Punch (64.1873)

126

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[March 22, 1873.

THE SPIRITUAL ART OF SINKING.

v , \^ ff\ \V i'i \ . E have, it appears, heathen

ymL^ \^ \V| IJ in our midst, not only at

/fjj^m \\ 11 III Whitechapel and there-

ffij&mL \._ ■ I fk IJ abouts, but likewise at

Cambridge; and there not
on^ *n borough, but

IK5t~ ^mSg^T^ ■ - — in the University too. A
'-:Uparagraph in the Times

J^^^^3BlK,\ I //' announces that the Bishop

:.y^m^gsS^^j^ \ \ \ V (>f Ely and Bishop

" fMfWt^^^ " i'f Clat/ghton, assisted by

V^C^^aTo 1 il» %. \ m/ some neighbouring clergy-

^M^^^-^jMrl'\ , : men, have been holding a

f \ W^pS^'r* ■ ' number of "Mission Ser-

,/ ' | 1^?ii0lSiv ' vices" for the benefit of

4' %\ JHfiP\X £ both Town and Gown;
IrVs- &»\v/4§i<1lfr:-special addresses having

j^>^ iV^^^^-<^yl^S^":My ^een delivered to both

/k,£\^uV*4^f^^fjiLyB^'' rnen and women, and, at

( >'^ptfflnlr ' yy^^^j^^^^L' re1ues^ °^ students,

^*"f^ri K^^^^^^^T^^^^^- 8^y» services having been
U if2z* "J^jyS^--j^JfpgF3'^ held in College rooms;

■4^*^^™?^ I^f^f-^ besides all which, open-

^Jl i! *j '1 mT ^ PreaCQing' bas been

' iz -^SSh(i conducted in Barnwell;

~^ T*w>- ^7 where, as-elsewhere, let us

^- 1 ^ VVC1' hope that it will have led

to practice. That the
discourses delivered by the Right Reveren'd Prelate and their
reverend auxiliaries to both undergraduates and townsfolk were
of a highly practical nature as a rule, may be inferred from
their connection with certain proceedings, which seem to have
constituted rather an exception. " On Friday afternoon there was
a conference in the Town Hall, the subject being ' The Deepening of
Spiritual Life.' " This statement is unaccompanied by the expla-
nation it requires. What can "The Deepening of Spiritual Life"
possibly mean ? The heightening of spiritual life one understands ;
but can hardly understand its deepening, unless in a sense appa-
rently not contemplated by the Bishop op Ely and the assembly
over which his Lordship presided; namely, that of depression, as
opposed to elevation—a spiritual alacrity at sinking.

The deepening of spiritual life is a phrase which may be considered
to have been illustrated by Milton in plain English, as well as in
grand poetry, where he makes a Spirit, whose spirituality is under
zero, complain of being situated at a profundity such that, ever
sinking, he has "in the lowest deep a lower deep" still yawning
beneath him. Of course the spiritual life which goes on deepening
in this way is just that from which ministration towards the rescue
of their fellow-creatures, as well as endeavour to obtain their own,
is supposed to be the reason of all clergymen's existence.

When the Pilgrim, in the song, runs up the mountain shouting
" Excelsior ! " is that imperfect Latinist to be taken as symbolising
the deepening of spiritual life ? In that case, deepening means
increasing altitude ; and certainly a hill is as deep as it is high : so
is a river or a bowl of punch, or anything else. To deepen, accord-
ing to Dr. Johnson, in a secondary sense, is "to make sad or
gloomy." We should be glad to be assured that a moody countenance,
and black looks, betokening low spirits, are not the characteristic
symptoms of that deepening of spiritual life which was canvassed
the other Friday at the clerical conversazione in the Cambridge
Town Hall. Those are the physiognomical indications of advanced
atrabiliousness, of which a suspicion may be entertained by many
that the deepening of spiritual life is one of the forms. In that
ease, certain doses of calomel, blue-pill, taraxacum, or podo-
phyllin, might be recommended in cases of the deepening of spiritual
life ; an affection expressed in terms of art seeming rather to savour
of the religious novel than of the formularies of the Church of
England.

The Man in Possession.

According to a letter from Berlin, Prince Bismarck will not
consent to the complete evacuation of French territory until the
whole of the indemnity is paid. In the meanwhile, if there were
any such wise men—well, let us say wiseacres, in the French
National Assembly as there are in another place, perhaps, some
of them would propose the abolition of capital punishment on the
ground that France has too much of an execution in the house
already.

" The Best and Cheapest Route for Ireland "—evidently
meaning the Potato.

"A CLERK THERE WAS OF OXENFORDE."

Chaucer.

Mr. Punch is gratified at reading in the Era that a banquet has
been given to Mr. John Oxenford, and that his portrait has also
been presented to him. The majority of those who rendered these
tributes are connected with the Drama. Literature, however, also
owes a debt to a scholar of varied accomplishment, a humorist of
the best type, and, let Mr. Punch add, in these days of "graphic
slip-slop," a writer of pure and admirable English. Mr. P. fills
his own glass to Mr. 0., and ere emptying it, winks, which other-
wise unjustifiable demonstration implies a demand when Mr. Oxen-
ford intends to publish anything more of a Rabelaisian character.
'Tis " looked for at his hand." This said, Mr. Punch who is every-
thing as well as critical, but can also be that, would note that the
gentleman who proposed Mr. Oxenford's health insisted on a fact
in which that gentleman's very highest excellence does not seem
to lie. " It was a proud thing for him to remember that he had
never drawn a tear from one man, woman, or child whom he had
had, in the course of a long career to pass judgment upon in his
official capacity." It is a natural thing that to a theatrical gentle-
man this should seem a very proud thing. Well, as regards " woman
or child," let that pass. No one would willingly make either cry,
except for joy. But as regards " man"—well. Firstly, a man who
blubs over anything that can be written against him is a booby whom
it were gross flattery to call an ass, so we have no compassion for
him. But secondly, who or what is an actor that he is not to be
treated as honestly and severely as a Painter, Sculptor, Author,
Composer, or any other artist? Why is he not to be flagellated, if
he deserves it ? Echo answers that she has not the slightest idea.
But as regards Mr. Oxenford's criticisms, the truth is that he is
a master of the English language, and his criticisms on stupidity,
or vulgarity, or negligence are so deftly conveyed, that while they
are perfectly lucid to those who read between the lines, a stupid,
vulgar, or negligent person fails to comprehend that he is being
scarified. The educated public is informed, and our "blubbing"
friend is still happy. Mr. Oxenford is too well aware of his critical
responsibilities to evade his duty, and those who "are not simple
men" admire alike his perspicacity, and his subtlety of literary art.
There, that's Mr. Punch's speech for the Oxenford banquet, and
now he pledges his friend J. 0. in a cup like unto that of one Friar
John of the Funnels.

LIBERTY AND LICENCE.

Theatrical Managers in general seem pretty well content, on the
whole, that plays and playhouses should continue to be licensed by
the Lord Chamberlain. They do not, apparently, want a Licen-
sing Act passed for the increment of their liberties. They are not
so anxious to be put, as to their licences, on a footing with the pub-
licans, as they should be, if, as we are told, the Public-house Licen-
sing Act " works well." No doubt they would find a Playhouse
Licensing Act "work" equally "well" in the estimation of the
Prigs and Precisians of the Sabbatarian persuasion, most of whom
would like to see theatres shut up as well as taverns on every day
of the week as well as on Sunday, and who will soon, perhaps, begin
to agitate for a Permissive Prohibitory Act to prohibit not only
" intoxicating " liquors, but dramatic performances too.

No Demand for Salmon.

In a summary of the proceedings of the House of Commons on the
eventful night when Mr. Gladstone announced the resignation of
the Ministry, it was not surprising to read at the close, that " No
attention was paid to an entreaty from Mr. Dillwyn that he might
be permitted to carry his Salmon Fisheries Bill a formal stage on."
Members had other fish to fry. Official men had other fishes (and
loaves) to look after.

Something Bright in the Future.

Materfamilias, still mourning over her coal merchant's account,
is most anxious that Parliament should not be dissolved before it
has passed " the Fires Bill," which she was glad to see had been
found so interesting by the House of Commons that they read it a
second time. _

Another Way.

Somebody is advertising a preparation which, among other merits,
is warranted to keep a lady's hand free from chaps. Punch knows
another way to effect this. Let her dress in the present fashion, and
have it known that she has no money. Chaps, if they are sensible
chaps, will let her hand alone very severely.