DOI Heft:
Volume XXVI
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16613#0250
244
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
JENKINS AT A FASHIONABLE WEDDING.
nrn-R-R is a season for whitebait, a season
for oysters, a season for “ baked-taturs,”
and there is a season for Jenkins, who is
coming out with a richness of flavour that
will justify our serving him up from time
to time to our readers as an occasional dish
or entree. We propose to dress him in his
own sauce, and garnish him in his own
artificial flowers. We shall not give the
public too much of him, for Jenkins re-
lieved by Jenkins, would be as bad as
calf’s head replaced by calf’s head.
The marriage of the Earl of Durham
and the Lady Beatrice Hamilton, fur-
nished a theme recently for the genius of
Jenkins, who sets out by announcing that
“ The event which unites the noble houses of
Lambton and Hamilton creates ties of relationship
between a number of our most ancient and distin-
guished families.”
We like the majestic mode in which father Jenkins, taking at once
the plural and parental characters of royalty, adopts as “ours” a
number of tlie most ancient and distinguished families. These families
appear to be raised to an elevation even more than Royal, by the
recognition bestowed on them by Jenkins, who says—
It has been our lot to be present at the performance of the hymeneal ceremony,
when the bride and bridegroom represented the very highest families next to Royalty,
and when even Royalty itself attended to do honour to the occasion ; but in no instance
whatever, within our recollection, has the general body ot visitors included so large a
portion of the elite of society.”
There was, in fact, such a crush of aristocracy,
“ That many noble individuals who, under ordinary circumstances, would have been
accommodated near the altar, had to take their chance in those parts of the sacred
building appropriated to free seats, &c.”
We were not aware that, “under ordinary circumstances,” the aris-
tocracy were drawn up into a position near the altar, which we thought
was usually appropriated to the charity children, though we can under-
stand the sympathy Jenkins must feel with those who “ had to
take their chance in the free-seats,” a chance to which—after carrying
the Prayer Books to the door of a pew—he must have been often
subjected.
It is clear that Jenkins did not immediately force his way into the
church, for we find him as usual, hanging about the railings, or
occupying, perhaps, one of his ordinary posts—a lamp-post in the
vicinity. “At eleven o’clock,” he says, “ the company began to arrive,”
and for three-quarters of an hour a long succession of carriages were
“ setting down.” It is extremely probable that, during these three-
quarters of an hour Jenkins himself experienced “ a setting down ”
more than once from the police, whose duty it was to keep off the
pressure of impertinent curiosity from the guests at the wedding.
“ Some little difficulty,” adds Jenkins, “ occurred in marshalling and
disposing of the equipages,” a difficulty which must have made Jenkins
burn to display bis abilities in calling up and ordering off the various
vehicles. The narrative proceeds to inform ns that
“ The bridegroom, accompanied by his ‘ best man,’ arrived in an ordinary brougham.
His lordship was not recognised by the public outside, and entered the church
unnoticed.”
How is this, Jenkins F There has been an unpardonable omission on
your part, for if you recognised “his lordship,” a timely shout from
yourself of “ Hollo, boys, hollo ! ” would have at once been responded
to, and your remark on the bridegroom having “ entered the church
unnoticed” would not have been justified.
Jenkins and the crowd soon found something with which they
were familiar, for
“ The well-known Hamilton crimson liveries were immediately recognised, and the
occupants of the carriages were respectfully greeted by the crowd.”
These carriages we are told “ consisted of three coaches belonging to
the Marquis of Abercorn’s private establishment.” We were not
aware that the Marquis had any public establishment of coaches, and
though we have beard of some peers being job-masters on a very large
scale, we do not believe that in this instance the imputation which the
awkwardness of Jenkins clumsily suggests, is at all justified.
After describing the contents of the first two carriages, and giving
rather impertinently the age of one of the bridesmaids, Jenkins tells
us that
“ The last carriage of all contained the infant Lady Maude Hamilton, completing
the interesting, and perhaps unexampled group of six sister bridesmaids.”
Does Jenkins mean to tell us that “the infant” was alone in the
coach ? for if such was the case, it is to he regretted that the Chan-
cellor, who has ex officio the care of infants, did not appoint somebody
to represent “ the infant ” on this interesting occasion.
Next follows a burst of admiration in which all the footman declares
itself. The passage ought to be written on plush, in gold lace letters,
with a margin of livery lace, punctuated with aiguilettes for commas,
a couple of livery buttons for a colon, and a cockade for a period. L
runs thus:
“ As the coaches decked in the gorgeous paraphernalia—heraldic and emblematic—
which symbolise the honours of 1 our old nobility,’ dashed up to the vestibule, the
effect was really grand, and forcibly illustrated the difference between substantial
magnificence, and the gingerbread glitter sometimes got up for purposes of mere
display.”
We should like to know what other “ purpose ” than “ mere display ”
was to be served on this occasion, and how the “ gorgeous parapher-
nalia, heraldic and emblematic,” emblazoned on the panels ol the
coaches, the harness of the horses, and the liveries of the footmen,
differed from the ordinary quality of “gingerbread glitter” which
Jenkins, for a moment forgetting his shoulder-knot, seems to look
down upon.
Jenkins is much struck by the tableau that now presents itself.
“ Immediately behind the parents of the bride were the bridesmaids standing in
order according to their ages and stations, and forming a charmingly picturesque
group.”
We have heard of a set of “ jugs in sizesbut a set of bridesmaids
“ in sizes,” is a novelty that is more appropriate to ordinary earthen-
ware, than to the very aristocratic clay here alluded to. The occasion
appears to have given rise to an effect not unlike a tableau vivant, or a
group at Madame Tussaud’s. "We are told by Jenkins that—
“ The friends who stood around had, by some involuntary and fortuitous arrange-
ment of their places, so disposed and grouped themselves, as unconsciously to form a
highly artistic tableau."
How are we to know that the grouping was the effect of chance ;
and may we not presume that a wedding of so much distinction had
had the benefit of a dress rehearsal, with a view to that perfection of the
mise en scene which seems to have been accomplished F We decline to
follow Jenkins in his personalities, but we must ask—though we know
we shall ask in vain—for an explanation of the following paragraph :
“ The features of the venerable Countess op Haddington, crowned with the
reverend honours of age, contrasted touchi ngly with those of the brilliant beauty of
the younger ladies present.”
We cannot exactly see how age can be said to crown features with
“ honours,” though age, we know, plays sad “ tricks ” with the features
of all of us. It is bad enough of Jenkins to force himself into the balls
and staircases of the fashionable world, but it is really unpardonable of
him to ransack the bridal trousseau for the purpose of publishing a list
of the presents given to the bride on her marriage. How the porters
allowed him to rummage among the luggage of the newly wedded pair,
is quite unaccountable, and the extent of his curiosity may be inferred
from his announcement that “a bracelet inlaid with hair was the
present of the younger members of the bride’s family.” The lady’s
maid certainly deserved to lose her place for having given Jenkins
access to her lady’s jewel-box. The present, however, that seems to
have possessed the highest interest for Jenkins, was one to which he
himself had probably been a contributor. It consisted of “ an envelope
case and blotting book,” which had been purchased by a subscription
from the wages of all the domestics in Lord Abercorn’s establish-
ment ; and their young “ Missus ” cannot make a better use of it
than to blot out the recollection of the account given by her too
obsequious domestic of her recent marriage.
CLASSICAL DEBATERS.
Caligula or Nero ?
Who’s right, and who’s amiss ?
That, Thesiger, ’s your hero.
And Gladstone, yours ij this.
But to talk of ancient Romans,
Your notes yon should compare.
With your Bacchus, Mars, ApoL-de-roi,
And your Doctor Lempriere.
Unity is (not always) Strength.
When Shakespeare spoke of—
“ —A voice potential,
As double as the Duke’s,”
he would seem to have made prophetic allusion to the double voice
which the Duke of Newcastle may be supposed to have in the
Government, in pursuance of bis double office of War and Colonial
Minister. _
The Russian Eleets.—The Emperor of Russia is such a rogue,
that, if his sailors are worthy of their sovereign, his navy ought to be
spell with a K.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
JENKINS AT A FASHIONABLE WEDDING.
nrn-R-R is a season for whitebait, a season
for oysters, a season for “ baked-taturs,”
and there is a season for Jenkins, who is
coming out with a richness of flavour that
will justify our serving him up from time
to time to our readers as an occasional dish
or entree. We propose to dress him in his
own sauce, and garnish him in his own
artificial flowers. We shall not give the
public too much of him, for Jenkins re-
lieved by Jenkins, would be as bad as
calf’s head replaced by calf’s head.
The marriage of the Earl of Durham
and the Lady Beatrice Hamilton, fur-
nished a theme recently for the genius of
Jenkins, who sets out by announcing that
“ The event which unites the noble houses of
Lambton and Hamilton creates ties of relationship
between a number of our most ancient and distin-
guished families.”
We like the majestic mode in which father Jenkins, taking at once
the plural and parental characters of royalty, adopts as “ours” a
number of tlie most ancient and distinguished families. These families
appear to be raised to an elevation even more than Royal, by the
recognition bestowed on them by Jenkins, who says—
It has been our lot to be present at the performance of the hymeneal ceremony,
when the bride and bridegroom represented the very highest families next to Royalty,
and when even Royalty itself attended to do honour to the occasion ; but in no instance
whatever, within our recollection, has the general body ot visitors included so large a
portion of the elite of society.”
There was, in fact, such a crush of aristocracy,
“ That many noble individuals who, under ordinary circumstances, would have been
accommodated near the altar, had to take their chance in those parts of the sacred
building appropriated to free seats, &c.”
We were not aware that, “under ordinary circumstances,” the aris-
tocracy were drawn up into a position near the altar, which we thought
was usually appropriated to the charity children, though we can under-
stand the sympathy Jenkins must feel with those who “ had to
take their chance in the free-seats,” a chance to which—after carrying
the Prayer Books to the door of a pew—he must have been often
subjected.
It is clear that Jenkins did not immediately force his way into the
church, for we find him as usual, hanging about the railings, or
occupying, perhaps, one of his ordinary posts—a lamp-post in the
vicinity. “At eleven o’clock,” he says, “ the company began to arrive,”
and for three-quarters of an hour a long succession of carriages were
“ setting down.” It is extremely probable that, during these three-
quarters of an hour Jenkins himself experienced “ a setting down ”
more than once from the police, whose duty it was to keep off the
pressure of impertinent curiosity from the guests at the wedding.
“ Some little difficulty,” adds Jenkins, “ occurred in marshalling and
disposing of the equipages,” a difficulty which must have made Jenkins
burn to display bis abilities in calling up and ordering off the various
vehicles. The narrative proceeds to inform ns that
“ The bridegroom, accompanied by his ‘ best man,’ arrived in an ordinary brougham.
His lordship was not recognised by the public outside, and entered the church
unnoticed.”
How is this, Jenkins F There has been an unpardonable omission on
your part, for if you recognised “his lordship,” a timely shout from
yourself of “ Hollo, boys, hollo ! ” would have at once been responded
to, and your remark on the bridegroom having “ entered the church
unnoticed” would not have been justified.
Jenkins and the crowd soon found something with which they
were familiar, for
“ The well-known Hamilton crimson liveries were immediately recognised, and the
occupants of the carriages were respectfully greeted by the crowd.”
These carriages we are told “ consisted of three coaches belonging to
the Marquis of Abercorn’s private establishment.” We were not
aware that the Marquis had any public establishment of coaches, and
though we have beard of some peers being job-masters on a very large
scale, we do not believe that in this instance the imputation which the
awkwardness of Jenkins clumsily suggests, is at all justified.
After describing the contents of the first two carriages, and giving
rather impertinently the age of one of the bridesmaids, Jenkins tells
us that
“ The last carriage of all contained the infant Lady Maude Hamilton, completing
the interesting, and perhaps unexampled group of six sister bridesmaids.”
Does Jenkins mean to tell us that “the infant” was alone in the
coach ? for if such was the case, it is to he regretted that the Chan-
cellor, who has ex officio the care of infants, did not appoint somebody
to represent “ the infant ” on this interesting occasion.
Next follows a burst of admiration in which all the footman declares
itself. The passage ought to be written on plush, in gold lace letters,
with a margin of livery lace, punctuated with aiguilettes for commas,
a couple of livery buttons for a colon, and a cockade for a period. L
runs thus:
“ As the coaches decked in the gorgeous paraphernalia—heraldic and emblematic—
which symbolise the honours of 1 our old nobility,’ dashed up to the vestibule, the
effect was really grand, and forcibly illustrated the difference between substantial
magnificence, and the gingerbread glitter sometimes got up for purposes of mere
display.”
We should like to know what other “ purpose ” than “ mere display ”
was to be served on this occasion, and how the “ gorgeous parapher-
nalia, heraldic and emblematic,” emblazoned on the panels ol the
coaches, the harness of the horses, and the liveries of the footmen,
differed from the ordinary quality of “gingerbread glitter” which
Jenkins, for a moment forgetting his shoulder-knot, seems to look
down upon.
Jenkins is much struck by the tableau that now presents itself.
“ Immediately behind the parents of the bride were the bridesmaids standing in
order according to their ages and stations, and forming a charmingly picturesque
group.”
We have heard of a set of “ jugs in sizesbut a set of bridesmaids
“ in sizes,” is a novelty that is more appropriate to ordinary earthen-
ware, than to the very aristocratic clay here alluded to. The occasion
appears to have given rise to an effect not unlike a tableau vivant, or a
group at Madame Tussaud’s. "We are told by Jenkins that—
“ The friends who stood around had, by some involuntary and fortuitous arrange-
ment of their places, so disposed and grouped themselves, as unconsciously to form a
highly artistic tableau."
How are we to know that the grouping was the effect of chance ;
and may we not presume that a wedding of so much distinction had
had the benefit of a dress rehearsal, with a view to that perfection of the
mise en scene which seems to have been accomplished F We decline to
follow Jenkins in his personalities, but we must ask—though we know
we shall ask in vain—for an explanation of the following paragraph :
“ The features of the venerable Countess op Haddington, crowned with the
reverend honours of age, contrasted touchi ngly with those of the brilliant beauty of
the younger ladies present.”
We cannot exactly see how age can be said to crown features with
“ honours,” though age, we know, plays sad “ tricks ” with the features
of all of us. It is bad enough of Jenkins to force himself into the balls
and staircases of the fashionable world, but it is really unpardonable of
him to ransack the bridal trousseau for the purpose of publishing a list
of the presents given to the bride on her marriage. How the porters
allowed him to rummage among the luggage of the newly wedded pair,
is quite unaccountable, and the extent of his curiosity may be inferred
from his announcement that “a bracelet inlaid with hair was the
present of the younger members of the bride’s family.” The lady’s
maid certainly deserved to lose her place for having given Jenkins
access to her lady’s jewel-box. The present, however, that seems to
have possessed the highest interest for Jenkins, was one to which he
himself had probably been a contributor. It consisted of “ an envelope
case and blotting book,” which had been purchased by a subscription
from the wages of all the domestics in Lord Abercorn’s establish-
ment ; and their young “ Missus ” cannot make a better use of it
than to blot out the recollection of the account given by her too
obsequious domestic of her recent marriage.
CLASSICAL DEBATERS.
Caligula or Nero ?
Who’s right, and who’s amiss ?
That, Thesiger, ’s your hero.
And Gladstone, yours ij this.
But to talk of ancient Romans,
Your notes yon should compare.
With your Bacchus, Mars, ApoL-de-roi,
And your Doctor Lempriere.
Unity is (not always) Strength.
When Shakespeare spoke of—
“ —A voice potential,
As double as the Duke’s,”
he would seem to have made prophetic allusion to the double voice
which the Duke of Newcastle may be supposed to have in the
Government, in pursuance of bis double office of War and Colonial
Minister. _
The Russian Eleets.—The Emperor of Russia is such a rogue,
that, if his sailors are worthy of their sovereign, his navy ought to be
spell with a K.