Eye - 12 April 2013

From a quizzical curiosity to refreshing giggles

A quizzical curiosity

The ‘Quaker’ family taking centre-stage in the silent comedy, The Oyster Princess, have intrigued a Scottish Friend.

The movie follows a spoilt, tantrum-throwing daughter and her father after she decides she simply has to have a real-life prince to marry.

How the family came to be named ‘Quaker’ has piqued the curiosity of Kate Arnot, from Polmont Meeting, who came across the film at a recent festival in Scotland.

She writes: ‘The Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness, West Lothian, had a five-day festival of “Silent Cinema”, including The Oyster Princess (Die Austernprinzessin), a roistering farce directed by Ernst Lubitsch, Germany, 1919.’

The film was accompanied by piano and violin.

‘The “Oyster King”, her father, is called “Mr Quaker”. I asked the director of the festival (whose family are Quakers) why – but neither she nor a representative from the Goethe-Institut, Glasgow, who the screening was in partnership with, knew.’

The ‘Oyster King’ cannot be impressed by anyone or anything and is so wealthy that he even employs a butler to hold his cigar whilst he smokes.

Kate wonders: ‘I don’t think Friends are called Quakers in German (but I could be mistaken). Does any Friend know why the “Oyster King” – rich, rich, rich – would be called “Mr Quaker”?’

Help with a history

A touching and intriguing story of a Friend and a Catholic community reached us this week.

Alastair Thomas, of Preston Meeting, is searching for anyone who might be able to help verify what happened. He writes: ‘An Anglican colleague has told me he heard a story the other day of a Quaker who helped some Roman Catholics in the aftermath of the second world war as they rebuilt their town.

‘Unfortunately, he contracted TB and died and being a non-Catholic was buried just outside their cemetery according to their ecclesiastical law. The night of his burial, a large number of Catholics went and tore down the wall and rebuilt it around his grave to include it. Has any reader heard this story before? Additional details would help to authenticate it.’

Nuptials

A treat from the original rhyming Friend, Roy Payne: ‘Got married on Saturday… there had to be a limerick.’

An ageing Ludlovian* Quaker,
While awaiting the call of his maker,
Rose up from his seat
With a Quakeress sweet,
And promised he’d never forsake her.

*An inhabitant of Ludlow.

Refreshing giggles

‘Chat over refreshments after Meeting is one of our blessings,’ says Leslie Fuhrmann, of Worthing Meeting.

‘On one occasion Friends were speaking of our excellent warden, Nick. Florence, our lively and active centenarian, said: “That man misses nothing!”

‘Very true. He came into the room at that moment… “Mrs. Nothing – who’s she?”’

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