DOI issue:
January to June, 1846
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16542#0181
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
173
THE NUNS OF MINSK.—TABLEAUX VIVANS.
e understand that several dis-
tinguished lady leaders of
fashion—the Morning Post
has been strangely silent on
the matter—have within the
past week got up certain
Tableaux Vivans (how very
nicely a hit of strong, ner-
vous French buttresses up
the weakness of English !)
intended, just for the novelty
of the thing, to convey a
great moral lesson. The
ladies —all of them Shining
Ones of Almack's — have
taken the subjects of their
Tableaux from the account of
the persecutions of the Nuns
of Minsk, '.he truth of which
has now the imprimatur of a
Rornau Cardinal, deep in the
Basilian mysteries. The ladies,
■who have originated these touching spectacles, mightily distinguished
•themselves at the time of the Emperor of Russia's visit, by their
adoration of the Imperial Goul. Heaven had never before made such
a wonder of a man, and it was to see something like heaven only to
•look upon him. The murmur of his voice was an Open Sesame ! to
all hearts—even to hearts not given to the opening mood—and the
pressure of his hand a foretaste of Paradise. Well, it appears that
these ladies have been visited by a sort of remorse. Not the vulgar,
inconsiderate kind of remorse, that annoys common people ; sticking
thorns through their cotton nightcaps, and making " hedgepigs of
their pillows ;" but a gentle, lady-like sort of remorse ; tapping their
feelings even as they—the white and rosy loves !—would with fan or
glove rebuke some naughty man. Hence, from this polite remorse
have we the Polish Tableaux Vivans ,• that, it is expected, will in a
very little while make the Nuns of Minsk as popular in high life, as
was erst their imperial taskmaster. Indeed it would not surprise us
—to be sure, the Russian Ambassador might effectually remonstrate—
if Mr. Lumley, with an eye to the gratification of his patrons,
should reproduce the Nuns in a ballet. However, without speculating
on the future, let us record the past. It was, no doubt, bad, very
inconsiderate, very naughty of Duchesses and Marchionesses to make
so much of a most delicate monster : nevertheless, what would be a
crime in a mantua-maker, is but a peccadillo in a high lady : for, as
singeth the Btron of poetesses (one who subtly knows every bit of
paint, and how laid on the human porcelain),—for
" The rugged path of sinners (greatly smooth'd by giving dinners)
Can be paved and rail'd away for the feet of finer clay."
a wickedness committed in Covent Garden, is only a "weakness in
May Fair.
The following are a few of the Tableaux presented by ladies, whose
names it is not necessary to give. It may suffice to state that they
were among the most energetic idolaters (sweet fanatics !) of the
Emperor.
Tableau L—Tlw Soldiers driving the Nuns from the altar of their Church.
(" There were thirty-five of us, and when the soldiers received the order to drive us
from the Church, thirty-four rose up; the thirty fifth lay dead before the Host."—
Narrative, p. 14.)
This Tableau was most admirably represented. It was wholly
•designed by a distinguished Duchess, much smiled upon by the
Emperor. The Duchess herself represented Rosajlie Lanszecka, the
dead nun. Nothing could be finer than the mingled expression of
earthly grief and seraphic joy as depicted by the Duchess. It was
most touching ; and (when it found it) absolutely thrilled the heart of
fashionable life. The Duchess would have made a fine actress!
Tableau II.—The Nuns at Witebsk, breaking stones and wheeling barrows.
(" At six we were conducted to our hard labour, which varied according to the season.
At first they made us break stones, and draw them in wheel-barrows, to which we were
chained."—p. 20.)
This scene had a prodigious effect on the beholders. Tears—quite
as bright as the diamonds of the weepers, and, as rarity gives value,
quite as precious—tears flowed from many brilliant eyes. We might
allude to the dignity which the Marchioness of-threw about
her wheelbarrow, but we know that any such eulogy would but offend
a modesty, a gentleness, that she has made a proverb.
Tableau ILL—The Nuns carrying water from the river for the use
of the Czemicks.
(" We carried this water in very heavy copper jars with outstretched arms, lest, as they
said, ' the Polish spirit should pass into the water.' "—p. 29.)
Very admirably was this group composed. The Countess of-
represented the Abbess. Her acting was perfect. It was impossible
to discover, in the resigned, the almost beatific look, and the morally
noble demeanour of the actress for the time, any touch of the manner
of the true Countess .—
" All the greater idolising—all the weaker tyrannising :
Now with knees on stiffen'd hinges—now with servile supple cringes."
There was not a jot of this. It was, for the time, all Abbess, and
nothing of Countess.—
Tableau IV.—The Nuns at work, constructing Siewaszko's palace.
(" It was necessary to draw up to the third floor buckets full of lime; these buckets
were extremely heavy, and only one sister at a time was employed at this work."—p. 38.
The j-outhful Lady-represented the working nun. The
ineffable sweetness of her look—her angelic patience—physical suf-
fering, chastened and elevated by moral will—all was exquisite,
keenly affecting. Had Lady-not already beamed in The Bunk
of Beauty, she would certainly be there (in the habit of a nun) in the
Book fir 18-47.
We have now described a sufficient number of the Tableaux to indi-
cate the spirit and fine taste with which they are produced by the
late worshippers of Nicholas. There is something very fine, very
magnanimous in thus embodying the acts of the Emperor, and thereby
showing his true claim to the respect and affection of the aristo-
cracy of England.
We understand that at the approaching Polish Ball several ladies of
distinction will attend, dressed as the Nuns of Minsk.
THE WAR OF THE ALLOTTEES.
It is with considerable regret we have come to the conclusion that
war must be the result of the position of the Allottees and the Provi-
sional Committee-men. The boundary line is a mere merry-thought
compared with the enormous bone of contention furnished by the railway
lines all over the country. Protocols have passed between the opposing
sections for several months, and treaties have indeed been signed which
the contracting parties now openly repudiate. Everything has been
done in the way of remonstrance and threat, to prevent the actual com-
mencement of hostilities, but all apparently in vain, for a blow has at
length been struck, and an action has positively taken place at Exeter.
We are almost reminded of the struggles of the French Revolution by
these sad encounters which are now on ah sides threatening. Woolmek,
an active member of the Directory, has made war upon Toby, an obsti-
nate Allottee, upon whose fate seems to depend the fortune of the
Stags, whom we may consider as the sans -culottes of this fearful crisis.
The grand policy of the Provisional party, or the Directory, is to make
it appear that the charge of Woolmek upon the unhappy Toby is a
decisive action, by which the campaign is virtually concluded ; every
possible use is therefore being made of this alleged triumph, to over-
awe the Staggery, or Railway sans-culottes, into submission.
These desperate men, who are, in fact, fighting for their liberty,
having nothing else to lose, are determined not to yield, and they reply
to the various summonses to surrender, with which they are served, by
silent contempt, or by expressions of ridicule. Others, who have acci-
dentally or imprudently got into the position of Allottees, exhibit a
firm determination not to be bullied or cajoled into the hquidation of
unjust ciaims, for which they are not liable.
The Provisional Committee, or, at least, their attorneys, have, like
the licentious army of the Sikhs, been revelling in all sorts of excesses,
amidst which an excessive charge for their own trouble is most conspi-
cuous. Having exhausted millions of treasure in their unprincipled
extravagance, they now seek to carry legal fire and sword, in the shape
of writ and declaration, into the camp of the Allottees, in order to
recover part of the enormous losses that have been incurred by causi-
dical wastefulness and avarice
The Allottees have more to apprehend from their own fears than from
the strength, either moral or legal, of their enemies.
The gallant Toby, who has manfully stood up against the pitiless fire
of the impetuous Woolmek, though he may seem to have afforded an
advantage to the enemy, has, in fact, only laid the groundwork of their
final discomfiture.
Woolmek may confidently expect a sad reverse before the question
at issue is finally settled, and Toby may expect a vote of thanks from
the Stags, in commemoration of his valorous resistance.
173
THE NUNS OF MINSK.—TABLEAUX VIVANS.
e understand that several dis-
tinguished lady leaders of
fashion—the Morning Post
has been strangely silent on
the matter—have within the
past week got up certain
Tableaux Vivans (how very
nicely a hit of strong, ner-
vous French buttresses up
the weakness of English !)
intended, just for the novelty
of the thing, to convey a
great moral lesson. The
ladies —all of them Shining
Ones of Almack's — have
taken the subjects of their
Tableaux from the account of
the persecutions of the Nuns
of Minsk, '.he truth of which
has now the imprimatur of a
Rornau Cardinal, deep in the
Basilian mysteries. The ladies,
■who have originated these touching spectacles, mightily distinguished
•themselves at the time of the Emperor of Russia's visit, by their
adoration of the Imperial Goul. Heaven had never before made such
a wonder of a man, and it was to see something like heaven only to
•look upon him. The murmur of his voice was an Open Sesame ! to
all hearts—even to hearts not given to the opening mood—and the
pressure of his hand a foretaste of Paradise. Well, it appears that
these ladies have been visited by a sort of remorse. Not the vulgar,
inconsiderate kind of remorse, that annoys common people ; sticking
thorns through their cotton nightcaps, and making " hedgepigs of
their pillows ;" but a gentle, lady-like sort of remorse ; tapping their
feelings even as they—the white and rosy loves !—would with fan or
glove rebuke some naughty man. Hence, from this polite remorse
have we the Polish Tableaux Vivans ,• that, it is expected, will in a
very little while make the Nuns of Minsk as popular in high life, as
was erst their imperial taskmaster. Indeed it would not surprise us
—to be sure, the Russian Ambassador might effectually remonstrate—
if Mr. Lumley, with an eye to the gratification of his patrons,
should reproduce the Nuns in a ballet. However, without speculating
on the future, let us record the past. It was, no doubt, bad, very
inconsiderate, very naughty of Duchesses and Marchionesses to make
so much of a most delicate monster : nevertheless, what would be a
crime in a mantua-maker, is but a peccadillo in a high lady : for, as
singeth the Btron of poetesses (one who subtly knows every bit of
paint, and how laid on the human porcelain),—for
" The rugged path of sinners (greatly smooth'd by giving dinners)
Can be paved and rail'd away for the feet of finer clay."
a wickedness committed in Covent Garden, is only a "weakness in
May Fair.
The following are a few of the Tableaux presented by ladies, whose
names it is not necessary to give. It may suffice to state that they
were among the most energetic idolaters (sweet fanatics !) of the
Emperor.
Tableau L—Tlw Soldiers driving the Nuns from the altar of their Church.
(" There were thirty-five of us, and when the soldiers received the order to drive us
from the Church, thirty-four rose up; the thirty fifth lay dead before the Host."—
Narrative, p. 14.)
This Tableau was most admirably represented. It was wholly
•designed by a distinguished Duchess, much smiled upon by the
Emperor. The Duchess herself represented Rosajlie Lanszecka, the
dead nun. Nothing could be finer than the mingled expression of
earthly grief and seraphic joy as depicted by the Duchess. It was
most touching ; and (when it found it) absolutely thrilled the heart of
fashionable life. The Duchess would have made a fine actress!
Tableau II.—The Nuns at Witebsk, breaking stones and wheeling barrows.
(" At six we were conducted to our hard labour, which varied according to the season.
At first they made us break stones, and draw them in wheel-barrows, to which we were
chained."—p. 20.)
This scene had a prodigious effect on the beholders. Tears—quite
as bright as the diamonds of the weepers, and, as rarity gives value,
quite as precious—tears flowed from many brilliant eyes. We might
allude to the dignity which the Marchioness of-threw about
her wheelbarrow, but we know that any such eulogy would but offend
a modesty, a gentleness, that she has made a proverb.
Tableau ILL—The Nuns carrying water from the river for the use
of the Czemicks.
(" We carried this water in very heavy copper jars with outstretched arms, lest, as they
said, ' the Polish spirit should pass into the water.' "—p. 29.)
Very admirably was this group composed. The Countess of-
represented the Abbess. Her acting was perfect. It was impossible
to discover, in the resigned, the almost beatific look, and the morally
noble demeanour of the actress for the time, any touch of the manner
of the true Countess .—
" All the greater idolising—all the weaker tyrannising :
Now with knees on stiffen'd hinges—now with servile supple cringes."
There was not a jot of this. It was, for the time, all Abbess, and
nothing of Countess.—
Tableau IV.—The Nuns at work, constructing Siewaszko's palace.
(" It was necessary to draw up to the third floor buckets full of lime; these buckets
were extremely heavy, and only one sister at a time was employed at this work."—p. 38.
The j-outhful Lady-represented the working nun. The
ineffable sweetness of her look—her angelic patience—physical suf-
fering, chastened and elevated by moral will—all was exquisite,
keenly affecting. Had Lady-not already beamed in The Bunk
of Beauty, she would certainly be there (in the habit of a nun) in the
Book fir 18-47.
We have now described a sufficient number of the Tableaux to indi-
cate the spirit and fine taste with which they are produced by the
late worshippers of Nicholas. There is something very fine, very
magnanimous in thus embodying the acts of the Emperor, and thereby
showing his true claim to the respect and affection of the aristo-
cracy of England.
We understand that at the approaching Polish Ball several ladies of
distinction will attend, dressed as the Nuns of Minsk.
THE WAR OF THE ALLOTTEES.
It is with considerable regret we have come to the conclusion that
war must be the result of the position of the Allottees and the Provi-
sional Committee-men. The boundary line is a mere merry-thought
compared with the enormous bone of contention furnished by the railway
lines all over the country. Protocols have passed between the opposing
sections for several months, and treaties have indeed been signed which
the contracting parties now openly repudiate. Everything has been
done in the way of remonstrance and threat, to prevent the actual com-
mencement of hostilities, but all apparently in vain, for a blow has at
length been struck, and an action has positively taken place at Exeter.
We are almost reminded of the struggles of the French Revolution by
these sad encounters which are now on ah sides threatening. Woolmek,
an active member of the Directory, has made war upon Toby, an obsti-
nate Allottee, upon whose fate seems to depend the fortune of the
Stags, whom we may consider as the sans -culottes of this fearful crisis.
The grand policy of the Provisional party, or the Directory, is to make
it appear that the charge of Woolmek upon the unhappy Toby is a
decisive action, by which the campaign is virtually concluded ; every
possible use is therefore being made of this alleged triumph, to over-
awe the Staggery, or Railway sans-culottes, into submission.
These desperate men, who are, in fact, fighting for their liberty,
having nothing else to lose, are determined not to yield, and they reply
to the various summonses to surrender, with which they are served, by
silent contempt, or by expressions of ridicule. Others, who have acci-
dentally or imprudently got into the position of Allottees, exhibit a
firm determination not to be bullied or cajoled into the hquidation of
unjust ciaims, for which they are not liable.
The Provisional Committee, or, at least, their attorneys, have, like
the licentious army of the Sikhs, been revelling in all sorts of excesses,
amidst which an excessive charge for their own trouble is most conspi-
cuous. Having exhausted millions of treasure in their unprincipled
extravagance, they now seek to carry legal fire and sword, in the shape
of writ and declaration, into the camp of the Allottees, in order to
recover part of the enormous losses that have been incurred by causi-
dical wastefulness and avarice
The Allottees have more to apprehend from their own fears than from
the strength, either moral or legal, of their enemies.
The gallant Toby, who has manfully stood up against the pitiless fire
of the impetuous Woolmek, though he may seem to have afforded an
advantage to the enemy, has, in fact, only laid the groundwork of their
final discomfiture.
Woolmek may confidently expect a sad reverse before the question
at issue is finally settled, and Toby may expect a vote of thanks from
the Stags, in commemoration of his valorous resistance.