DOI Heft:
May 24, 1856
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16617#0209
Ma? 24, 1856.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 201
COMIC ILLUMINATIONS.
m r» .</ _ ertatnly there is some-
5 thing to be said for,
^ as well as against, the
illumination of the
29th inst. Grant that
the display is felly—
* but folly has been
\ glorified with some-
3 what more than Dutch
j gilt by a famous Hol-
f~ lander, and is, at least,
|4 as the Boman poet in-
»j timates, the right thing
^ when in the right place.
"*, If the illumination can
! be regarded as foolish-
1 ness of this kind, it
1 may deserve to be
" voted for. Serious
folly is seriously ob-
jectionable, and if the
illumination is to come
off, we hope it will not
prove such folly as
^^SHf^^^^1^"'/'//' ^^§|§^=!=i^^ that — will not re-
3 ^^^P^e^r-.-^^^^^- ^ / —:~=^sfe__ semble all previous
^W^^^^^^r^^^mw Nn % § 'zffz^i k J yh==.v- 3* illuminations. They
ijyfcjS^^. ^^fJI^1^^, V^- have always been dull
^^^^SsSr^^^^^i -e-:!EEE^»\ V - .-^rgEZZj affairs; for what is
^^IgiSs^ fpSnj—\ \& ^—it- physical light without
~-—- -% | ^^^--^HT MJmmfflW moral and intellectual
^^^^^^^^^^^^ f ^s=^^~*"^==--^ prTT^^^ brilliancy? What di-
g^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ~^^^3^^ version or amusement
•: •.liv^^^^^Bg^^^^ ^^"w^^^,__^"""^^if stars and crowns,
C7~^~-^~~Z,-ss5P'r~ ^ss^ ^ £^5=2 shamrock and thistle,
\U -SSfe^st " Y. A.," "N. B.,"
and such-like custo-
mary and stale devices, and mottoes and legends, equally stale and customary, which people
have got so familiar with as to regard them with contempt ? Olive-branches and doves in
addition, for the nonce, will make the matter but little livelier. Now, why not, this time,
try and introduce the element of fun into the demonstration of fire ? Why not exhibit comic
instead of pompous transparencies? No more allegories, unless laughably absurd. No
Peace and Plenty. No wreaths and garlands. No swords twined with laurel. Britannia
with her trident will do ; but, instead of ruling the waves with that venerable instrument, let
her be depicted applying it to the use of pitcu
forking her enemies. Let John Bull do duly
for the personification of England as well as
Britannia. The Russian Bear, also, muzzlea,
dancing, and otherwise ridiculously acting and
circumstanced, might afford a store of subjects
for illustration. Many pictorial pleasantries
might also be designed at the expense of the
Peace Party; comic doves for instance, if doves
there are to be; doves in drab-coats and broad-
brimmed hats. To these, caricatures of the
Aberdeen ministry might be added, no doubt
to the extreme delight of the assembled mul-
titude.
The mottoes, also, might be based on a novel
and facetious principle. Discard all constitu-
tional and patriotic bombast. Let us express
our national sentiments in that figurative style
which accords with our national propensity to
" chaff." Suppose, for instance, you arrange
your gaslights and variegated lamps, so as to
embody, in letters of fire, maxims and aspira-
tions of this kind—"Ignorance and Supersti-
tion," " Bigotry and Intolerance," " Slavery and
Inequality," " Civil and Religious Despotism," '
" Censorship of the Press," " Absolute Mon-
archy," "Foreign Yoke," and so forth; guided,
in your selection of principles for assertion, by
the rule of what is popularly termed "over the
left" and "very like a whale." If this plan were
to be adopted, the illumination would be a suc-
cess. It will be a failure, if we aim at magni-
ficence and splendour. We can do no osten-
tation gracefully. Any pageant of any sort that
we may attempt is sure to be ridiculous, whether
with or against our will. Perhaps this is a
fine national peculiarity. Perhaps it springs
from an interior sense of the littleness of the
greatest of human affairs. Perhaps it doesn't
arise from simple want of taste. But it is a
fact. We had better, therefore, go in designedly
for buffoonery and tomfoolery, and get up a good
instead of a bad burlesque ; such a burlesque as
we always make of any parade; such a bur-
lesque as we made the other day of the Pro-
clamation of Peace, by our mock-heroic jumble
and commixture of heraldry with beadledom.
THE ABOMINABLE PRESS.
A Statement of the character and literary direction of the Belgian
Press has already been made to the French Government; but Mr.
Punch, from private sources, is enabled to give another document in
illustration of the system, with the men whose object it is to confound
all order, and to make of the whole civilised world one universal empire,
under the Dictatorship of Chaos ; a worthy well-known to most of the
authorities. We subjoin the names of the papers with their politics.
The Vwmpyre.—Circulation unknown; politics sanguinary; has
expressed a determination to draw blood out of Belgian turnips. Has
hinted that " after all, a Second of December may turn out a First of
April." Edited by a disaffected drummer, who has seen the galleys.
The Goose.—A libellous journal, hissing at all that adorns and
beautifies life. For instance—has been known to insinuate that the
nose of the Empero^r of the French is not descended in a right
line from the Roman emperors.
The Hedgehog— A satirical paper, all its points steeped in vitriol.
Gives essays on the climate and productions of Cayenne; especially
recommending the place to Emperors and Kings in want of a
constitution.
The Brown Bear.—A Russian organ; started to claw England and
France ; but of late given to hug the Emperor of the French.
The Pole-Cat— A. public insulter. Has even raised its back up
Vgainst the Pope, and sometimes spits at the King of Naples. Is
supposed to be in the pay of Cuffy, a refugee English Chartist.
The Beath-Watch.—L rallying paper for all the demagogues of
Europe. A late essay entitled " A certain Flea for a certain Ear,"
even through the thick gauze of allegory, exhibited its diabolical
intentions. Is edited by Marius Brownrigg, a lineal descendant of
Mary Brownrigg executed at Tyburn for the ill-usage of Queen
Anne's children.
The Earwig.—A journal of great ability: has brilliant articles from
tne pen of Cantillon, grocer; the patriot rewarded by Uncle
Napoleon in his will, and paid by Nephew Napoleon in hard cash
for having attempted the assassination of the Duke of Wellington.
With the exception of this last journal, it is expected that the French
Government will demand their immediate suppression; and it is not as
generally expected that Count Vilain the Fourteenth will exclaim
"Never!"
Real Irish Patriots.
The principal object of the "Know-Nothings" in America, is to
oppose the Irish as much as possible. Great alarm has been spread,
therefore, amongst all the respectable classes in Ireland, at the pro-
bable return to that country of all the Irishmen who have left it. There
is a talk of an "Anti-Know-Nothing" party being organised, the
national duty of which will be to provide funds and other acceptable
forms of persuasion, to induce the Irishmen in America by no means
to leave it. If they love their country, they will be implored to remain
where they are.
The Tale of a Taptub.
The Morning Advertiser objects to the Sunday Bands. There is
one piece of music, however, which it would doubtlessly be glad to
countenance—especially if its countenance at the time was framed in
a public-house window—and that is, The Ruler of the Spirits. The
overtuie to be played to give notice to all the sots and drunkards of
the neighbourhood that the publican was about to open his doors.
naval intelligence.
There is a talk of the Prussian Fleet visiting this country. Orders
have been issued by the Admiralty to Messrs. Searles, the boat-
builders of Lambeth, to provide for it every possible accommodation.
One Reason.—Our Puritans object to Sunday music, because it jars
painfully with their habitual love of Discord.
Vol. 30.
7—2
COMIC ILLUMINATIONS.
m r» .</ _ ertatnly there is some-
5 thing to be said for,
^ as well as against, the
illumination of the
29th inst. Grant that
the display is felly—
* but folly has been
\ glorified with some-
3 what more than Dutch
j gilt by a famous Hol-
f~ lander, and is, at least,
|4 as the Boman poet in-
»j timates, the right thing
^ when in the right place.
"*, If the illumination can
! be regarded as foolish-
1 ness of this kind, it
1 may deserve to be
" voted for. Serious
folly is seriously ob-
jectionable, and if the
illumination is to come
off, we hope it will not
prove such folly as
^^SHf^^^^1^"'/'//' ^^§|§^=!=i^^ that — will not re-
3 ^^^P^e^r-.-^^^^^- ^ / —:~=^sfe__ semble all previous
^W^^^^^^r^^^mw Nn % § 'zffz^i k J yh==.v- 3* illuminations. They
ijyfcjS^^. ^^fJI^1^^, V^- have always been dull
^^^^SsSr^^^^^i -e-:!EEE^»\ V - .-^rgEZZj affairs; for what is
^^IgiSs^ fpSnj—\ \& ^—it- physical light without
~-—- -% | ^^^--^HT MJmmfflW moral and intellectual
^^^^^^^^^^^^ f ^s=^^~*"^==--^ prTT^^^ brilliancy? What di-
g^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ~^^^3^^ version or amusement
•: •.liv^^^^^Bg^^^^ ^^"w^^^,__^"""^^if stars and crowns,
C7~^~-^~~Z,-ss5P'r~ ^ss^ ^ £^5=2 shamrock and thistle,
\U -SSfe^st " Y. A.," "N. B.,"
and such-like custo-
mary and stale devices, and mottoes and legends, equally stale and customary, which people
have got so familiar with as to regard them with contempt ? Olive-branches and doves in
addition, for the nonce, will make the matter but little livelier. Now, why not, this time,
try and introduce the element of fun into the demonstration of fire ? Why not exhibit comic
instead of pompous transparencies? No more allegories, unless laughably absurd. No
Peace and Plenty. No wreaths and garlands. No swords twined with laurel. Britannia
with her trident will do ; but, instead of ruling the waves with that venerable instrument, let
her be depicted applying it to the use of pitcu
forking her enemies. Let John Bull do duly
for the personification of England as well as
Britannia. The Russian Bear, also, muzzlea,
dancing, and otherwise ridiculously acting and
circumstanced, might afford a store of subjects
for illustration. Many pictorial pleasantries
might also be designed at the expense of the
Peace Party; comic doves for instance, if doves
there are to be; doves in drab-coats and broad-
brimmed hats. To these, caricatures of the
Aberdeen ministry might be added, no doubt
to the extreme delight of the assembled mul-
titude.
The mottoes, also, might be based on a novel
and facetious principle. Discard all constitu-
tional and patriotic bombast. Let us express
our national sentiments in that figurative style
which accords with our national propensity to
" chaff." Suppose, for instance, you arrange
your gaslights and variegated lamps, so as to
embody, in letters of fire, maxims and aspira-
tions of this kind—"Ignorance and Supersti-
tion," " Bigotry and Intolerance," " Slavery and
Inequality," " Civil and Religious Despotism," '
" Censorship of the Press," " Absolute Mon-
archy," "Foreign Yoke," and so forth; guided,
in your selection of principles for assertion, by
the rule of what is popularly termed "over the
left" and "very like a whale." If this plan were
to be adopted, the illumination would be a suc-
cess. It will be a failure, if we aim at magni-
ficence and splendour. We can do no osten-
tation gracefully. Any pageant of any sort that
we may attempt is sure to be ridiculous, whether
with or against our will. Perhaps this is a
fine national peculiarity. Perhaps it springs
from an interior sense of the littleness of the
greatest of human affairs. Perhaps it doesn't
arise from simple want of taste. But it is a
fact. We had better, therefore, go in designedly
for buffoonery and tomfoolery, and get up a good
instead of a bad burlesque ; such a burlesque as
we always make of any parade; such a bur-
lesque as we made the other day of the Pro-
clamation of Peace, by our mock-heroic jumble
and commixture of heraldry with beadledom.
THE ABOMINABLE PRESS.
A Statement of the character and literary direction of the Belgian
Press has already been made to the French Government; but Mr.
Punch, from private sources, is enabled to give another document in
illustration of the system, with the men whose object it is to confound
all order, and to make of the whole civilised world one universal empire,
under the Dictatorship of Chaos ; a worthy well-known to most of the
authorities. We subjoin the names of the papers with their politics.
The Vwmpyre.—Circulation unknown; politics sanguinary; has
expressed a determination to draw blood out of Belgian turnips. Has
hinted that " after all, a Second of December may turn out a First of
April." Edited by a disaffected drummer, who has seen the galleys.
The Goose.—A libellous journal, hissing at all that adorns and
beautifies life. For instance—has been known to insinuate that the
nose of the Empero^r of the French is not descended in a right
line from the Roman emperors.
The Hedgehog— A satirical paper, all its points steeped in vitriol.
Gives essays on the climate and productions of Cayenne; especially
recommending the place to Emperors and Kings in want of a
constitution.
The Brown Bear.—A Russian organ; started to claw England and
France ; but of late given to hug the Emperor of the French.
The Pole-Cat— A. public insulter. Has even raised its back up
Vgainst the Pope, and sometimes spits at the King of Naples. Is
supposed to be in the pay of Cuffy, a refugee English Chartist.
The Beath-Watch.—L rallying paper for all the demagogues of
Europe. A late essay entitled " A certain Flea for a certain Ear,"
even through the thick gauze of allegory, exhibited its diabolical
intentions. Is edited by Marius Brownrigg, a lineal descendant of
Mary Brownrigg executed at Tyburn for the ill-usage of Queen
Anne's children.
The Earwig.—A journal of great ability: has brilliant articles from
tne pen of Cantillon, grocer; the patriot rewarded by Uncle
Napoleon in his will, and paid by Nephew Napoleon in hard cash
for having attempted the assassination of the Duke of Wellington.
With the exception of this last journal, it is expected that the French
Government will demand their immediate suppression; and it is not as
generally expected that Count Vilain the Fourteenth will exclaim
"Never!"
Real Irish Patriots.
The principal object of the "Know-Nothings" in America, is to
oppose the Irish as much as possible. Great alarm has been spread,
therefore, amongst all the respectable classes in Ireland, at the pro-
bable return to that country of all the Irishmen who have left it. There
is a talk of an "Anti-Know-Nothing" party being organised, the
national duty of which will be to provide funds and other acceptable
forms of persuasion, to induce the Irishmen in America by no means
to leave it. If they love their country, they will be implored to remain
where they are.
The Tale of a Taptub.
The Morning Advertiser objects to the Sunday Bands. There is
one piece of music, however, which it would doubtlessly be glad to
countenance—especially if its countenance at the time was framed in
a public-house window—and that is, The Ruler of the Spirits. The
overtuie to be played to give notice to all the sots and drunkards of
the neighbourhood that the publican was about to open his doors.
naval intelligence.
There is a talk of the Prussian Fleet visiting this country. Orders
have been issued by the Admiralty to Messrs. Searles, the boat-
builders of Lambeth, to provide for it every possible accommodation.
One Reason.—Our Puritans object to Sunday music, because it jars
painfully with their habitual love of Discord.
Vol. 30.
7—2