Punch (95.1888)

October 13, 1888.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

179

OUR JAPANNERIES. No. 18.

ON THE STUMP.

Citcech and Stage.—Strictly speaking-, the word "Mummer"
cannot be applied to an Actor, and both in the title Mummer's Wife
"hT iir»clnt artiole "Mummer Worship," with which Mr. Irving
i did well, ^though perhaps not wisely, "to be angry," the word

Mummer is used contemptuous] y of the regular professional Actor,
cut sucli application shows ignorance. '' Momerie'' is defined in the
oest French theatrical dictionary as, " Mascarade, bouffonnerie,
"^yu^em^a de gens masques pour alter danser, jouer, se rejouir."
luiS™ +1 m ummer was Momus, the professional jester, the Merry
^pflT' a iS-TomJ°o1 of the Court of King Jove "in the air, Of the
Se3d Mayor." Let those whom the Mummer's cap fits, wear it,
out most certainly neither Mr. Ieving nor Mr. Wyndhah need be

hurt by anything written against Mummers and mumming. Can
it be true that Henby Ieving refused to speak at the Church
Congress simply because he would have been brought in contact
with Momerie in any shape ? If so, it is a pity, as Momerie in his
own shape at the Congress was in excellent form; and though
with Momerie Mum's the word," yet on this occasion he
spoke out strongly, and did his best with " Pessimism." The
Church Congress, owing to the abstention of the leading Tra-
gedian (his health in a glass of "Pommery," which rhymes to
"Momerie!"), felt some delicacy in dealing with the subject of
Ieving and the Irvingites, and so let it alone. But—aha !—a time
will come!