To, the Editor of the "Nowri-Cuina Datty News."
Sity—Under the above heading in your Paper of the 6th June 163 T note that your Correspondent. London says, inter alia, that he saw what, might be called a disjecta /membra of such a show (Punch and Judy) outside of a tea house in a village near Soochow, but nov performance. He quotes a from the "Daily Telegraph"
hich the writer states (or rather tasks) "if anyone can throw any light on the origin of the Punch and Judy show and, whether it is of Chinese origin." "It. is believed among foreigners that Mr. Punch-hero and the story—of the popu-puppet show are of Italian origin, the name being a eontraction of Puxchinello. Another suggestion is that the name is derived from that of Pontius Pilate in the ancient mystery plays. However, jean find no trace Punch and Judy show in' Europe before, the
Chinese Drama" (Kelly & Walsh, 7th century. tu (my. book, The Ltd., Shanghai) 1 show conclusively, that' puppet shows or "Shadow. Plays" originated in China as earl as 1001-947 B.C, during the reign of the emperor Mu, Another record shows that wooden figures of women were used during the second year of the reign of the Han Em-error Kao Tsu in 205 B.C, The tale fof the origin of Chinese marionettes given in full in the "North-China Dally News" of the 22nd June 1930.
Your Correspondent says he never saw a performance (probably he means a full performance?) of a Punch and Judy show and asks if Jany of your readers have? The writer has seen many. 'They are, however, seldom seen in cities where there are theatrical houses, but. the country towns where a' theatri-Jeal troop only appears during poular festival days Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter sac: riflees Or the 0} temple ete. In Peking one may see pening of & new shadow play" almost daily at the 's: or they may be hired for from' $10 to $15 for a whole day Jand night. The figures used are made from cow or asses, glue paint~ Jed in various colours to suit the style of play required. Those made Jout of the skin of a white ass are to be the best. 'These figures in sets of from 10 to 60, have seen sets of 150, but many twere duplicates. 'These' Punch Judy, marionettes, "shadow or whatever we wish to call—shows, often give fuller Jances than one sees. pi theatres: They go through a whole ook as it were, omitting nothing. So it happens—according to the length of the book story—that one jcan view a Punch and Judy show for a month on end, Anuncton.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.