DOI issue:
July to December, 1853
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16612#0166
155
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
OUR CITY ARTICLE.
MODERN MYTHOLOGY.
HE present financial crisis ap-
pears to demand from Mr. Punch
one of those Money Articles with
which he has stepped forward
in other times of difficulty, and
which have instantly restored
stability and confidence. Regard-
less, therefore, of his own per-
sonal comfort, he attended the
Stock Market one day during the
past week.
Mr. Punch was struck by the
exceeding helplessness of the
gentlemen in whose hands is
the political thermometer, better
known as the Eunds. They dis-
played an avidity in grasping
at the slightest hint, which was
only equalled by the hurry with
which they sprang awtiy to do
something, before they compre-
hended the real bearing of the
information. Indeed, if these
gentlemen of the Stock Exchange
waited until they understood the
actual tendency of the events
upon which they deal, some of
them might wait long enough.
Mr. Punch casually remarked to a friend that “Aberdeen was out this morning,” and
there was a rush of fifty men eager to buy on account of the good news. Had they paused
to hear Mr. Punch add, “walking in Kensington Gardens,” they might have spared their
trouble. Subsequently, the same gentleman was heard to say, “ Not so tight as it was.”
Away hurried the correspondents of the papers, and told everybody that. the tightness
of the market -was disappearing. Mr. Punch merely alluded to his hat, which had been a
little uncomfortable until he had his hair cut. “ Will open flal ly,” an observation Mr. Punch
simply applied to the Princess’s Theatre, was construed into a prophecy of the state of the
Market next day, and business was done accordingly. But 1 he greatest coup, and one for
which Mr. Gladstone owes Mr. Punch a good turn, was the latter gentleman’s saying, as he
left the Exchange, “ Those new Stocks are the best, because they always keep up so well.”
The new creations, for whose non-popularity the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been
much twitted bv financiers who do not know discount from premium, immediately sprang
into activity, and yet Mr. Punch's remark was simply apropos of his friend’s wearing a
rather seedy tie round his neck. He hopes that Exchequer Bill, as the Right Hon.
William is rather irreverently called in the City, will remember this good service next
time Mr. Punch hints that it is time the duty should come off paper.
While the news was favourable to Russia, the Bears were very elate, but as soon as
it was known that Punch had declared against Aberdeen and for an English policy, the Bulls
exulted. Siiakspere was quoted at random, but usually wrongly. The jobbers were scarce,
owing to the Irish Brigade being ont of the country. There was a rumour that a large
operator had come, but it turned out to be only a fat surgical practitioner who had mistaken
his way, and was, of course, exposed, to the graceful jocularity of the House. A Bank
Director came on and made some practical jokes, from which it was surmised that the Bank
reserve was very small. Prices jumped about on every side, and so did little boys, whom
the beadle chased, declaring be would have them there at no price. Some of the speculators
appeared very uneasy, especially those who had a good way to go home, and thought it was
going to rain. Binally, Mr. Punch was informed that things dosed with much firmness at
four, but he believes this must apply to the gates.
Under all circumstances, Mr. Punch strongly advises hdders to be neither rash nor fearful,
while sellers should abstain alike from temerity and timidity. All parties bad better be
guided by circumstances, and not attempt to lay down Medo-Persian rules for themselves.
Let Prudence be their beacon, and Wisdom their chart. They will do well to w'atch the course
of events, but not to surmise that they understand them, •while at the same time taking care
not to shut their eyes to contingencies. A thing may happen, or it may not, but the wise
man will discern the sisns of the times. By following this advice, which Mr. Punch has
carefully framed upon the model of what is given by all the recognised financial authorities,
he has no doubt that through the shoals of the present crisis the Bark of Public Confidence
may be steered into the haven of prosperity.
One ot our serious contemporaries, in re-
cording a fashionable marriage, describes the
bride as “led to the hymeiueal altar,” The
nuptial rites were celebrated at St. George’s,
Hanover Square; and we are further informed
that the Rey. Berry M. Huntingdon officiated.
We did not know that the priests of Hymen
were styled Beverend, nor were we aware that
the divinity in question had any altar in
St. George’s church.
WHAT THE “BRITISH GRENADIER •' IS
INEVITABLY COMING TO.
Some talk of Alexander, and some of Peri-
cles,
Of Hector and Lysander, and such old Guys
as these ;
But of all the horrid objects, the “wust”I do
declare.
Is the Pmsso-Rnsso-Belgo-Gallo-British Grena-
dier.
THE IMPERTINENCE OF SCIENCE.
Somebody has invented an instrument which he calls a Lunarium, and which is calculated
to look so very closely into the Moon’s face, that the Moon’s age—exact to a quarter of an
-'tour—may be discovered. Really this seems hardly fair towards the Moon, for it ought to
oe remembered that
“ Luna, Luna, Luna’s a lady ’
and no lady—at least none of our acquaintance—could stand against the force of an instrument
so powerful as to detect every furrow, wrinkle, or even crease in her countenance. It is all
very well for the sons of science to be continually staring Luna in the face, through the
medium of powerful telescopes ; but having satisfied themselves of the “ Moon’s Age,” they
might surely be satisfied without continually publishing the fact for the gratification of an
impertinent curiosity.
Integrity of Foreign Powers,
Tiie preservation of the integrity of the
Ottoman Empire is no doubt a very important
object; but a matter of no less consequence
is the restoration of the integrity of the Kingdom
of Spain, which it has lost in cheating its
creditors.
patriotism of the first water.
Mr. Erancis Maguire talks of “patriots
of the purest water.” Pity is it that such water
so seldom comes out of the Liffey.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
OUR CITY ARTICLE.
MODERN MYTHOLOGY.
HE present financial crisis ap-
pears to demand from Mr. Punch
one of those Money Articles with
which he has stepped forward
in other times of difficulty, and
which have instantly restored
stability and confidence. Regard-
less, therefore, of his own per-
sonal comfort, he attended the
Stock Market one day during the
past week.
Mr. Punch was struck by the
exceeding helplessness of the
gentlemen in whose hands is
the political thermometer, better
known as the Eunds. They dis-
played an avidity in grasping
at the slightest hint, which was
only equalled by the hurry with
which they sprang awtiy to do
something, before they compre-
hended the real bearing of the
information. Indeed, if these
gentlemen of the Stock Exchange
waited until they understood the
actual tendency of the events
upon which they deal, some of
them might wait long enough.
Mr. Punch casually remarked to a friend that “Aberdeen was out this morning,” and
there was a rush of fifty men eager to buy on account of the good news. Had they paused
to hear Mr. Punch add, “walking in Kensington Gardens,” they might have spared their
trouble. Subsequently, the same gentleman was heard to say, “ Not so tight as it was.”
Away hurried the correspondents of the papers, and told everybody that. the tightness
of the market -was disappearing. Mr. Punch merely alluded to his hat, which had been a
little uncomfortable until he had his hair cut. “ Will open flal ly,” an observation Mr. Punch
simply applied to the Princess’s Theatre, was construed into a prophecy of the state of the
Market next day, and business was done accordingly. But 1 he greatest coup, and one for
which Mr. Gladstone owes Mr. Punch a good turn, was the latter gentleman’s saying, as he
left the Exchange, “ Those new Stocks are the best, because they always keep up so well.”
The new creations, for whose non-popularity the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been
much twitted bv financiers who do not know discount from premium, immediately sprang
into activity, and yet Mr. Punch's remark was simply apropos of his friend’s wearing a
rather seedy tie round his neck. He hopes that Exchequer Bill, as the Right Hon.
William is rather irreverently called in the City, will remember this good service next
time Mr. Punch hints that it is time the duty should come off paper.
While the news was favourable to Russia, the Bears were very elate, but as soon as
it was known that Punch had declared against Aberdeen and for an English policy, the Bulls
exulted. Siiakspere was quoted at random, but usually wrongly. The jobbers were scarce,
owing to the Irish Brigade being ont of the country. There was a rumour that a large
operator had come, but it turned out to be only a fat surgical practitioner who had mistaken
his way, and was, of course, exposed, to the graceful jocularity of the House. A Bank
Director came on and made some practical jokes, from which it was surmised that the Bank
reserve was very small. Prices jumped about on every side, and so did little boys, whom
the beadle chased, declaring be would have them there at no price. Some of the speculators
appeared very uneasy, especially those who had a good way to go home, and thought it was
going to rain. Binally, Mr. Punch was informed that things dosed with much firmness at
four, but he believes this must apply to the gates.
Under all circumstances, Mr. Punch strongly advises hdders to be neither rash nor fearful,
while sellers should abstain alike from temerity and timidity. All parties bad better be
guided by circumstances, and not attempt to lay down Medo-Persian rules for themselves.
Let Prudence be their beacon, and Wisdom their chart. They will do well to w'atch the course
of events, but not to surmise that they understand them, •while at the same time taking care
not to shut their eyes to contingencies. A thing may happen, or it may not, but the wise
man will discern the sisns of the times. By following this advice, which Mr. Punch has
carefully framed upon the model of what is given by all the recognised financial authorities,
he has no doubt that through the shoals of the present crisis the Bark of Public Confidence
may be steered into the haven of prosperity.
One ot our serious contemporaries, in re-
cording a fashionable marriage, describes the
bride as “led to the hymeiueal altar,” The
nuptial rites were celebrated at St. George’s,
Hanover Square; and we are further informed
that the Rey. Berry M. Huntingdon officiated.
We did not know that the priests of Hymen
were styled Beverend, nor were we aware that
the divinity in question had any altar in
St. George’s church.
WHAT THE “BRITISH GRENADIER •' IS
INEVITABLY COMING TO.
Some talk of Alexander, and some of Peri-
cles,
Of Hector and Lysander, and such old Guys
as these ;
But of all the horrid objects, the “wust”I do
declare.
Is the Pmsso-Rnsso-Belgo-Gallo-British Grena-
dier.
THE IMPERTINENCE OF SCIENCE.
Somebody has invented an instrument which he calls a Lunarium, and which is calculated
to look so very closely into the Moon’s face, that the Moon’s age—exact to a quarter of an
-'tour—may be discovered. Really this seems hardly fair towards the Moon, for it ought to
oe remembered that
“ Luna, Luna, Luna’s a lady ’
and no lady—at least none of our acquaintance—could stand against the force of an instrument
so powerful as to detect every furrow, wrinkle, or even crease in her countenance. It is all
very well for the sons of science to be continually staring Luna in the face, through the
medium of powerful telescopes ; but having satisfied themselves of the “ Moon’s Age,” they
might surely be satisfied without continually publishing the fact for the gratification of an
impertinent curiosity.
Integrity of Foreign Powers,
Tiie preservation of the integrity of the
Ottoman Empire is no doubt a very important
object; but a matter of no less consequence
is the restoration of the integrity of the Kingdom
of Spain, which it has lost in cheating its
creditors.
patriotism of the first water.
Mr. Erancis Maguire talks of “patriots
of the purest water.” Pity is it that such water
so seldom comes out of the Liffey.