The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1920-01-19

BAIRNSFATHER
Artist of Trenches in Talk
AT Taeater Will Relate
Experiences
BRITAIN BANNED JOKES
Proceeds to Swell Funds for
Working Boys Home
In D. c.
BRITAIN BANNED JOKES

How the sly fun of a Scotch SOL
der laddie won his comrades-at-
arms from their dependency and
sent them back to the mud and
dirt of the trenches with re-
newed determination to stick it out
to the last will. be the story told
by Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather. au-
thor of THE Better OLE at the
benefit for the Working Boys
Home. to be given at Polls The
alter Wednesday afternoon.
The front row at the perform
ance will be reserved for the boys
of the home themselves, who, af-
ter the talk. will be given an op-
portunity to meet the other boy
from across the seas whose spirit
of mischief could not be silenced
even by the British war Offices
stern command.
Entertained Tommies.
Captain Bairnsfather's famous car
ICONS were first drawn on the rough
walls OF a "dugout" near the front,
where they served to tighten the Ions
weary hours. of waiting he and his
comrades spent in the dirt and slime
OF the trenches. They were always OF
Tommy his companions OF the
French and allied armies and their
woes, and they made both Tommy
and his poilu companion roar with
laughter at the picture of the very
things they had been lamenting.
The fame Of the cartoons of the IT.
resistible young Scotchman spread
from trench to trench and finally
reached the august ears of some one in
command at the British war office who
sent post haste a command to Capt.
Bairnsfather to cease his mockery OF
the sacred British army, lest the i'm
preston might get out that they were
less serious than their allies.
Such a wall went up from the SOL
diers who missed the bit Of fun that
had come into their lives, that the
august ones in London heard and
Igraciously sent their permission to the
Scotch captain to continue his draw
ings.
Produced War Play,
After the war was over BARNS
father fashioned, from his inimitable
cartoons. his comedy, The Better
Ole" where his famous characters
odd BIZ and "Alf'-won the hearts
OF both England and America. In
addition to his plays Bairnsfather Is
publishing a weekly comic paper
dealing with the everyday happen
ings of both hemispheres. The pa
per Is called Fragments" and has
already gained a circulation of 5O0,-
600 Englishmen who prefer il to the
heavy humor of Punch" In its
pages the English masses forget
Bolshevism. internationalism and
strikes as they chuckIe over BARNS
fathers latest funny pictures.
The man who did so much to helm
England win battles is helping her
to overcome the Red peril.
In opening his lecture tour in the
United States Capt. Bairnsfather en-
phatically disclaims any intention of
featuring" and promised to stick
to a few brief words of the humor-
Gus side of the war. illustrating his
talk with his own cartoons.
Soldiers to BE Guests.
At his Washington talk" the
wounded soldiers from Walter Reed
Hospital will be given a chance TO
see again the characters they knew
and loved in the dark days "over
there" Special boxes will be re-
served for them at the theater. whers
they. will be the guests of Mrs.
Charles Boughton Wood.
The Working Boys Home, to
which the proceeds of the lecture
will go. has taken care of over a
hundred boys during the past year.
and has earned a splendid reputa-
ton as a welfare organization.
The age limit of the Working
Boys Home is IL to 20 years. There
are many youngsters sent to the
home by the board of chiIdren's
guardians, and their expenses are
paid by this board. Some Of the
boys, too young to work, are sent
to school. and their board furnished
by friends. Some of the boys paw
a weekly amount, which does not
cover necessary expenses, but which
is accepted SO that the boys do not
feel that they are entirely depend
emit upon charity.
The remainder of the funds nee
essary to maintain the home are
raised among the friends of the in
stitution. by lectures similar to that
arranged during Capt. Bairnsfath-
cr's stay in the National CAPITAL.
While in Washington Capt. BARNS
father will be the guest of Mr.. and
Mrs Randall