Barry Pain

Name: A Wretched Imitation
Author: Barry Pain

A Wretched Imitation (1915)

Summary

“A Wretched Imitation”, published in 1915, is a work by Barry Pain. It explores elements such as Mark Masters, Gerald Druce and Herbert Tree.

Quotes from A Wretched Imitation (Barry Pain)

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ Gerald Druce cannot look like Mark Masters, or act like him, or sing like him, or speak like him. So he gave an imitation of Mark Masters. These amateurs! He had better stick to his imitation of a man sawing wood—no novelty, but passably well done."
The Rockham Herald, which, by the way, received the advertisements, said: "A new-comer, Mr. Gerald Druce, proved himself to be an admirable mimic, and his impersonation of Sir Herbert Tree fairly convulsed the audience. His imitation of Mark Masters was, perhaps, a thought over-coloured and exaggerated, and had not quite the same success." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ But he also knew that he had no real talent for mimicry, and that he had engaged himself to imitate a bee, a saw, Sir Herbert Tree, a soda-water bottle, and Mark Masters in public—to wit, at Rockham Town Hall. The thought of it made him perspire. The thought of Mark Masters made him perspire particularly. Bees and saws are more or less within the scope of any man, and in the case of Sir Herbert Tree he would be merely imitating an imitation, which is comparatively easy. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ Myra says that, when she is married, she shall simply make Gerald do that imitation of the man with the soda-water bottle all day, because it is absolutely the funniest thing she ever saw. But she never says a word about Mark Masters. This looks rather as if she would enjoy, and deserve, her husband's fullest confidence, which is quite as it should be.
And Mark Masters himself, a week or so later, in the small hours of the morning, at about the third whisky and soda, became philosophical and dogmatic.
"We don't know ourselves, my dear boy; we are strangers to ourselves. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ I'll put that on the programme at once: 'Some Imitations—Gerald Druce.' Thanks very much!"
"Now, I made it a most definite condition——"
"I know you did, but in war every man must do what he can. You can imitate Mark Masters—there's not a shadow of a doubt about that. Besides, you've got a clear fortnight to work the thing up."
It was in vain that Gerald Druce rebelled. Even Myra turned against him. She heard the imitation, and said that Gerald had got the man to the very life—that it was absolutely like him. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ You'll give it yourself as an imitation of Mark Masters at the next show we have."
"Couldn't possibly, my dear chap."
"Couldn't? You must. It will simply make them scream. Why, of course. You do that thing of a man with a soda-water bottle, and sawing a bit off a plank, and catching a bee in his handkerchief." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ Even supposing a trick was played on an audience, and a man was supposed to have done what the other bloke really done, as long as there was no complaint, it was not the duty of a janitor to interfere. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ Of course, the expenses of such an entertainment do tend to exceed the original estimate. As Evelyn Chater always said, more particularly when selecting her own costume, if a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ Enthusiasm was prevalent. For one reason or another, many men could not go to the recruiting office, or went and were refused, but every man and woman wanted to do something, but on no account to mind his or her own business. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, A Wretched Imitation (1915)

“ The Chater family, which was directly responsible for its inception, always said that its main object was to provide cheerful and interesting entertainments for convalescent soldiers. It may be admitted that a caustic, though celebrated, physician said that, in his opinion, any man who was strong enough to stand the Rockham Amateurs was strong enough to return to the trenches. ”

Barry Pain

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Quotes from A Wretched Imitation (Barry Pain)

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