DOI issue:
July to December, 1853
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16612#0055
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
■33
DELIGHT OP THE GROUSE AT THE PROSPECT OF a LATE SESSION,
PAX VOBISCTJM.
The Irish constituencies being now completely
in the hands of their spiritual advisers, it is
contemplated that henceforth the Speaker’s writ
for a new election in Ireland shall he directed to
the priests of the vacant locality. The Reverend
•gentlemen are to meet (whiskey toddy and
tobacco to be charged to the county), and their
endorsement of then tool’s name on the back
of the writ, without any other form of election,
is to save all the riot and bloodshed which
they now feel it their duty to their Church
and their consciences to cause, if a layman,
Catholic or Protestant, ventures to present
himself to the electors without priestly sanction.
Anything for peace and quietness.
THE farmer’s MAGIC STROP.
The genius of Mr. Mechi has sharpened
many razors:—may it have a corresponding
1 effect upon agricultural blades.
HINTS FOE A NEW EDITION OF THE
DRAMATISTS.
We have been favoured with a glimpse of the note-book of a great
dramatic critic, who evidently contemplates giving, or selling to the
world, a great national treat in the lorm of a new edition of the
dramatists. The annotator seems to combine all the acuteness of the
needle with the straightforward biuntness of the railway buffer. We
subjoin a few specimens :—
NOTE ON THE TRAGEDY OF DOUGLAS.
There is a passage in this play which has escaped the attention of all
critics who have preceded me; a passage which shows Glenalvon to
have been of a social disposition. In one of the scenes with Norval
Glenalvon says (aside),
“ His port I love.”
And, from this remarkable passage, we get three facts: first, that
Glenalvon liked port; secondly, that he had tasted Norval’s port; and,
thirdly, that the port in question was of a high character.
NOTE ON JULIUS C.ESAB,.
The character of Casca has never yet had full justice done to it by
the critics; but there is one passage which may be compared to a
perfect thoroughfare for finding onrway to Casca’s real condition. He
evidently belonged to the landlord or agrarian party in the State, and
there can be no doubt that the terms on which his tenants held of him
were exorbitant. The whole fact bursts in upon us like a thunderbolt
through the roof of an out-house, or a broker through the door of an
apartment with the rent in arrear, when we read the following line,
spoken by Antony in the course of his funeral oration over Caesar :
“ See what a rent the envious Casca made ! ”
Now, this allusion to the rent made by Casca proves either one of
two things : First, that. he let lodgings at a high price ; or, secondly,
that he derived a considerable income from a landed tenantry. I am
inclined to the latter supposition, for it is possible that had he let
merely lodgings, some of the lodgers would have been introduced into
the play, with that nice appreciation of the ludicrous for which
Shakspeare is conspicuous. This not having been done, we are
driven on the other hypothesis, to which, on the whole, we give the
preference.
The above specimens will suffice to show the public the addition that
may he shortly expected to a department and style of literature in
which the English language is already rich—excessively rich—in the
opinion of some of us.
Philosophy Teaching by Conundrums.
Why are diplomatic papers called Circular Notes?—Because they
go round about a subject without coming to any definite end! They
are, moreover, called Circular because they are seldom on the square.
Expensive Spirits.—The estimates of the charge of the disembodied
Militia are heavier than one would expect on the supposition that the
Militia, disembodied, consists of the ghosts of Militiamen.
The Affairs of Turkey.—The Sultan may “lead a life of
jollity: ” but his Minister for Eoreign Affairs is Redschid.
B LUCKS.
The natural history of Bricks is interesting.
We are enabled to trace it without difficulty from very ancient
periods, both with reference to its different structures, and with
reference to building purposes.
It is pleasing to observe how the bitumen was first used, how it was
moulded into lorm, and baked into hardness,. by the heat of the Persian
sun. We can trace it through many of its forms until we come to the
great Roman Brick of nine inches long, three, inches broad, and three
inches thick. We now discover, with the satisl action and pleasure of
the antiquarian, how long these Bricks have endured;, but, for many
years, we were not aware of any application of the Brick, other than
that of strength, stability, ana support of edifices—edifices which,
sometimes, might really raise the question: “ To what extent the
architect for Time meant to contend with Eternity ? ”
We think we are indebted to our Cambridge friends—it may be. to
our Harrow friends, we cannot tell—for the first moral or ethical
application of the word Brick.
How common it has been of late years to say to a man, whose
virtuous tendencies are of the first order, “ My dear fellow, you are a
Brick.” It becomes, however, more emphatic in the usage of the third
person. “Do you know Mr. So-and-So? Is he really a man I
can trust? Is he a good fellow?” The answer in one word is,
“He’s a Brick.” The answer is satisfactory,.in all senses, to the pro-
poundsr of the question—indeed, a more satisfactory reply cannot be
uttered.
We have heard this kind of expression called slang—it really is not so.
Gentlemen, take up your Plutarch, turn to the Life of Agesilaus, and
what do yon read ? You’ll find, if you understand Greek—and if you
don’t, set about learning it immediately, for the purposes of history,
as well as poetry and elevation of thought—that when the Ambassador
from Epirus went to Agesilaus, to have a diplomatic chit-chat with
him, he said to him: “Where on earth are the walls of Sparta?
In other States of Greece the principal towns have walls—but where
are yours, dear Agesilaus?” The Sir Stratford. Canning, or
Lord Cowley, from Epirus, was answered by that amiable monarch :
“I’ll to-morrow at morning dawn shew yon the walls ol Sparta.
Breakfast witli me, old chap; some of the best black soup that Sparta
can afford shall be put on the table ; and I ’ll shew you the walls.”
They met: and Agesilaus had drawn, out his Spartan army before
him, and, with exulting cheer and dignified mien, said , to his friend
from Epirus, “ Look! these are the Walls of Sparta, Sir; and every
particular man you see is a Brick.” How classical becomes the phrase !
how distinct from slang !
We do not say we have translated the great Plutarch literally, but
we have translated him in spirit, and if that great man had been now
living, and could have seen this, he would no doubt have been
delighted, and grateful to ns for our application of history to the
correction of vulgarisms, and to the promotion of sound and sincere
classical literature.
Slight Mistakes.
Why is there such a fuss made about the purchase of benefices, the
possession of pluralities, and the management of bishops to get more
income than they ought to have ? These are all merely cleric
errors.
The “ Vexata Qu^stio.”—“What is a mile ? ”
■33
DELIGHT OP THE GROUSE AT THE PROSPECT OF a LATE SESSION,
PAX VOBISCTJM.
The Irish constituencies being now completely
in the hands of their spiritual advisers, it is
contemplated that henceforth the Speaker’s writ
for a new election in Ireland shall he directed to
the priests of the vacant locality. The Reverend
•gentlemen are to meet (whiskey toddy and
tobacco to be charged to the county), and their
endorsement of then tool’s name on the back
of the writ, without any other form of election,
is to save all the riot and bloodshed which
they now feel it their duty to their Church
and their consciences to cause, if a layman,
Catholic or Protestant, ventures to present
himself to the electors without priestly sanction.
Anything for peace and quietness.
THE farmer’s MAGIC STROP.
The genius of Mr. Mechi has sharpened
many razors:—may it have a corresponding
1 effect upon agricultural blades.
HINTS FOE A NEW EDITION OF THE
DRAMATISTS.
We have been favoured with a glimpse of the note-book of a great
dramatic critic, who evidently contemplates giving, or selling to the
world, a great national treat in the lorm of a new edition of the
dramatists. The annotator seems to combine all the acuteness of the
needle with the straightforward biuntness of the railway buffer. We
subjoin a few specimens :—
NOTE ON THE TRAGEDY OF DOUGLAS.
There is a passage in this play which has escaped the attention of all
critics who have preceded me; a passage which shows Glenalvon to
have been of a social disposition. In one of the scenes with Norval
Glenalvon says (aside),
“ His port I love.”
And, from this remarkable passage, we get three facts: first, that
Glenalvon liked port; secondly, that he had tasted Norval’s port; and,
thirdly, that the port in question was of a high character.
NOTE ON JULIUS C.ESAB,.
The character of Casca has never yet had full justice done to it by
the critics; but there is one passage which may be compared to a
perfect thoroughfare for finding onrway to Casca’s real condition. He
evidently belonged to the landlord or agrarian party in the State, and
there can be no doubt that the terms on which his tenants held of him
were exorbitant. The whole fact bursts in upon us like a thunderbolt
through the roof of an out-house, or a broker through the door of an
apartment with the rent in arrear, when we read the following line,
spoken by Antony in the course of his funeral oration over Caesar :
“ See what a rent the envious Casca made ! ”
Now, this allusion to the rent made by Casca proves either one of
two things : First, that. he let lodgings at a high price ; or, secondly,
that he derived a considerable income from a landed tenantry. I am
inclined to the latter supposition, for it is possible that had he let
merely lodgings, some of the lodgers would have been introduced into
the play, with that nice appreciation of the ludicrous for which
Shakspeare is conspicuous. This not having been done, we are
driven on the other hypothesis, to which, on the whole, we give the
preference.
The above specimens will suffice to show the public the addition that
may he shortly expected to a department and style of literature in
which the English language is already rich—excessively rich—in the
opinion of some of us.
Philosophy Teaching by Conundrums.
Why are diplomatic papers called Circular Notes?—Because they
go round about a subject without coming to any definite end! They
are, moreover, called Circular because they are seldom on the square.
Expensive Spirits.—The estimates of the charge of the disembodied
Militia are heavier than one would expect on the supposition that the
Militia, disembodied, consists of the ghosts of Militiamen.
The Affairs of Turkey.—The Sultan may “lead a life of
jollity: ” but his Minister for Eoreign Affairs is Redschid.
B LUCKS.
The natural history of Bricks is interesting.
We are enabled to trace it without difficulty from very ancient
periods, both with reference to its different structures, and with
reference to building purposes.
It is pleasing to observe how the bitumen was first used, how it was
moulded into lorm, and baked into hardness,. by the heat of the Persian
sun. We can trace it through many of its forms until we come to the
great Roman Brick of nine inches long, three, inches broad, and three
inches thick. We now discover, with the satisl action and pleasure of
the antiquarian, how long these Bricks have endured;, but, for many
years, we were not aware of any application of the Brick, other than
that of strength, stability, ana support of edifices—edifices which,
sometimes, might really raise the question: “ To what extent the
architect for Time meant to contend with Eternity ? ”
We think we are indebted to our Cambridge friends—it may be. to
our Harrow friends, we cannot tell—for the first moral or ethical
application of the word Brick.
How common it has been of late years to say to a man, whose
virtuous tendencies are of the first order, “ My dear fellow, you are a
Brick.” It becomes, however, more emphatic in the usage of the third
person. “Do you know Mr. So-and-So? Is he really a man I
can trust? Is he a good fellow?” The answer in one word is,
“He’s a Brick.” The answer is satisfactory,.in all senses, to the pro-
poundsr of the question—indeed, a more satisfactory reply cannot be
uttered.
We have heard this kind of expression called slang—it really is not so.
Gentlemen, take up your Plutarch, turn to the Life of Agesilaus, and
what do yon read ? You’ll find, if you understand Greek—and if you
don’t, set about learning it immediately, for the purposes of history,
as well as poetry and elevation of thought—that when the Ambassador
from Epirus went to Agesilaus, to have a diplomatic chit-chat with
him, he said to him: “Where on earth are the walls of Sparta?
In other States of Greece the principal towns have walls—but where
are yours, dear Agesilaus?” The Sir Stratford. Canning, or
Lord Cowley, from Epirus, was answered by that amiable monarch :
“I’ll to-morrow at morning dawn shew yon the walls ol Sparta.
Breakfast witli me, old chap; some of the best black soup that Sparta
can afford shall be put on the table ; and I ’ll shew you the walls.”
They met: and Agesilaus had drawn, out his Spartan army before
him, and, with exulting cheer and dignified mien, said , to his friend
from Epirus, “ Look! these are the Walls of Sparta, Sir; and every
particular man you see is a Brick.” How classical becomes the phrase !
how distinct from slang !
We do not say we have translated the great Plutarch literally, but
we have translated him in spirit, and if that great man had been now
living, and could have seen this, he would no doubt have been
delighted, and grateful to ns for our application of history to the
correction of vulgarisms, and to the promotion of sound and sincere
classical literature.
Slight Mistakes.
Why is there such a fuss made about the purchase of benefices, the
possession of pluralities, and the management of bishops to get more
income than they ought to have ? These are all merely cleric
errors.
The “ Vexata Qu^stio.”—“What is a mile ? ”