DOI Heft:
July to December, 1847
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16545#0241
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
229
THE CHINESE DRAMA.
What has become of the Chinese actors? We were told, six months ago,
that an entire theatre had set sail in a junk from Hong Kong; and, after
performing in America, the North Pole, the Canary Islands, and the Grand
Desert, would ultimately give theatrical representations on the Thames. It was
even reported that the Manager, that is to say, the Captain—for the entire crew
was made up of the company—had engaged three arches of Waterloo Bridge
for the purpose of safely anchoring his barge, and protecting his audience from
too great an overflow" when it happened to rain. The greatest excitement
existed everywhere to witness a specimen of the Chinese Drama. One old
gentleman, who knows forty-eight languages and can hardly speak one, actually
took " Six Lessons in Chinese" purposely to appreciate the beauties of the
great Poet Hi-Ski-Hi ; and several of our dramatic authors were _ looking
forward to the arrival of the Junk with its cargo of farces and tragedies, as a
new era in dramatic translation. But all these hopes are blighted. The Junk
■'irrived safe at New York, where, upon giving a morning concert in one of the
docks, the sheriff walked off with it, because the Captain had neglected to pay his
men either their wages as seamen, or their salaries as actors. Thus the Chinese ! The'fun 'of the^game consists"irTits"neve7"coming"To i
Drama was suddenly swamped m a sea of legal difficulties ; and whether it has 1 conclusion,
ever been bailed out since we cannot tell, for the simple reason that we do uot
know.
We have looked into Lloyd's several times, but it gives no news of the Chinese
hidden. The House presents the most animated appearance
while the hunt is going on, and the greatest amusement is
caused by the wild attempts of Members to guess where "the
Pressure" really is hidden. "I've got it!" cries Lord
George, seizing furiously on Pree Trade. " Here it is! "
And he brings to light something, which turns out to be
"Plenty" instead of "Pressure." "Nonsense!" cries Sir
William Molesworth ; " here it is, under Railways;" and
he pulls out "Employment." " It's under Pamine ! " shouts
another Honourable Member. "It's under Bank Restric-
tion !" interpose half-a-dozen Members at once, tumbling
over each other in their eagerness to lug the Act of 1844 out
of its place, to seize on "the Pressure" under it. There is
nothing. The struggle waxes warmer. Lord John grasps
Railways and Pamine at once, in his conviction that they have
hidden the missing object between them. His example is
followed by twenty others. The whole circle of events is
hurled topsy-turvy. Everybody declares he knows exactly
where " the Pressure" is, but somehow nobody catches it.
The other, and equally favourite game, is called Blind
Member's Buff. A Member is blindfolded. The Pressure is
allowed to run about the House, with Pamine, Free Trade,
Junk The reason it has never been Spoken With probably is, because the pig-, Railway Works, the Bank Act, and the others who have just
tailed crew do not understand being hailed in English ; and the British Sailor, we
know, is shamefully ignorant of Ihe rudiments even of the Chinese language.
We are sorry for the company that embarked in the speculation ; and we hope,
if they get over the trying juncture which detains them at New York, 1 hat we
formed the circle for Hunt the Pressure. The object is to
catch the Pressure. Of course the Blinded Member is con-
tinually catching the wrong thing, and the fun of the House
is excessive at his assertions that he has got hold of the
shall have an opportunity soon-somewhere between Battersea and Wapping- pressur„ when he really is graspmg one 0r more of the
of being moved by the stern beaut ies of the Chinese Drama. We are excessively
curious to see how the ballet will be conducted. A deck is not the largest field
in the world for a number of arms and legs to pirouette in ; and we should be
extremely hurt to see the premier si/jet in the bounding moi ements of a pas seul
disappearing down the companion-ladder ; or the Nankin Taglioni executing, in
the buoyancy of her steps, a rapid movement over the bulwaiks, and leaping right
on to the bosom of Old Pather Thames. But the question is, whether they can
dance at all. It is true we have witnessed a Quadrille in skates, and have seen an
Elephant do the Polka; but still it must be much easier to cut out a figure 8 on
bewildering crowd about bin
PRESENTS POR ROYALTY.
If we could really come at the statislics of the matter, we
have no doubt that at the present moment there would be
found, throughout the towns and villages of England, 532
old gentlewomen making pincushions for the Process Royal,
with at least an equal number of the trowsered sex intent upon
the manufacture of toys of some sort for the Prince of Wales.
Not long ago, we had a very affecting instance of the man-
ner in which his Royal Highness is persecuted by a present-
giving people, Sir Denis le Marchant having informed a
would-be donor, that the Royal servants at Windsor and Buck-
ingham Palace had received orders to take in no package
whatever directed to the Royal Children. If the sentries had
received orders to shoot the driver and cad of the Paresis'
Delivery cart, we should not for ourselves have expressed the
least objection to the proceeding.
Nevertheless, as there are so many people intent upon making
presents to Royalty, yet forbidden to do so by direct gifts, we
espy a means by which they may gratify, in a double manner,
their liberal impulses. The thought is not altogether out-
own, but, in a manner, borrowed from the folks of Turin, who,
we learn, are making great preparations for the reception of
Charles Albert. Committees have been nominated to gather
in collections, the produce of which is to be applied to clothe
all the poor, who are "to be presented" to His Majesty.
Now, as Christmas is approaching, let the people—forbidden
to send dolls, pincushions, and peg-tops, to the Royal children
—present them with a few hundred little boys and girls,
deprived of rags and drest with comfort. This, we take it,
would be a very handsome Christmas-box, pleasant and
delightful to all parties.
the most slippery ice, than to cut a double shuffle with a pair of Chinese slippers
on the very smoothest deck. If you ask our opinion, we candidly believe that
tne Onmese ballet has not a leg to stand upon.
PARLIAMENTARY PASTIMES.
Two new games have been introduced into the House of Commons since the
commencement of the extraordinary Session, and played with much spirit bv
-Honourable Members.
The first is called Hunt the Pressure, and is thus plaved —
Members having taken their seats, all the events "of the last two years are
called in and set down oefore the House. They conceal " t he Pressure"
among tnem; and the game consists in finding out under which of them it is
Address to the Quarrelsome Boys of Switzerland:
a slight plagiarism from dr. watts.
Let canine animals delight in mutual barkings, and in
reciprocating injuries with their fangs ; for it is their natural
disposition in this manner to gratify t heir ferocity. Let crea-
tures of the ursine and feline tribes employ themselves
in growling and contention: since they are so constituted as
to take pleasure in these occupations. But you—who among
the great European family may be called children—should never
allow your irascible propensities to be thus aroused. Those
diminutive organs of prehension which yon possess were never
constructed for the laceration of one another's instruments of
vision. ___
Promoted.—The Influenza to be the topic of the day, oiee
the Panic, subsided.
229
THE CHINESE DRAMA.
What has become of the Chinese actors? We were told, six months ago,
that an entire theatre had set sail in a junk from Hong Kong; and, after
performing in America, the North Pole, the Canary Islands, and the Grand
Desert, would ultimately give theatrical representations on the Thames. It was
even reported that the Manager, that is to say, the Captain—for the entire crew
was made up of the company—had engaged three arches of Waterloo Bridge
for the purpose of safely anchoring his barge, and protecting his audience from
too great an overflow" when it happened to rain. The greatest excitement
existed everywhere to witness a specimen of the Chinese Drama. One old
gentleman, who knows forty-eight languages and can hardly speak one, actually
took " Six Lessons in Chinese" purposely to appreciate the beauties of the
great Poet Hi-Ski-Hi ; and several of our dramatic authors were _ looking
forward to the arrival of the Junk with its cargo of farces and tragedies, as a
new era in dramatic translation. But all these hopes are blighted. The Junk
■'irrived safe at New York, where, upon giving a morning concert in one of the
docks, the sheriff walked off with it, because the Captain had neglected to pay his
men either their wages as seamen, or their salaries as actors. Thus the Chinese ! The'fun 'of the^game consists"irTits"neve7"coming"To i
Drama was suddenly swamped m a sea of legal difficulties ; and whether it has 1 conclusion,
ever been bailed out since we cannot tell, for the simple reason that we do uot
know.
We have looked into Lloyd's several times, but it gives no news of the Chinese
hidden. The House presents the most animated appearance
while the hunt is going on, and the greatest amusement is
caused by the wild attempts of Members to guess where "the
Pressure" really is hidden. "I've got it!" cries Lord
George, seizing furiously on Pree Trade. " Here it is! "
And he brings to light something, which turns out to be
"Plenty" instead of "Pressure." "Nonsense!" cries Sir
William Molesworth ; " here it is, under Railways;" and
he pulls out "Employment." " It's under Pamine ! " shouts
another Honourable Member. "It's under Bank Restric-
tion !" interpose half-a-dozen Members at once, tumbling
over each other in their eagerness to lug the Act of 1844 out
of its place, to seize on "the Pressure" under it. There is
nothing. The struggle waxes warmer. Lord John grasps
Railways and Pamine at once, in his conviction that they have
hidden the missing object between them. His example is
followed by twenty others. The whole circle of events is
hurled topsy-turvy. Everybody declares he knows exactly
where " the Pressure" is, but somehow nobody catches it.
The other, and equally favourite game, is called Blind
Member's Buff. A Member is blindfolded. The Pressure is
allowed to run about the House, with Pamine, Free Trade,
Junk The reason it has never been Spoken With probably is, because the pig-, Railway Works, the Bank Act, and the others who have just
tailed crew do not understand being hailed in English ; and the British Sailor, we
know, is shamefully ignorant of Ihe rudiments even of the Chinese language.
We are sorry for the company that embarked in the speculation ; and we hope,
if they get over the trying juncture which detains them at New York, 1 hat we
formed the circle for Hunt the Pressure. The object is to
catch the Pressure. Of course the Blinded Member is con-
tinually catching the wrong thing, and the fun of the House
is excessive at his assertions that he has got hold of the
shall have an opportunity soon-somewhere between Battersea and Wapping- pressur„ when he really is graspmg one 0r more of the
of being moved by the stern beaut ies of the Chinese Drama. We are excessively
curious to see how the ballet will be conducted. A deck is not the largest field
in the world for a number of arms and legs to pirouette in ; and we should be
extremely hurt to see the premier si/jet in the bounding moi ements of a pas seul
disappearing down the companion-ladder ; or the Nankin Taglioni executing, in
the buoyancy of her steps, a rapid movement over the bulwaiks, and leaping right
on to the bosom of Old Pather Thames. But the question is, whether they can
dance at all. It is true we have witnessed a Quadrille in skates, and have seen an
Elephant do the Polka; but still it must be much easier to cut out a figure 8 on
bewildering crowd about bin
PRESENTS POR ROYALTY.
If we could really come at the statislics of the matter, we
have no doubt that at the present moment there would be
found, throughout the towns and villages of England, 532
old gentlewomen making pincushions for the Process Royal,
with at least an equal number of the trowsered sex intent upon
the manufacture of toys of some sort for the Prince of Wales.
Not long ago, we had a very affecting instance of the man-
ner in which his Royal Highness is persecuted by a present-
giving people, Sir Denis le Marchant having informed a
would-be donor, that the Royal servants at Windsor and Buck-
ingham Palace had received orders to take in no package
whatever directed to the Royal Children. If the sentries had
received orders to shoot the driver and cad of the Paresis'
Delivery cart, we should not for ourselves have expressed the
least objection to the proceeding.
Nevertheless, as there are so many people intent upon making
presents to Royalty, yet forbidden to do so by direct gifts, we
espy a means by which they may gratify, in a double manner,
their liberal impulses. The thought is not altogether out-
own, but, in a manner, borrowed from the folks of Turin, who,
we learn, are making great preparations for the reception of
Charles Albert. Committees have been nominated to gather
in collections, the produce of which is to be applied to clothe
all the poor, who are "to be presented" to His Majesty.
Now, as Christmas is approaching, let the people—forbidden
to send dolls, pincushions, and peg-tops, to the Royal children
—present them with a few hundred little boys and girls,
deprived of rags and drest with comfort. This, we take it,
would be a very handsome Christmas-box, pleasant and
delightful to all parties.
the most slippery ice, than to cut a double shuffle with a pair of Chinese slippers
on the very smoothest deck. If you ask our opinion, we candidly believe that
tne Onmese ballet has not a leg to stand upon.
PARLIAMENTARY PASTIMES.
Two new games have been introduced into the House of Commons since the
commencement of the extraordinary Session, and played with much spirit bv
-Honourable Members.
The first is called Hunt the Pressure, and is thus plaved —
Members having taken their seats, all the events "of the last two years are
called in and set down oefore the House. They conceal " t he Pressure"
among tnem; and the game consists in finding out under which of them it is
Address to the Quarrelsome Boys of Switzerland:
a slight plagiarism from dr. watts.
Let canine animals delight in mutual barkings, and in
reciprocating injuries with their fangs ; for it is their natural
disposition in this manner to gratify t heir ferocity. Let crea-
tures of the ursine and feline tribes employ themselves
in growling and contention: since they are so constituted as
to take pleasure in these occupations. But you—who among
the great European family may be called children—should never
allow your irascible propensities to be thus aroused. Those
diminutive organs of prehension which yon possess were never
constructed for the laceration of one another's instruments of
vision. ___
Promoted.—The Influenza to be the topic of the day, oiee
the Panic, subsided.