DOI issue:
July to December, 1854
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16614#0263
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 255
'the great blackguard, the great coward, the great liar, the great nin-
compoop, that lie is so plainly represented at Astley's for our amuse-
ment to be, he decidedly deserves a large share of the kicks lie is
(Judging of him from the absurd way in which he goes on at Jstlei/'s.) i so liberal in distributing to others.
THE CHARACTER OF MENSCHIKOFF
■N appearance Men-
sChikofp | is rather
KrtbutkwondS THE MODEL BAL MASQUE.
cocked-hat that he j That pleasant reunion of the respectable classes, and the better orders
wears with an enor-j morally a3 well as socially, the annual Bal Masque at Drury Lane, came
mous jet d eau ot Qff U1)der the auspices of M. Jullien, this year, with all its customary
leathers mat sn.°°'s : gaiety tempered by refinement. Amid the merry, but decorous throng,
up to some height,. we n0{,jced several families of professional gentlemen and tradesmen, as
ana men lalls ^.Q | Well as persons of higher rank ; and many men, whom we personally
green spray upon ins ^ ^eT had. brought their sisters. The costumes were such as are
shoulders, makes the usua]{y seen at a fancy-dress ball; but, generally speaking, of a lesa
rnnce appear mucn violent and obtrusive character: and exhibited, in their fit, materials, and
taller uhan he really -workmanship, the appearance of havingbeenmadefortheoccasion, rather
is. His coat is ot a f]ian Maj- 0f heing hired from a Masquerade Warehouse. This circum-
nghtma.achue colour, stance deprived that contact with the wearers, which is inevitable in a
ana with proper mill- cr0wded assembly, of the unpleasantness necessarily communicated by
tary precaution it is garments that have been worn by all manner of persons in every imaginable
buttoned close up to condition, and that have most probably been stewing under an
his throat, Menschi- oleaginous heap of frippery, in the repository of a Hebrew inattentive
T*>, ? Pg Vei7i to cleanliness,
f et j i -a Yener s ; Many of the young men wore plain black suits and white ties : and
first duty is to cover though some of those youths, thanks to the early closing movement,
well his front, lhis may have been linen-drapers' assistants, a greater proportion evidently
spinach-coloured gar- were 0f the aristocracy, and not a few, who abstained from actually
ment 1S , elegantly ^2mciag, had all the appearance of curates. A Bishop occupied a
balanced with a pair of glittering epaulettes, as yellow and almost as [priv-ate-box among the spectators.
big as birdcages, and which hang on each side of him like the ; gome of the characters were very cleverly sustained, and lively, vet.
paniers thrown over a donkey s back His large breast is punctuated ; poiished repartee, attended with genial, but never boisterous, mirth,
with every possible order, and. these diamonds, stops and notes ot ad- i was the order of t]ie evening. The general tone of the assembly was
miration follow one another in a straight line m regular succession, that of perfect ease, and perfect propriety ; the unrestrained and correct;
like the long row of bells we see in a lodging-house, when, by accident,
we go down into the kitchen. He wears jack boots worthy of a French
expression of amiability and animal spirits. The refreshments were of
an exquisite quality, and a mild and innocent nature. Subdued and
Postilion, and has long buff-gloves that reach nearly up to his elbow, | ic# magnificence'was the pervading character of the decorations,
and which he is continually pulling back, as though ne were atraid that, ■ -
like the .Russian soldiers, they were going every minute to run away.
The manner of Prince Menschieoff, we regret to say, is not much
more dignified than his appearance. He storms, raves, blusters, and
throws his arms and legs about as absurdly as the Uncle just arrived
from India does in one of the fine old English comedies. He is most
liberal too, with his stamps, counting you out at least a shilling's-
worth at a time. In fact, it must be confessed that the General gives
way to passion worse than any spoilt child. He shouts so loud that
we should be very sorry to be his next door neighbour, and his
behaviour to the servants is so brutal, that we wonder he ever can get
one to stop with him. St. Vladimir have pity on the poor fellow who
has to pull off his boots, when the Prince happens to be in a passion-
The utmost urbanity prevailed, and after a light and moderate supper,
the company separated at a comparatively early hour.
It is a pity that an opportunity of enjoying this delightful and unob-
jectionable species of entertainment is not more frequently afforded tc
young men, desirous of combining an evening's rational amusement
with improvement in the graces, and exercise in the courtesies aus
decencies of life.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL FOR THE CRIMEA.
O Chivalry of England! ye lion-hearted men,
Encamped upon the heights above the Russian Robber's den,
If not a merry Christmas, a glorious one at least,
which, by the by, seems to happen pretty nearly all the tune. His y ,u pend Vlule on those cold bleak hills you hold your slendeS
favourite way ot impressing an order on the understanding ot any one feast
is by kicking him—a kick when the order is given, and another kick ; .
when the order is brought back executed. It is Menschikoff's \ But not a man amongst you can more heartily desire
customary method of salutation : instead of taking off his cocked hat Here with his friends that he could be beside a blazing fire,
to any one, he kicks him. Than we do, safe at home, who eat our pudding and our beef
His humour is not considerable, but it is very peculiar. It consists In peace—thank you, and such as you brave fellows and your chief.
principally in saying "Pooh! Pooh!" to everything that is uttered, | -
and though the extreme facetiousness of this brilliant saying loses :
somewhat on constant repetition, still it comes in with great happiness ; Officers of Distinction.
at times, such as, for instance, when he is contradicting a lady, or — tt ' j r» ■ . , j „„„„+„j nffln0-D w,tu ,
liamncnino- +11p trnn™ ' Wisdom at Head Quarters has decorated our Otncers with
udiau muD Liie uoops ... ' distinctive uniform and plumes of white feathers. This arrangement
Another phase of Ins humour lies in giving utterance to statements ifc u b daV; but it is 0f no use at night
of the most Siberian coolness, and advancing them as truths Thus, a Thprcf ^ * milita/y operation that has to be performed affce
defeat is always paraded as^ a victory, and a drummer, who is taken darkj it ^uM be advisable that every British Officer should wear ■
prisoner is instantly magnified into a Field-Marshal Tens become Hghted lantern on the top of his helmet or cap, and also a blazing bull's,
hundreds hundreds .soon grow into thousands, and the loss of a picquet ° his left breast, Thus the Officer, by night as well as by day,
is equivalent with him to the slaughter of an entire army-of course, y jA bid thc e cMance> aud dare his ability to hit the target or
when the loss is on his own side. These propensities, however, are very : \ "~ "Jr! ,{ c" \-A: K ii>' „„„
diverting, and in a country where all, from the Emperor downwards, send a shot throush thc bul1 b^ e-
are represented as habitual liars, the one man who stood up for the
truth whilst every one else was lying, would certainly appear very sin- Charley's (not) ray Darling,
gular, and would probablv be put down.
However, the worst point in Mr. Menschikoff's character is his in- „SlR Charles Napier in his teiegraphie address to the electors of
vcterate cowardice. You do expect bravery in a Commanding General, Marylebone, takes for his watchword War to the kmie with Russia
and we always thought Menschikoff was'brave, but it is no such thine;. £■al .vefy w,el1 -for, rld « ffi? VVar to the
He is only a brave Beige in his bravery. The sound of cannon, to iVllltc> Jllit ^ he is about to cut it.
which you would imagine he had got by this time tolerably well accus-; —--
tomed, sets him off shaking worse than any closet of china, and the j
sight of an English or French uniform makes him vanish with a speed' PIGS r0R A ™NG MAKKET-
that is highly comical. If he hears the enemy is coming one way, he Ninety tons of pig-lead, shipped for Prussia, have been stopped, to
-uns instantly in the opposite direction, and the only wonder is that thc dismay of his Majesty, as contraband of war. Siiakspeare speaks
remains in the Crimea at all. of the " moblecl Queen." Future commentators (the race is equal to
We can only say, that if Prince Menschikoff is the great simpleton, anything) may read—" Y\g-Iead King
'the great blackguard, the great coward, the great liar, the great nin-
compoop, that lie is so plainly represented at Astley's for our amuse-
ment to be, he decidedly deserves a large share of the kicks lie is
(Judging of him from the absurd way in which he goes on at Jstlei/'s.) i so liberal in distributing to others.
THE CHARACTER OF MENSCHIKOFF
■N appearance Men-
sChikofp | is rather
KrtbutkwondS THE MODEL BAL MASQUE.
cocked-hat that he j That pleasant reunion of the respectable classes, and the better orders
wears with an enor-j morally a3 well as socially, the annual Bal Masque at Drury Lane, came
mous jet d eau ot Qff U1)der the auspices of M. Jullien, this year, with all its customary
leathers mat sn.°°'s : gaiety tempered by refinement. Amid the merry, but decorous throng,
up to some height,. we n0{,jced several families of professional gentlemen and tradesmen, as
ana men lalls ^.Q | Well as persons of higher rank ; and many men, whom we personally
green spray upon ins ^ ^eT had. brought their sisters. The costumes were such as are
shoulders, makes the usua]{y seen at a fancy-dress ball; but, generally speaking, of a lesa
rnnce appear mucn violent and obtrusive character: and exhibited, in their fit, materials, and
taller uhan he really -workmanship, the appearance of havingbeenmadefortheoccasion, rather
is. His coat is ot a f]ian Maj- 0f heing hired from a Masquerade Warehouse. This circum-
nghtma.achue colour, stance deprived that contact with the wearers, which is inevitable in a
ana with proper mill- cr0wded assembly, of the unpleasantness necessarily communicated by
tary precaution it is garments that have been worn by all manner of persons in every imaginable
buttoned close up to condition, and that have most probably been stewing under an
his throat, Menschi- oleaginous heap of frippery, in the repository of a Hebrew inattentive
T*>, ? Pg Vei7i to cleanliness,
f et j i -a Yener s ; Many of the young men wore plain black suits and white ties : and
first duty is to cover though some of those youths, thanks to the early closing movement,
well his front, lhis may have been linen-drapers' assistants, a greater proportion evidently
spinach-coloured gar- were 0f the aristocracy, and not a few, who abstained from actually
ment 1S , elegantly ^2mciag, had all the appearance of curates. A Bishop occupied a
balanced with a pair of glittering epaulettes, as yellow and almost as [priv-ate-box among the spectators.
big as birdcages, and which hang on each side of him like the ; gome of the characters were very cleverly sustained, and lively, vet.
paniers thrown over a donkey s back His large breast is punctuated ; poiished repartee, attended with genial, but never boisterous, mirth,
with every possible order, and. these diamonds, stops and notes ot ad- i was the order of t]ie evening. The general tone of the assembly was
miration follow one another in a straight line m regular succession, that of perfect ease, and perfect propriety ; the unrestrained and correct;
like the long row of bells we see in a lodging-house, when, by accident,
we go down into the kitchen. He wears jack boots worthy of a French
expression of amiability and animal spirits. The refreshments were of
an exquisite quality, and a mild and innocent nature. Subdued and
Postilion, and has long buff-gloves that reach nearly up to his elbow, | ic# magnificence'was the pervading character of the decorations,
and which he is continually pulling back, as though ne were atraid that, ■ -
like the .Russian soldiers, they were going every minute to run away.
The manner of Prince Menschieoff, we regret to say, is not much
more dignified than his appearance. He storms, raves, blusters, and
throws his arms and legs about as absurdly as the Uncle just arrived
from India does in one of the fine old English comedies. He is most
liberal too, with his stamps, counting you out at least a shilling's-
worth at a time. In fact, it must be confessed that the General gives
way to passion worse than any spoilt child. He shouts so loud that
we should be very sorry to be his next door neighbour, and his
behaviour to the servants is so brutal, that we wonder he ever can get
one to stop with him. St. Vladimir have pity on the poor fellow who
has to pull off his boots, when the Prince happens to be in a passion-
The utmost urbanity prevailed, and after a light and moderate supper,
the company separated at a comparatively early hour.
It is a pity that an opportunity of enjoying this delightful and unob-
jectionable species of entertainment is not more frequently afforded tc
young men, desirous of combining an evening's rational amusement
with improvement in the graces, and exercise in the courtesies aus
decencies of life.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL FOR THE CRIMEA.
O Chivalry of England! ye lion-hearted men,
Encamped upon the heights above the Russian Robber's den,
If not a merry Christmas, a glorious one at least,
which, by the by, seems to happen pretty nearly all the tune. His y ,u pend Vlule on those cold bleak hills you hold your slendeS
favourite way ot impressing an order on the understanding ot any one feast
is by kicking him—a kick when the order is given, and another kick ; .
when the order is brought back executed. It is Menschikoff's \ But not a man amongst you can more heartily desire
customary method of salutation : instead of taking off his cocked hat Here with his friends that he could be beside a blazing fire,
to any one, he kicks him. Than we do, safe at home, who eat our pudding and our beef
His humour is not considerable, but it is very peculiar. It consists In peace—thank you, and such as you brave fellows and your chief.
principally in saying "Pooh! Pooh!" to everything that is uttered, | -
and though the extreme facetiousness of this brilliant saying loses :
somewhat on constant repetition, still it comes in with great happiness ; Officers of Distinction.
at times, such as, for instance, when he is contradicting a lady, or — tt ' j r» ■ . , j „„„„+„j nffln0-D w,tu ,
liamncnino- +11p trnn™ ' Wisdom at Head Quarters has decorated our Otncers with
udiau muD Liie uoops ... ' distinctive uniform and plumes of white feathers. This arrangement
Another phase of Ins humour lies in giving utterance to statements ifc u b daV; but it is 0f no use at night
of the most Siberian coolness, and advancing them as truths Thus, a Thprcf ^ * milita/y operation that has to be performed affce
defeat is always paraded as^ a victory, and a drummer, who is taken darkj it ^uM be advisable that every British Officer should wear ■
prisoner is instantly magnified into a Field-Marshal Tens become Hghted lantern on the top of his helmet or cap, and also a blazing bull's,
hundreds hundreds .soon grow into thousands, and the loss of a picquet ° his left breast, Thus the Officer, by night as well as by day,
is equivalent with him to the slaughter of an entire army-of course, y jA bid thc e cMance> aud dare his ability to hit the target or
when the loss is on his own side. These propensities, however, are very : \ "~ "Jr! ,{ c" \-A: K ii>' „„„
diverting, and in a country where all, from the Emperor downwards, send a shot throush thc bul1 b^ e-
are represented as habitual liars, the one man who stood up for the
truth whilst every one else was lying, would certainly appear very sin- Charley's (not) ray Darling,
gular, and would probablv be put down.
However, the worst point in Mr. Menschikoff's character is his in- „SlR Charles Napier in his teiegraphie address to the electors of
vcterate cowardice. You do expect bravery in a Commanding General, Marylebone, takes for his watchword War to the kmie with Russia
and we always thought Menschikoff was'brave, but it is no such thine;. £■al .vefy w,el1 -for, rld « ffi? VVar to the
He is only a brave Beige in his bravery. The sound of cannon, to iVllltc> Jllit ^ he is about to cut it.
which you would imagine he had got by this time tolerably well accus-; —--
tomed, sets him off shaking worse than any closet of china, and the j
sight of an English or French uniform makes him vanish with a speed' PIGS r0R A ™NG MAKKET-
that is highly comical. If he hears the enemy is coming one way, he Ninety tons of pig-lead, shipped for Prussia, have been stopped, to
-uns instantly in the opposite direction, and the only wonder is that thc dismay of his Majesty, as contraband of war. Siiakspeare speaks
remains in the Crimea at all. of the " moblecl Queen." Future commentators (the race is equal to
We can only say, that if Prince Menschikoff is the great simpleton, anything) may read—" Y\g-Iead King