Punch (12.1847)

226

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

THE B! LLSTICKERS' EXHIBITION.

I

ffiii!

Among the earliest exhibitions of the present season, that of the Bill; continually sending up to the Professor the details of some astonishing

Stickers stands exceedingly high, and is replete with a truly charming
variety. The pictorial placard has opened out quite a new style of
art, and we shall not be surprised to find some of the first painters of
the age devoting their genius to the composition of broadsides. One of
the earliest efforts in this direction was the celebrated " Ha ! ha !
Cured in an instant! " which will be found in the collection of Pro-
cessor Hollowat, who was certainly a greater Professor—looking at
his Professions—than any of his contemporaries. It will be remem-
bered that his ointment was warranted to pull out teeth, extract corns,
demolish bunions, remove baldness, get rid of gout, produce whiskers,
cure indigestion, give an appetite, take away freckles, soften the hands,
prolong life, arch the eyebrows, support the knees, eradicate chaps
from the lips, and promote activity in the muscles. The Earl of
Aldborough is no doubt the nobleman whose portrait is exhibited
in the celebrated " Ha! ha!" tableau, for the aristocratic patient is

cure, which has been produced by the marvellous ointment.

The Earl of Aldboroogh must be a wonderful man to have gone
through so many dangers, and the wonderful ointment is worthy of the
noble who appears to live upon it. We cannot deny to the Professor
the credit of having been one of the first to associate the fine arts with
advertising hand-bUls, and thus to lay the foundation for those exhi-
bitions of puffing pictures which give new life to all the dead walls in
and about the metropolis.

The present season is exceedingly rich in these pictorial embellish-
ments, and the exterior of the old Fleet Prison offers just now a very
powerful counter-attraction to those exhibitions which are already
open, or are on the point of opening. We think it would be worth the
while of some enterprising publisher to print a daily catalogue of the
wall of the Eleet, for the convenience and instruction of amateurs and
the public in general.

the caxton monument. Ollasstcal pantomime Oguactettes.

Doctor Milman has received the subjoined letter from Viscount
Morpeth. It will be remembered that, on a late occasion, Her Ma-
jesty's Ministers declined to interfere in the matter of the preservation
of the house of Shakspeare. Possibly, they were influenced in their
determination by ttie Court Circular, that chronicles so many royal
visits to the Italian Opera and the French Plays, but rarely one to an
English theatre. Shakspeare being considered a bore at Court, is
scarcely to be respected by the Cabinet. We are sure that Lord
Morpeth must have felt a twinge as he penned the subjoined :—

" My dear Doctor Milman,—All that you have written about a
monument to Caxton is charming—very charming, indeed. The idea
is truly that of a poet. a fountain by day, and a jet of light by night!
Thirst assuaged, and darkness conquered ! Extremely pertinent this ;
and very typical of the art of the printer, as developed in the publi-
cation of the morning and evening papers. Nevertheless, Her Ma

A delightful series of Pantomime Quartettes has recently been
commenced by four of our first executants in that most captivating
branch of art, and we hope to see the experiment perfectly successful.
These charming unions have originated in the taste and genius of the
veteran Southbt, who conceived the happy idea of holding meetings for
the effective rendering of some of those exquisite pantomimic morceavxc
that have been bequeathed to us by the great Grimaldi and other old
masters. The programme for last Monday was exceedingly attractive,
and comprised the delicious wheelbarrow movement, Op. 926, together
with " Tippitywitchet," and a variety of other favourite compositions.
The wheelbarrow movement created the most intense interest among the
numerous dilettanti and virtuosi who thronged the room. Southbt's
firmness and breadth give a steadiness and body which are essential to
the perfect rendering of this great work of art, and his grasp of his
subject was splendidly displayed in the handling of the wood which
forms the wheel of the wheelbarrow. Howell made an admirable

jestt's Government considers that the fame of Caxton is more the i second in this display of pantomimic learning; and though he had

general property of the nation than of the Ministry ; who, indeed,
violate a standing order of Parliament when they suffer the printer to
enter either the Lords or Commons. And then, for the proposed
fountain and light, permit me to observe that the locality you have
suggested for the Caxton monument is, I am given to understand on
the very best authority, already blest with a pump and gas. These
the exercise of a moderate degree of popular imagination may easily
regard as the Fountain and Light you propose—and the expense of the

little more to do than support Sootbbt, the hand of the master was
apparent in every movement. " Tippitywitchet" gave Mathews
an opportunity of coming forward more independently in the solo hits,
where his scholarship came out with great freshness and force ; while
the tuttis at the end of each verse enabled every executant to display
some peculiarity for which he is illustrious. In the sneeze, the free-
dom and finish of Mathews told exceedingly well ; while he never
allowed his gushius buoyancy to go beyond that delicate nicety which

monument be saved. Besides, when we have to lay out so much money marks the true artist. Howell did efficient service in the yawn, and
upon Buckingham Palace, how can we—in these hard times—spare a carried his audience with him in a most astonishing manner,
shilling for the monument of a man, whose art, by the way, has not I The dilettanti expressed the most unmeasured delight at the whole

always been a matter of comfort or admiration to the sovereigns of
EnglaDi ? 6
" I remain, my dear Doctor Milman,

" Your'a faithfully,

" Morpeth."

"P.S. Should the monument arise from private funds, I shall feel
myself honoured by being placed among the subscribers."

performance, and evidently take great interest in the success of these
pantomimic unions. We understand that " Hot Codlings " is the next
great work the executants will take in hand, but they do not mean to
present it to the virtuosi until it can be given in that state of perfection
which is due to a composition of such rare magnitude.

Printed by William Bradbury, of No. 6, York Place, Stoke Newington, and Frederick Mullen Evana,
of No. 7, Church Row, Stoke Newington, both iu the County of Middlesex, Printers, at their Office,
in Lombard Street, in the Precinct of Whitefriars, in the City of London, and published by them
at No. So, Fleet Street, in the Parish of St. Bride's, in the City of London.—Sitohdat, Mat 39th, 1*47.