one practical joke after another"
of Wallace Irwin, Stephen Leacock, Fin
ley Peter Dunno, whose quaint Irish char
acters amuse and educate, Hugh Fuller
ton and Ring Lardner with their base ball
stories, Irwin S. Cobb, Oliver HEREFORD,
John Kendrick Bangs, Ellis Parker Butler,
Walt Mason, and George AIDE She COM
mented on the value to the country of the
professional humorists, who can get the
attention of the crowd by a few deft
touches where long preachments would
fail, and while they may not be immor-
tails they serve to keep us sane and the
nations view point true.