Punch: Punch (56.1869)

154

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI

[April 17, 1869

THE NATION

Having given the Royal Academy a Site large enough to exhibit English Painting

ADEQUATELY, SLODGER, IN GRATITUDE, TATN'I S “ THE FINDING THE DEAD BODY OF HAROLD,”
OF A SIZE BEFITTING THE GRANDEUR OF THE SUBJECT (HIS FAVOURITE ONE), ON THE SPOT

too, and Farmer Cobbley’s Barn makes a capital Studio.

Mrs. Cobbley {very intelligent woman. Mrs. C.). “Ah, I call that so’thin’ like a grand
Pictur’. Why, otjr Artis’s down in our Town here, Mister—Lor’ bless yer, you
MIGHT PUT Half-A-Dozen o’ THEIR PlCTURS INTO A FllYIN’-PAN ! ! ”

Oriental is not in the aggregate easily moved,,
and, least of all, by an infidel show ; and although
there were graceful salutations by upraised hands,
and the most respectful attitude on the part of
the multitude, drawn up as if by order on both
sides of the tortuous streets, not a sign of admi-
ration at the fine sight, or of any emotion at the
aspect of the unusual uniforms, could be detected
on their faces.”

The contrast between this unmoved gra
vity on the part of the Egyptian Public,
with the demonstrative enthusiasm towards
illustrious personages in procession usually
manifested by the British, no doubt afforded
diversion to Her Majesty’s Heir Apparent.
Heartiness is one of the many high qualities
in which the sight-seeing multitude of Eng-
land excels every other people in the whole
world, perhaps not even except the American.
The “ graceful salutations by upraised
hands” witnessed by Dr. Russell, “as
our Prince’s carriage, preceded by outriders
in scarlet and gold, and by mounted cavasses
in full uniform, slowly passed out into the
street,” were doubtless the expressions of
Oriental reverence, but as little can it be
questioned that those other hands by which
“ there were hats and caps raised” pertained
to sojourners in the land of Egypt, natives
of another land, countrymen, indeed, of the
Prince of Wales, and individuals of
exactly the bice class with those who com-
monly figure, performing the like acts, in
the woodcuts representative of similar occa-
sions in the Illustrated London News. Those
of the spectators from whom “ a few cheers
were heard ” were of course the same
persons, or at least belonged to the same
magnanimous nation.

Let cold-blooded aristocrats eulogise the
stolid apathy of Oriental dullards, and call it,
if they will, dignified courtesy ; but Britons
will continue to flourish their hats and caps
in testimony to the pageant which excites
their ardent and irrepressible admiration, to
hail its exalted yet condescending hero with
successive cheers, and respond to his frequent
obeisances right and left with shouts of
“ Bravo! ”

DON’T EORGET THE PARCEL.

Mr. John Lothrop Motley, the delight-
ful historian, is likely, we are told, to come
here as the new representative of the United
States. He will be welcome — he is well
remembered—in fact, we do “ wear Motley
in our Brain.” But Mr. Punch hopes that
' something in the shape of an English tribute
will be offered to that kindly hearted gen-
tleman, Mr. Reverdy Johnson, befqre he is
allowed to go away. He has been assiduously
doing his best to create the international
sympathy which we desire to believe exists,
and if ever a man came under the provi-
sions of the beatitude about peace-makers,.
Mr. Johnson is the man. “Welcome the
coming, speed the parting guest ” is an
admirable social rule, but there will be less
good speed than haste, if we let Mr. Johnson
drive off without our kind regards tied up in
as large a parcel as he would like to add to
his luggage.

Reform your Sailors’ Bills.

THE APATHETIC EGYPTIANS.

The Prince of Wales must have been amused when, the other day, his Royal Highness
went in state from the new Palace at Cairo to the old, thereat to honour with his presence
the levee of Ismail Pasha. Thus writes the Special Correspondent of the Times:—

“ There was a considerable crowd outside the Palace railings as the Prince’s carriage, preceded by out-
: riders in scarlet and gold, and by mounted cavasses in full uniform, slowly passed out into the street to
the sound of the Royal salute, and there were hats and caps raised, and a few cheers were heard ; but the

Writing upon naval retrenchment, as
proposed by Mr. Corry, a contemporary
observes that there are “ mountains of red
tape,” and the like impeding obstacles, for
him to surmount. But what are mountains
to a man who has the staff of Punch to help
him ? Be they high as Alps, all that Punch
need say to vanquish them is merely this
“ 2, Corry, per Alpes ! ”