DOI issue:
Volume XXVI
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16613#0185
178
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
THE HEIGHT OF IMPUDENCE.
Blackguard Little Boy {to Queen's Coachman). “ I sat, Coachy, ark you
Engaged ?”
THE DRAMA IN THE SUBURBS.
Every now and then an attempt is made to get np an interest in the metro-
polis for some little theatrical speculation in the suburbs, and we are told by
an advertisement or two that a dramatic season is about to commence at
Greenwich or Richmond, or Kensington as the case may be, with a powerful
company from London. The Theatre Royal Kensington used to he remarkable
for the largeness of its promises and the smallness of its performances; until
a few years_ ago the proprietor, findiug no other chance of filling the pit,
converted it into a public bath, in which condition it knew, for the first, time,
the reality of an overflow. The private boxes were converted into dressing
compartments, and the scenery was transferred to the walls—an arrangement
which enables the bather to swim from the Bay of Naples to Yenice, and back
again, in three minutes and a half with, or without, the friendly aid of corks and
bladders. Instead of a suburban Shylock in a Holywell Street hat and a Hounds-
ditch gaberdine, strutting before the Rialto to a fourpenny pit and a twopenny
gallery, the Kensington schoolboy now gazes on the view of Yenice from the
centre _ of the bath, which his imagination transforms into the middle of the
Adriatic. This illusion is far more complete than any that was produced at the
Kensington theatre in its palmiest dramatic days, when the great tragedian
Mackean had been “ secured ” to perform the highest possible tragedy at the
lowest possible salary.
We have been led into these reflections by an announcement of the opening
of a country theatre with a company of the highest talent from the Theatres
Royal Drury Lane, Lyceum, and Manchester. The names not having been
given in the advertisement, it is possible that the elite of those establishments
may be. performing incog., with a lofty disregard of personal renown which
actors,_ in general, are not distinguished for. The most touching part of the
advertisement is that which intimates that “ an omnibus will be in attendance
at the close of the performances ” to take the audience home. Alas ! we have
seen audiences for which a cab might have been sufficient, and even then the
driver would not have been in a position to charge for an extra passenger.
. Qoert on Cavalry.—If a Colt’s revolver is not a horse pistol, the question
is, whether it ought not to be P
HYMN TO ST. NICHOLAS.
{By his Namesake.)
Saint, of Russia’s empire holy,
Whom as Patron we adore,
See a client, bending lowly,
To thy picture, kiss the floor,
Me, Lieutenant of thy throne.
Me, thy name who likewise own.
Thou the favoured land defendest,
Smelling sweet of tar and pitch ;
Thou thy guardian arm extendest
O’er the race in tallow rich.
Ever be our hides thy care ;
Still preserve our caviare.
Chiefly prosper the incursion
I have made upon the Turk ;
Islam’s surely thy aversion.
Deign to bless the holy work.
Are not we thy special charge,
Whether captive or at large ?
Not for help do I beseech thee
In a Russian’s name alone,
For I trust my prayer will reach thee
In another, no less known,
As pertaining to a class,
Sacred to St. Nicholas.
Thou of all, in every nation,
Art believed the friend to stand
Who subsist through depredation,
By the strong or stealthy hand;
Thou defendest all who seize
On “material guarantees.”
Whether territory grasping.
Or a table, guard me still.
Bless my clutch, whatever clasping,
Stranger’s sticks or subject’s till,
Empire, Ottoman by name.
Or the chattel called the same.
Though I be with foes surrounded.
Though the constables increase,
Let me never be confounded.
Lo ! Great Britain her police
With the French against me bands :
Keep my collar from their hands !
FIRST STEPS IN WARFARE.
The most important military movements that have as yet
taken place have been principally those which have been ac-
complished by the energy and activity of distinguished officers,
figuring in the “Lancers.” These exploits have been per-
formed in the face of balls ; but have not as yet encountered
the opposition of bayonets. The enemy’s flank has not in any
instance been turned, but the opposite party has been met
hand to hand, and driven completely round about. Advancing,
receding, deploying to the right and left, and defiling about the
scene of action with a quick step, have constituted the most
important evolutions. The chasseurs have also distinguished
themselves by chasseing : but it cannot be said that the. steps
hitherto taken in the conduct of hostilities have been limited
to quadrilles ; for those warlike operations have also included
the “War Polka.” We trust, however, soon to hear that
our heroes have finished their galops, and are riding as hard
as they are able after the Russians.
Doubtful Diplomacy.
We are told to take heart from the pleasing fact that the
Duke oe Cambridge visits the Emperor op Austria. Is
the Duke about to startle the world as a diplomatist F We
do not doubt his genius for the duty, but are afraid of his
extreme good-nature. It is an old axiom that you cannot
safely bolt a door with a tallow candle. Neither do we think
that Austria will be induced to load her gun with Cambridge
butter.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
THE HEIGHT OF IMPUDENCE.
Blackguard Little Boy {to Queen's Coachman). “ I sat, Coachy, ark you
Engaged ?”
THE DRAMA IN THE SUBURBS.
Every now and then an attempt is made to get np an interest in the metro-
polis for some little theatrical speculation in the suburbs, and we are told by
an advertisement or two that a dramatic season is about to commence at
Greenwich or Richmond, or Kensington as the case may be, with a powerful
company from London. The Theatre Royal Kensington used to he remarkable
for the largeness of its promises and the smallness of its performances; until
a few years_ ago the proprietor, findiug no other chance of filling the pit,
converted it into a public bath, in which condition it knew, for the first, time,
the reality of an overflow. The private boxes were converted into dressing
compartments, and the scenery was transferred to the walls—an arrangement
which enables the bather to swim from the Bay of Naples to Yenice, and back
again, in three minutes and a half with, or without, the friendly aid of corks and
bladders. Instead of a suburban Shylock in a Holywell Street hat and a Hounds-
ditch gaberdine, strutting before the Rialto to a fourpenny pit and a twopenny
gallery, the Kensington schoolboy now gazes on the view of Yenice from the
centre _ of the bath, which his imagination transforms into the middle of the
Adriatic. This illusion is far more complete than any that was produced at the
Kensington theatre in its palmiest dramatic days, when the great tragedian
Mackean had been “ secured ” to perform the highest possible tragedy at the
lowest possible salary.
We have been led into these reflections by an announcement of the opening
of a country theatre with a company of the highest talent from the Theatres
Royal Drury Lane, Lyceum, and Manchester. The names not having been
given in the advertisement, it is possible that the elite of those establishments
may be. performing incog., with a lofty disregard of personal renown which
actors,_ in general, are not distinguished for. The most touching part of the
advertisement is that which intimates that “ an omnibus will be in attendance
at the close of the performances ” to take the audience home. Alas ! we have
seen audiences for which a cab might have been sufficient, and even then the
driver would not have been in a position to charge for an extra passenger.
. Qoert on Cavalry.—If a Colt’s revolver is not a horse pistol, the question
is, whether it ought not to be P
HYMN TO ST. NICHOLAS.
{By his Namesake.)
Saint, of Russia’s empire holy,
Whom as Patron we adore,
See a client, bending lowly,
To thy picture, kiss the floor,
Me, Lieutenant of thy throne.
Me, thy name who likewise own.
Thou the favoured land defendest,
Smelling sweet of tar and pitch ;
Thou thy guardian arm extendest
O’er the race in tallow rich.
Ever be our hides thy care ;
Still preserve our caviare.
Chiefly prosper the incursion
I have made upon the Turk ;
Islam’s surely thy aversion.
Deign to bless the holy work.
Are not we thy special charge,
Whether captive or at large ?
Not for help do I beseech thee
In a Russian’s name alone,
For I trust my prayer will reach thee
In another, no less known,
As pertaining to a class,
Sacred to St. Nicholas.
Thou of all, in every nation,
Art believed the friend to stand
Who subsist through depredation,
By the strong or stealthy hand;
Thou defendest all who seize
On “material guarantees.”
Whether territory grasping.
Or a table, guard me still.
Bless my clutch, whatever clasping,
Stranger’s sticks or subject’s till,
Empire, Ottoman by name.
Or the chattel called the same.
Though I be with foes surrounded.
Though the constables increase,
Let me never be confounded.
Lo ! Great Britain her police
With the French against me bands :
Keep my collar from their hands !
FIRST STEPS IN WARFARE.
The most important military movements that have as yet
taken place have been principally those which have been ac-
complished by the energy and activity of distinguished officers,
figuring in the “Lancers.” These exploits have been per-
formed in the face of balls ; but have not as yet encountered
the opposition of bayonets. The enemy’s flank has not in any
instance been turned, but the opposite party has been met
hand to hand, and driven completely round about. Advancing,
receding, deploying to the right and left, and defiling about the
scene of action with a quick step, have constituted the most
important evolutions. The chasseurs have also distinguished
themselves by chasseing : but it cannot be said that the. steps
hitherto taken in the conduct of hostilities have been limited
to quadrilles ; for those warlike operations have also included
the “War Polka.” We trust, however, soon to hear that
our heroes have finished their galops, and are riding as hard
as they are able after the Russians.
Doubtful Diplomacy.
We are told to take heart from the pleasing fact that the
Duke oe Cambridge visits the Emperor op Austria. Is
the Duke about to startle the world as a diplomatist F We
do not doubt his genius for the duty, but are afraid of his
extreme good-nature. It is an old axiom that you cannot
safely bolt a door with a tallow candle. Neither do we think
that Austria will be induced to load her gun with Cambridge
butter.