The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-02
M E N w o M FEN
 A ND T HIN G s


 under the auspices of the Linly Heflin unit, by sayinng that marionettes are but kind of glorified Punch and Judy entertainment, just as the mod ern community sing" is but the all- day country sing brought to town.
 Try to set out what on the face of it appears to be the simplest thing and, if you trouble to consult more than one authority on it, you'll be sure to get mixed up for it seems that his- tories and encyclopedias are written and published in order that those who use them for reference have. their minds unsettled.
 Take for instance the show of Punch and Judy and before you get through with your investigations you will dis cover much that is confusing. and therefore I will make no attempt to pass on the disputed points or unravel all of the historical threads which make the famous couple dance. The Abbate Galina derives the name from a mis- shapen but humorous peasant from Sorrento. who had received 1t about the middle of the seventeenth century from his bringing chickens (pulcinelle) to market in Naples, and who after his death was personated in the puppet shows of the San Carlo theatre for the amusement of the people to whom he was we'll known
 Another account makes the word a corruption of Puccio d Aniello, the name of witty buffoon of Acerra who joined a company or players. and became the favorite of the Neapolitans Still others give his name as Paolo Cinella; but the variety and inconsis- tency of the legends rather give the idea that they were myths, or histories invented to account for the name. There are still some who maintain that the earliest account of Punch and Judy is found in ballad the date of which does not appear anterior to 1795. The drama or story of our Punch and Judy, however, is attributed to Silvio t1orillo, an Italian comedian of the seventeenth century. I would like to stop here, but I can't leave out the contention of those who say that a Roman mime called Maceus was the original of Punch.
 
 But having gone this far, it might be of interest to further record that some claim that the modern Punch is only a modi- fication of an ancient mask to be seen represented on vases. If the origin of Punch is confusing, so are the various interpretations of the meaning of the name. have already attributed it on the backing of one scholar to chicken" but up bobs another learned gentleman and boldly says, the Ital- ian name is pretty evidently diminu- tive of police, the thumb, Tom Thumb (the dwarfs of northern mythology are som etimes styled 'daumling.' thumb kins.) The English name, Punch" is apparently identical with English ''paunch;' Bavarian 'punzen," 6 cask; Italian ''punzone" a puncheon, and denotes anything thick and short (e.g. Suffolk "punch"). The name Pun chinello" seems to have arisen from blending the English and Italian names.
 The tale is this: Punch in a fit of jealousy strangles his infant child, when Judy flies to her for revenge, and with a bludgeon belabors her hus- band till he loses his patience and seizing (the weapon most likely a broomstickD, beats her brains out and filings her dead body into the street tperhaps as warning to all wives that it's dangerous thing to arouse the cave spirit even in a docile hus- band). So far the action was under the roof of Punch and Judy.
 But now 1t becomes public property as sooner or later all family broils do, and the body of Mrs. Punch minus her brains attracts the notice of even a policeman (for in those days they were not busy chasing blind tigers) who immediately becomes a Sherlock Holmes and enters the house, but evil dently his shoes creaked for when he made his entry MT. Punch had already made his exit. Going to Spain, he. is at liberty only a short while, being arrested by an officer of the inquisi- tion, and shut up in prison from which he escapes with a golden key.
 It's at this point that dog enters the story, but the origin of Toby. the dog of the show, is uncertain. al- though he is as much in the play as are the bloodhounds in Uncle Toms Cabin. Punch and Judy and Toby are the leading actors in the performance which for some hundreds of years has
 
 or children on the continent, in Eng land and in America.
 The conventional Punch is always represented as short and thickest with an immense hump on his back. and wearing a three pointed cap. His ap- pearance has been perpetuated in Punch the famous English humorous paper which is as much a part of the arp nj ira AI-~ Punch" the traditional jester of the puppet-show, was simply transformed into the laughing philosopher and man of letters; the essence of all wit. the concentration of all wisdom" But this is another story as Kipling would say
 statuette of this famous buffoon was discovered in 1727, containing all Of the well-known features which have come down with the character of Punch for more than 200 years. the long nose and goggle eyes, the hunch pack and protruding breast being carved With care. It is indeed strange that fictitious parsonage should live Tor centuries in the minds of the peo- Die to such an extent that even thou sands of children are able to recognize his features
 set out the outline of the story upon which Punch and Judy is based. but omitted to call attention to the, ailegory which it interprets which is equally as interesting. The allegory shows how Punch triumphs over ali the ills that flesh is heir to. Sander In the shape of dog is overcome: Disease in the disguise of doctor is kicked out {of course, this is haxe