DOI issue:
March 9, 1861
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16867#0113
March 9, 1861.]
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
105
A SMASH FOR THE ENCORE SWINDLE.*
E were never more inclined,
to cry out Bravo! to a singer
than when, in the notice of
the first night of the Amber
Witch, the pen of the Times
Critic, among other things,
informed us that—
“The house was enthusiastic in
its demonstrations of approval ;
the applause was incessant, and
many pieces were re-demanded ;
but the singers, iu emulation of
the example recently set by
Mr. Sims Reeves, invariably
and respectfully declined the
honour.”
Often as Mr. Punch has
inveighed against the
swindle of extorting an
encore, it delights him to
discover that his words, as
usual, are bearing goodly
fruit, and that the evil he
has denounced is beginning
to be extirpated. If singers
wili but follow the lead of
Mr. Reeves, and “invari-
ably decline the honour (!) ”
of encores, there will soon
be au end put to the practice
of demanding them. It is
as unfair to require the
repetition of a piece as it
would be to ask twice for the change of a bank-note, or, after receiving a shillings worth of buns,
to demand another dozen because they were such good ones. Moreover, music suffers by
the practice of encores; and for the interest of art, performers should decline them. When a
composer wishes any strain to be heard twice, he puts the sign “da capo ,” and secures its
repetition. To repeat it when not marked so, is to meddle with his work, and very possibly
to injure the effect that he intended. Now Smith and Brown, who bawl out, “Brayvo ! ”
and “ Angcore 1 ” are not such good musicians-
as Beethoven or Balee; and even if they
were, they have no right to disturb the works
of those composers, by getting certain passages
repeated at their pleasure, when others of the
audience may be annoyed by hearing them.
However, from what passed the other evening
at Her Majesty’s, it is clear to Mr. Punch that
the encore days are numbered, and that another
year or two will see them at an end. If singers
wili but set their faces against the custom, it
will be useless for claqueurs to try to give it
countenance. When it ceases to succeed, the
swindle will die out, and nobody of sense wilt
regret that it has done so. Selfish snobs may
still go on insisting on encores, and second-rate
performers may take such calls for compliments,
aud stupidly comply with them; but Mr. Punch
feels sure that no true gentleman or artist will
long uphold a practice which all thoughtful
minds condemn, and which
unjust than it is injurious.
is clearly not less
A Species of Lion that is Extremely
Scarce.
The new sculpture-room at the National
Gallery is to be about four times the size of the
old one. Let us hope that its proportions wiil
he able to show off to the best advantage those
four lions of Sir Edwin Landseer, which are
intended to decorate the base of the Nelson
Columu. It is just probable that they may he
completed by the period of the opening of the
Royal Academy. We must with pain confess,
that England has, as yet, done very little,,
and has taken a rare long time in doing
it, in the way of lionising its greatest naval
hero.
BEAVO ! EASTERN COUNTIES !
Eor the interests of humanity Punch has so otren found it necessary
to pitch into the directors of the Eastern Counties Railway, that he
feels the more delighted to award to them the kudos which by the
statement following he is justified in giving :—
“ Eastern Counties.—It appears that the directors of this Company, at their last
meeting, determined to adopt a system of communication between the guard and
engine-driver of a train. This will, in the first instance, be applied to express and
fast trains, with a view however to its extension to ordinary trains.’
The idea of a “ fast ” train upon the Eastern Counties Railway is a
notion which has never yet occurred to Mr. Punch, who is accustomed
to submit, when he travels by that line, to an “Express” that stops
five times in less than forty miles, and is therefore to his mind a very
“ ordinary ” train. How long the parliamentary is doing the like
distance, Mr. Punch has never taken the trouble to inquire; but,
judging by comparison with other lines he knows, it can hardly be far
short of some six hours on the road. But though it cannot be “ the
pace that kills ” upon the Eastern Counties, the accidents that happen
ihere have now and then proved fatal; and perhaps nothing will tend
to decrease their chance of frequency, so much as the extremely simple
course which is proposed. Mr. Punch, who is a not infrequent tra-
veller on the line, must feel of course a personal interest in the matter;
and although his precious person is abundantly insured, he cannot but
rejoice that his corporeal risk is lessened, and that his Judy may feel
easier in her mind than she has done, whenever he trusts his carcase
to the Eastern Counties’ care.
Mr. Punch would therefore in the fulness of his joy, and in his desire
to give full credit where the same is fairly due, commend toother
boards the example lie has quoted, and advise them in the like manner
to earn his thanks and praise. As ninety-nine per cent, of the accidents
that happen might be prevented were more labour and more vigilance
employed, and were there not too often a cheese-paring of expense, if,
clearly is high time to call a spade a spade, and speak of Railway
Manslaughter by its only proper name. Were there no endanger-
ment of human life and limb, directors might be justified in counting
up the costs and chances of an accident, and proving that it paid them
to incur the risk, rather than to take expensive measures to diminish
it. This would clearly be excusable, were loss of property the only
loss that could ensue; but it ceases to be pardonable when there is
chance of loss of life. Mr. Punch would hold directors responsible in
person for the persons of all passengers entrusted to their care; and if
this were so, depend on it invention would be taxed for means whereby
all railway risk should be prevented, as far as it be humanly permitted
so to do. As a step in the right direction, the step of the direction of
the long-blamed Eastern Counties appears to Mr. Punch to be worthy
of his praise ; and with the stimulus of this reward before their eyes,
surely other boards will lose no time in following this course.
A REGULAR FOX CLUB DINNER.
At the Testimonial Banquet which, with a Table Ornament, was
given the other day to Sir W. G. Hayter, the toast of the evening
having been proposed by the Noble Premier, who occupied the chair,
an honourable gentleman present, in the absence of any professional
vocalist, volunteered to oblige the company with a song appropriate to
the occasion, unaccountably not reported. The parliamentary enthu-
siast broke out in the good old hunting-strain:—
“ You all knew Tom Moody, the whipper-in, well! ”
It was expected that the roof which covered the assembly would
have come down upon their heads, so violently was it shaken by the
laughter and shouts of “Yoicks!” and “Tally-ho!” and “Hear,
hear ! ” wherewith the honourable Member’s performance was accom-
panied by the political foxhuuters.
Abuse for Argument.
Those Essays and Reviews
How idle to abuse
In terms of vague unmeaning condemnation:
Do you think the people look
Eor your censure of the book?
No, ye Bishops, but expect your refutation.
Naval Fashions.
Steel corsets are beginning to be worn by frigates, but do not, in
the last novelty, come up to the bows in front or descend quite to the
other extremity. The sides are pierced with holes for the arms, forming
a stylish openwork. Canvas is less employed than formerly, which,
during the prevalence of March winds, is not to be regretted.
4—2
Vol. 40.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
105
A SMASH FOR THE ENCORE SWINDLE.*
E were never more inclined,
to cry out Bravo! to a singer
than when, in the notice of
the first night of the Amber
Witch, the pen of the Times
Critic, among other things,
informed us that—
“The house was enthusiastic in
its demonstrations of approval ;
the applause was incessant, and
many pieces were re-demanded ;
but the singers, iu emulation of
the example recently set by
Mr. Sims Reeves, invariably
and respectfully declined the
honour.”
Often as Mr. Punch has
inveighed against the
swindle of extorting an
encore, it delights him to
discover that his words, as
usual, are bearing goodly
fruit, and that the evil he
has denounced is beginning
to be extirpated. If singers
wili but follow the lead of
Mr. Reeves, and “invari-
ably decline the honour (!) ”
of encores, there will soon
be au end put to the practice
of demanding them. It is
as unfair to require the
repetition of a piece as it
would be to ask twice for the change of a bank-note, or, after receiving a shillings worth of buns,
to demand another dozen because they were such good ones. Moreover, music suffers by
the practice of encores; and for the interest of art, performers should decline them. When a
composer wishes any strain to be heard twice, he puts the sign “da capo ,” and secures its
repetition. To repeat it when not marked so, is to meddle with his work, and very possibly
to injure the effect that he intended. Now Smith and Brown, who bawl out, “Brayvo ! ”
and “ Angcore 1 ” are not such good musicians-
as Beethoven or Balee; and even if they
were, they have no right to disturb the works
of those composers, by getting certain passages
repeated at their pleasure, when others of the
audience may be annoyed by hearing them.
However, from what passed the other evening
at Her Majesty’s, it is clear to Mr. Punch that
the encore days are numbered, and that another
year or two will see them at an end. If singers
wili but set their faces against the custom, it
will be useless for claqueurs to try to give it
countenance. When it ceases to succeed, the
swindle will die out, and nobody of sense wilt
regret that it has done so. Selfish snobs may
still go on insisting on encores, and second-rate
performers may take such calls for compliments,
aud stupidly comply with them; but Mr. Punch
feels sure that no true gentleman or artist will
long uphold a practice which all thoughtful
minds condemn, and which
unjust than it is injurious.
is clearly not less
A Species of Lion that is Extremely
Scarce.
The new sculpture-room at the National
Gallery is to be about four times the size of the
old one. Let us hope that its proportions wiil
he able to show off to the best advantage those
four lions of Sir Edwin Landseer, which are
intended to decorate the base of the Nelson
Columu. It is just probable that they may he
completed by the period of the opening of the
Royal Academy. We must with pain confess,
that England has, as yet, done very little,,
and has taken a rare long time in doing
it, in the way of lionising its greatest naval
hero.
BEAVO ! EASTERN COUNTIES !
Eor the interests of humanity Punch has so otren found it necessary
to pitch into the directors of the Eastern Counties Railway, that he
feels the more delighted to award to them the kudos which by the
statement following he is justified in giving :—
“ Eastern Counties.—It appears that the directors of this Company, at their last
meeting, determined to adopt a system of communication between the guard and
engine-driver of a train. This will, in the first instance, be applied to express and
fast trains, with a view however to its extension to ordinary trains.’
The idea of a “ fast ” train upon the Eastern Counties Railway is a
notion which has never yet occurred to Mr. Punch, who is accustomed
to submit, when he travels by that line, to an “Express” that stops
five times in less than forty miles, and is therefore to his mind a very
“ ordinary ” train. How long the parliamentary is doing the like
distance, Mr. Punch has never taken the trouble to inquire; but,
judging by comparison with other lines he knows, it can hardly be far
short of some six hours on the road. But though it cannot be “ the
pace that kills ” upon the Eastern Counties, the accidents that happen
ihere have now and then proved fatal; and perhaps nothing will tend
to decrease their chance of frequency, so much as the extremely simple
course which is proposed. Mr. Punch, who is a not infrequent tra-
veller on the line, must feel of course a personal interest in the matter;
and although his precious person is abundantly insured, he cannot but
rejoice that his corporeal risk is lessened, and that his Judy may feel
easier in her mind than she has done, whenever he trusts his carcase
to the Eastern Counties’ care.
Mr. Punch would therefore in the fulness of his joy, and in his desire
to give full credit where the same is fairly due, commend toother
boards the example lie has quoted, and advise them in the like manner
to earn his thanks and praise. As ninety-nine per cent, of the accidents
that happen might be prevented were more labour and more vigilance
employed, and were there not too often a cheese-paring of expense, if,
clearly is high time to call a spade a spade, and speak of Railway
Manslaughter by its only proper name. Were there no endanger-
ment of human life and limb, directors might be justified in counting
up the costs and chances of an accident, and proving that it paid them
to incur the risk, rather than to take expensive measures to diminish
it. This would clearly be excusable, were loss of property the only
loss that could ensue; but it ceases to be pardonable when there is
chance of loss of life. Mr. Punch would hold directors responsible in
person for the persons of all passengers entrusted to their care; and if
this were so, depend on it invention would be taxed for means whereby
all railway risk should be prevented, as far as it be humanly permitted
so to do. As a step in the right direction, the step of the direction of
the long-blamed Eastern Counties appears to Mr. Punch to be worthy
of his praise ; and with the stimulus of this reward before their eyes,
surely other boards will lose no time in following this course.
A REGULAR FOX CLUB DINNER.
At the Testimonial Banquet which, with a Table Ornament, was
given the other day to Sir W. G. Hayter, the toast of the evening
having been proposed by the Noble Premier, who occupied the chair,
an honourable gentleman present, in the absence of any professional
vocalist, volunteered to oblige the company with a song appropriate to
the occasion, unaccountably not reported. The parliamentary enthu-
siast broke out in the good old hunting-strain:—
“ You all knew Tom Moody, the whipper-in, well! ”
It was expected that the roof which covered the assembly would
have come down upon their heads, so violently was it shaken by the
laughter and shouts of “Yoicks!” and “Tally-ho!” and “Hear,
hear ! ” wherewith the honourable Member’s performance was accom-
panied by the political foxhuuters.
Abuse for Argument.
Those Essays and Reviews
How idle to abuse
In terms of vague unmeaning condemnation:
Do you think the people look
Eor your censure of the book?
No, ye Bishops, but expect your refutation.
Naval Fashions.
Steel corsets are beginning to be worn by frigates, but do not, in
the last novelty, come up to the bows in front or descend quite to the
other extremity. The sides are pierced with holes for the arms, forming
a stylish openwork. Canvas is less employed than formerly, which,
during the prevalence of March winds, is not to be regretted.
4—2
Vol. 40.