DOI issue:
July to December, 1847
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16545#0164
152
A FRAGMENT.
[ the rafters : the smallest morsel of one of its bricks. Thus considered,
every man and woman may,_ we repeat it, become fractionally, a house-
hold proprietor; leaving his and her property to the generations that
are to follow. And, moreover, thus fame will await upon all subscribers.
For " it is the intention of the Committees to print hereafter a com-
plete list of the subscribers, with their addresses." Hence, though a
man give but a shilling, his name will make part of the contents of this
libra d'oro. Is not this reputation "made easy" to the lowest moneyed
capacity ? Will it not be something to bequeath even a brick of Shak-
speare's house ? Will it not be something to be made the heir of such
a property ? And this may be done at any cost, from one hundred
pounds to one shilling ! Nevertheless, there is plenty room at the
treasurer's table --room alike for coronets and paper-caps.
MONEY NEVER WAS SO SCARCE."
We cannot help thinking that several persons have availed them-
selves of the scarcity of money as a welcome pretext for sending in
their bills, and asking for " something on account." Christmas has-
this year been anticipated two full months. October, which used gene-
rally to be a quiet month, has been disturbed by all the dunning
characteristics of January, and the excuse of every one who has
invaded our "rest" with an application ''for a trifle," has uniformly
been that " money never was so scarce."
Bills, which used rarely to present themselves before New Year's
Day, come every hour rushing in upon us, and they are all backed with
the same apology, " Money never was so scarce."
Our Johnny came up yesterday and actually asked for his quarter's-
| wages, which are not due till December. "Money," he said, " never
! was so scarce."
Our eldest son, to whom we make a handsome allowance every half-
year, made the same appeal, though it was only in August that we paid
him a stupendous sum m bank-notes.—But what could we do ? The
;|And will you always—always, dearest Albbric, love hi: thus I" said I dear boy put his arm round our neck, and playing with the one or two
Constance. i hairs we have left on our bald head, said, in his manliest tone, " I can
5 )3
Ever, while this heart beats with urn!" passionately fxclaimed 1 assure you, Governor, ' money never was so scarce
Albbric. Our dear wife, too, who has no reason to complain of the sum she
draws from us every week, is sure to stop our mouth directly, if we cry
out against the growing increase of the housekeeping expenses, with the
popular chorus of "Money never was so scarce," accompanied with the
benign recommendation "not to be a screw."
The same song is sung by persons who are indebted to us. We
cannot get a penny of the innumerable debts of honour which are down
upon our books. Young Snaffle, who owes us a considerable sum on
this year's Derby, cannot pay us, for he says, " Money never was so
The pleasing intelligence conveyed in the above pithy extract, makes j |car^ !" A1110ufr 10-V'S ^e worthless ; they might as well be Spanish
part of an advertisement in the newspapers. We say, pleasing mtelli- ! }°^> for WH fwef sha]I }>%. able to get upon them Our publisher
gence, because it conveys to the heads (and tails) of the nation-to ™}As* ^script of ours (Five Minutes m the Life of a Ruilway Stacj)
high and low-the glad assurance that everybody has yet a chance of W\ j^l v 7° • i ™ harm ln as^S ^r £500 on account, as
becoming a part proprietor of the House of Shakspeare, leaving his 1 )ve bad not touched a single sixpence, and the whole of the copy is in
share in the mansion to his descendants in perpetuity. Now, here is ; but the answer' confound it !-was, Mr. -s compliments
an intellectual luxury-here is a parcel of the importance of property ! money never was so scarce &c, &c
-made very cheap. When Mill another age-we ask it-be blessed .^f sbould not wonder that the reason why the eclipse was not
with such another opportunity ? Why, not till another Shakspeare I yislble ™ LanAm was because money was so scarce. It wasn t going
1 to show itself ior nothing!
" Then could you lend ne five pounds V murmured the
really things are so bad in the Cnv, that I," &c. &<\, &c.
PURCHASE OF SHAKSPEARE'S HOUSE.
" The fund is now £1400 deficient."—Thomas Amyot.
shall have arisen—died—and left another messuage for posterity
The subscription list does not, as yet, brim with the radiant names
of many noblemen. Mr. Peter Cunningham, treasurer, is not yet in
possession of many aristocratic autographs emblazoned on Bank
cheques : but, we think we can account for this. We are inclined to
believe that it is modesty-—sheer reserve—that prevents the great
body of the nobility from deluging Mr. Cunningham with showers of
gold and silver; or, as they make stage snow, with showers of Bank-
note paper.
Lord Morpeth, in his historical answer to the Committee, averred
it to be his opinion that " Shakspeare's House belonged to the people
of England lather than to the Government." The British aristocracy
have, we fear, adopted this opinion a little too uncompromisingly.
Hence, they do not feel disposed to press forward to the pay-table, lest
they should seem to desire to buy up among themselves that which
really belongs to the great body of the nation. There is a deference, a
modesty in this, that is rather touching. Nevertheless, we feel it to be
our duty to reassure the timid.
And therefore—Dukes and Marquesses and Earls, and Barons of
England—take heart, and take out your purses. While there is time,
come forward; _ or, it may chance, that the ready-money vulgar may—
without intending such a slight—take the matter to themselves, and,
Duying up the whole of Shakspeare's homestead, leave you without a
single stake—as it is called—in the property.
However, should the nobility and moneyed folks of England fail to
put down their pounds, let the million come forward with their shillings.
It will—at the cost of only twelve-pence—be a pleasant fancy to a poor
man to know that when he dies, he bequeaths to his successors twelve-
pennyworth of the house of Shakspeare. A mere splinter of one of
JULLIEN'S CONCERTS.
We must do Jullien the justice to say that his Promenade Concerts
furnish a most satisfactory contrast to some other places we could
name, where, under the cover of music and dancing, aids are afforded to
the gratification of every low and snobbish propensity- At Drury Lane
we meet no dancing clerks and shop-boys, hquidating their own or
perhaps their masters' money, in sherry-cobblers; nor do we find
Venuses who, instead of being formed from the froth of the sea, belong
more likely to the scum of the earth, as a great authority has suggested.
We have, therefore, no objection to patronise Jullien in his present
effort, notwithstanding his recent tour in the Swiss Mountains to
study the lowing of the cows, and pick up curious musical instruments
—including, of course, cows' horns—which the Swiss Quadrille is
intended to take advantage of. We hear that he obtained not only
the real Runz des Vaches, but the original score of the actual tune that
the identical cow positively died of. This curious piece of harmony
runs through no less than five bars, and comprises a sort of five-barred
gate, or introduction to some brisker movements.
The instruments collected by Jullien in his tour in Switzerland,
would, we believe, fill three wheelbarrows, but he has not been able to
introduce the whole of them.
Punches Street Directory.—The nearest way to Holywell Street
is through the wardrobe of the Princess's Theatre.
A FRAGMENT.
[ the rafters : the smallest morsel of one of its bricks. Thus considered,
every man and woman may,_ we repeat it, become fractionally, a house-
hold proprietor; leaving his and her property to the generations that
are to follow. And, moreover, thus fame will await upon all subscribers.
For " it is the intention of the Committees to print hereafter a com-
plete list of the subscribers, with their addresses." Hence, though a
man give but a shilling, his name will make part of the contents of this
libra d'oro. Is not this reputation "made easy" to the lowest moneyed
capacity ? Will it not be something to bequeath even a brick of Shak-
speare's house ? Will it not be something to be made the heir of such
a property ? And this may be done at any cost, from one hundred
pounds to one shilling ! Nevertheless, there is plenty room at the
treasurer's table --room alike for coronets and paper-caps.
MONEY NEVER WAS SO SCARCE."
We cannot help thinking that several persons have availed them-
selves of the scarcity of money as a welcome pretext for sending in
their bills, and asking for " something on account." Christmas has-
this year been anticipated two full months. October, which used gene-
rally to be a quiet month, has been disturbed by all the dunning
characteristics of January, and the excuse of every one who has
invaded our "rest" with an application ''for a trifle," has uniformly
been that " money never was so scarce."
Bills, which used rarely to present themselves before New Year's
Day, come every hour rushing in upon us, and they are all backed with
the same apology, " Money never was so scarce."
Our Johnny came up yesterday and actually asked for his quarter's-
| wages, which are not due till December. "Money," he said, " never
! was so scarce."
Our eldest son, to whom we make a handsome allowance every half-
year, made the same appeal, though it was only in August that we paid
him a stupendous sum m bank-notes.—But what could we do ? The
;|And will you always—always, dearest Albbric, love hi: thus I" said I dear boy put his arm round our neck, and playing with the one or two
Constance. i hairs we have left on our bald head, said, in his manliest tone, " I can
5 )3
Ever, while this heart beats with urn!" passionately fxclaimed 1 assure you, Governor, ' money never was so scarce
Albbric. Our dear wife, too, who has no reason to complain of the sum she
draws from us every week, is sure to stop our mouth directly, if we cry
out against the growing increase of the housekeeping expenses, with the
popular chorus of "Money never was so scarce," accompanied with the
benign recommendation "not to be a screw."
The same song is sung by persons who are indebted to us. We
cannot get a penny of the innumerable debts of honour which are down
upon our books. Young Snaffle, who owes us a considerable sum on
this year's Derby, cannot pay us, for he says, " Money never was so
The pleasing intelligence conveyed in the above pithy extract, makes j |car^ !" A1110ufr 10-V'S ^e worthless ; they might as well be Spanish
part of an advertisement in the newspapers. We say, pleasing mtelli- ! }°^> for WH fwef sha]I }>%. able to get upon them Our publisher
gence, because it conveys to the heads (and tails) of the nation-to ™}As* ^script of ours (Five Minutes m the Life of a Ruilway Stacj)
high and low-the glad assurance that everybody has yet a chance of W\ j^l v 7° • i ™ harm ln as^S ^r £500 on account, as
becoming a part proprietor of the House of Shakspeare, leaving his 1 )ve bad not touched a single sixpence, and the whole of the copy is in
share in the mansion to his descendants in perpetuity. Now, here is ; but the answer' confound it !-was, Mr. -s compliments
an intellectual luxury-here is a parcel of the importance of property ! money never was so scarce &c, &c
-made very cheap. When Mill another age-we ask it-be blessed .^f sbould not wonder that the reason why the eclipse was not
with such another opportunity ? Why, not till another Shakspeare I yislble ™ LanAm was because money was so scarce. It wasn t going
1 to show itself ior nothing!
" Then could you lend ne five pounds V murmured the
really things are so bad in the Cnv, that I," &c. &<\, &c.
PURCHASE OF SHAKSPEARE'S HOUSE.
" The fund is now £1400 deficient."—Thomas Amyot.
shall have arisen—died—and left another messuage for posterity
The subscription list does not, as yet, brim with the radiant names
of many noblemen. Mr. Peter Cunningham, treasurer, is not yet in
possession of many aristocratic autographs emblazoned on Bank
cheques : but, we think we can account for this. We are inclined to
believe that it is modesty-—sheer reserve—that prevents the great
body of the nobility from deluging Mr. Cunningham with showers of
gold and silver; or, as they make stage snow, with showers of Bank-
note paper.
Lord Morpeth, in his historical answer to the Committee, averred
it to be his opinion that " Shakspeare's House belonged to the people
of England lather than to the Government." The British aristocracy
have, we fear, adopted this opinion a little too uncompromisingly.
Hence, they do not feel disposed to press forward to the pay-table, lest
they should seem to desire to buy up among themselves that which
really belongs to the great body of the nation. There is a deference, a
modesty in this, that is rather touching. Nevertheless, we feel it to be
our duty to reassure the timid.
And therefore—Dukes and Marquesses and Earls, and Barons of
England—take heart, and take out your purses. While there is time,
come forward; _ or, it may chance, that the ready-money vulgar may—
without intending such a slight—take the matter to themselves, and,
Duying up the whole of Shakspeare's homestead, leave you without a
single stake—as it is called—in the property.
However, should the nobility and moneyed folks of England fail to
put down their pounds, let the million come forward with their shillings.
It will—at the cost of only twelve-pence—be a pleasant fancy to a poor
man to know that when he dies, he bequeaths to his successors twelve-
pennyworth of the house of Shakspeare. A mere splinter of one of
JULLIEN'S CONCERTS.
We must do Jullien the justice to say that his Promenade Concerts
furnish a most satisfactory contrast to some other places we could
name, where, under the cover of music and dancing, aids are afforded to
the gratification of every low and snobbish propensity- At Drury Lane
we meet no dancing clerks and shop-boys, hquidating their own or
perhaps their masters' money, in sherry-cobblers; nor do we find
Venuses who, instead of being formed from the froth of the sea, belong
more likely to the scum of the earth, as a great authority has suggested.
We have, therefore, no objection to patronise Jullien in his present
effort, notwithstanding his recent tour in the Swiss Mountains to
study the lowing of the cows, and pick up curious musical instruments
—including, of course, cows' horns—which the Swiss Quadrille is
intended to take advantage of. We hear that he obtained not only
the real Runz des Vaches, but the original score of the actual tune that
the identical cow positively died of. This curious piece of harmony
runs through no less than five bars, and comprises a sort of five-barred
gate, or introduction to some brisker movements.
The instruments collected by Jullien in his tour in Switzerland,
would, we believe, fill three wheelbarrows, but he has not been able to
introduce the whole of them.
Punches Street Directory.—The nearest way to Holywell Street
is through the wardrobe of the Princess's Theatre.