Punch: Punch (32.1857)

50 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI [January 31, 1857.

COOL REQUEST.

lady Crinoline. "You won't mind Riding on the Box, Edward dear, "will ygu?—I'm afraid, if we botii go inside the

Brougham, my New Dress will get so rumpled!"

" THE PLAYHOUSE IS IN PL AMES ! "

Our Conservative contemporary, the Press, who has suddenly dis-
covered that it is his duty to be a Destructive, in regard to what he
calls "theatrical humbug," is pleased to remark that he has received

" Abuse for daring to say that most theatrical notices were puffs secured by
management, that most theatrical audiences, by their impartial attendance at good
performances and vile ones, show that they neither care for nor comprehend the
difference, and that several actors and actresses are by no means, the marvels they
allege themselves to be."

We should rather think he had. Is lie surprised at it ? He must be
rather a green critic if he imagines that he is to attack the three
strongholds of theatricalism — its Mamelon, Malakhoff, and Redan,
puffing, ignorance, and vanity—without getting shots from the mud-
works in reply. Abuse ! What else did he expect ? Does he not
know that if you praise an actor from the tip of his feather to the heel
of his shoe, and then hint that his hat was a little on one side, or his
buckle a trifle too large, he instantly sets down all the praise as mere
hypocrisy, and regards you as his enemy for life, and the hired minion
of some rival ? Marsyas, after Apollo's flaying him, was pachydermatous
compared to a criticised actor. And then the Press expects to escape
unpelted for laying on the lash all round. However, it is comforting
to be told that—

" We have, per contra, been, informed by actors of the first class, bv persons who
love the drama, and by members of literary and cultivated society, that we ' have
hit the right nail on the head,' and can do much service to the stage and its pro-
fessors by exposing the humbug which surrounds them with a false atmosphere."

If the Press would do us the honour to take a hint from us, we
should recommend it neither to heed nor to register abuse on one side
or approbation on the other. If, in a humble way, it would imitate
Mr. Punch, serene in his conscience, and steady in his purpose, and
would never disquiet itself, it would be saved a good deal of trouble.
However, that lofty philosophy is not to be expected from everybody—
non ex quovis Lifjno fit Punchus.

THIS PICTURE and THIS.

The Prince Imperial already
developes all the striking charac-
teristics of his illustrious parents.
His hair of the palest gold, falls in
rich clusters adown his neck, and
is beautifully symbolical of the
prosperous fortune brought by the
genius and wisdom of his heroic
and sagacious sire on Erance. His
brow is square and broad as a tab-
let ; whereon might be written,
were it necessary, another Code
NapoUon. The mouth reminds the
Biblical beholder of the riddle of
Samson, in which the sweetness
of honey is mingled with the
strength of the lion. His vivacity
is unbounded, and his laugh rings
as with the shrill note of a sdver
trumpet; the clarion of Erance.
It is said by those most intimate
with the person of the Imperial
Prince, that his right shoulder is
marked with a bee; while his left
is visibly impressed with a violet.
— The Moniteur.

The infant of M. Buonaparte
gives unmistakeable evidence of his
parentage. There can at least be
no doubt in his case. His features
are of the coarsest mould. His
hair has a deep, sanguine colour;
in fact quite a Second of December
tint. Dull and inflexible, it is a
type of the man who dominates
Erance. The forehead is low and
retreating ; altogether of a simial
character. The jaws protrude and
develope the merest animal in-
stincts. M. Buonaparte's child
has, to the present period, shown
a total absence of the gaiety and
sportivencss that arc the insepar
able characteristics of infancyHis
look is a scowl; and his voice a
snarl. We do not profess to vouch
for the truth of the rumour—which
we take at its worth—but it is said
the brat is marked on its right arm
with a poniard.—The lied Repub-
lican.

Taxation at Best.

A Just system of taxation is one winch would press with equal
hardship on everybody, inflict on all the same amount of suffering, be
felt alike inconvenient and objectionable by each individual, and give
no one person more reason for grumbling and swearing than another.