Punch (30.1856)

THE ORDER OF THE NIGHTINGALE.


Jewelled ornament of great
beauty, which may be worn
as a decoration, has been sent
out to Florence Nightin-
gale by the Queen. Why
should not the gift become the
germ of an Order ?—The Order
of the Nightingale ? Was
there ever a finer occasion, a
nobler opportuniiy for such an
institution ? An institution,
whose sisterhood shall repre-
sent all the womanly virtues ?
—Firmness and tenderness—
patience and readiness—pity
and resignation ? Sure we are
that the "jewelled ornament"
went from the Queen enriched
with a Queen's thanks to sister
woman; sure we are that the
gem did not depart from the
Palace to the hospital—a gift
for the Nightingale—

" Without the meed of some melodious tear."
There have been many Orders for women, many, too, of pretty signi-
ficance ; but surely the Order of the Nightingale instituted by a Queen
on her throne in honour of the Queen of Women at the bedside of
the sick soldier, would go down, pure and lustrous as a star, to
all time.
We say there have been many pretty Orders, but all are as nothing
to the rewarding purpose, the continuing exhortation enshrined in the
Order of the Nightingale. There has been the Order of the Bee,—
buzzing a little saucily—Je suis petite, mais mes piequares sont pro-
fondes. _ " A small thing, with deep sting." How poor is this to
the jug-jug of our Nightingale !
The Order of the Ermine—A Ma Vie, is pretty, and significant of
moral purity. " Be my life even as its ermine coat." But these and
others we might name, however felicitous their origin, however

pretty their device, never had the profound and beautiful story written
for them—rather let us say, acted for them—as that of the Order of
the Nightingale.
As in loyal duty bound, we took very great interest in the installation
of Louis Napoleon, Emperor op the French, as Knight of the
Garter ; but, saving his imperial presence, we shall feel even a stronger
emotion on the installation of Florence of Scutari—the Order hung
about ber neck by Victoria—as the First Lady of the Nightingale.
We have no fear that the Order can ever want Lady Companions.
For this soil of England is somewhat favourable to the production of
such sweet sisterhood; witness our Elizabeth Frys, our Grace
Darlings, women whose names are musical even as the music of the
Nightingale herself.

A PIPING-HOT NOVELTY.
Preliminary puffs are beginning to herald the anticipated blowings
of a "new musical phenomenon," on a penny whistle; and it is
expected that the Londoners will in due season receive the phenomenon,
and pay as liberally for his whistle as the Parisians have done already,
The name of the gifted performer is Picco; and his instrument is a
wooden Piccolo; out of which he gets such wonderful effects, and such
a large measure, that if he wants a few pounds he has nothing to do
but to whistle for it. As " society " makes a point of going mad after
something every year, there is a chance that the Sardinian Piper may
become the subject of nest season's insanity. We regret, for the sake
of the artist, who is unfortunately blind, that the present are not
"piping times ;" but we dare say that his performances, if they are as
clever as they have been represented to be, will abundantly pay the piper.

Europe's Stethescope.
Rothschild has just been examining the Chest of Spain, and he
finds it extremely hollow; labouring under a dreadful oppression,
which, if remedies are not instantly applied, may terminate fatally.
The same medical financier _ reports, that the extreme tightness in
Austria's Chest has greatly diminished since the cure he recommended
for the complaint has been carried out. No sooner was the loan
applied than the patient experienced the greatest relief! The Chest of
Bussia (says the same stethescopic authority) is so very bad, in such
a hopeless condition, that he hopes he shall be spared the pain of
examining it.

Vol. 30.

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