Punch (42.1862)

May 31, 1802.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 221

2. Macaulay’s England. Yol.

III.

3. Divorce Trials, with Plates.

4. Shaksteare.

7. Life of William Wilberforce, by
Ins Sons.

I.

2. Buckle’s History of Civilisa-
tion,, Yol. I.

Mr. Punch went on, but will not
racy of which it is unnecessary for
vouch. He merely adds that the forty
recondite studies he has admitted tl

4. The Slang Dictionary, by Jon
Bee.

6. Hone’s Every Day Book and

Table Book.

7. Hudibras, by Butler.

8. Anstey Park, a Tale. N.N.

J.

1. Crudek’s Concordance.

8. !m Belle Assemblee.

idd to the above list, for the accu-
him to say that he is prepared to
odd readers, into the secret of whose
e reader of Punch, (a study nobler

than all) may be taken as types of the intelligent populace for whose
benefit that splendid Room was built, and for whose sake the world is
ransacked year by year to bring literary treasures together. Mr. Punch
therefore respectfully recommends that such readers as the above be
“invited” as our friend L. Napoleon says, to read at home, and that
such invitation be rendered a little more pressing by a general intima-
tion that all tickets expire on the First of January, 1863, and that none
will be renewed except upon better grounds than any readers like the
above are likely to assign.

With tears of delight in his eyes, Mr. Punch must add, that on the
above afternoon he found eleven readers perusing Him. He loves
them, but reform must be carried out, and they can read Punch else-
where. If they will send him their addresses, they (and especially the
young and darling angel with the golden hair, who sat at F. 5)
shall come and read in his own office, until further notice.

POETRY BY A MUSICIAN.

A TRENCH CRITIC UPON CRICKET.

ome musicians are sup-
posed to hold Poetry in
considerable contempt,
and when they want
“ words ” to set, they
are thought to desire
that such words should
be of the kind least cal-
culated to distract the
attention of the hearer
from the music. Great
compassion has been ex-
pressed, in musical cir-
cles, for Dr. Sterndale
Bennett, on account of
his having been obliged
to compose music to suit
the “far-fetched” ideas
ot the Poet Laureate,
and though Dr. Ben-
nett repudiates such
compassion, and con-
siders that music and
poetry may give and
receive honour by alli-
ance, he is regarded as
an exceptional composer,
and is one. Most music-
makers like the sort of
words which they would
themselves write. And
it is unjust to say that
they would always write
rubb'sh. Mr. Punch has
received a poem, in
which a gentleman who
plays on an organ in the
country, and advertises
that he shall be happy
to teach other persons to play on an organ (the locality is not Hogsnorton)
expounds, in poetry, his views of music. And as this gentleman comes out in a
way worthy of his vocation, Mr. Punch is tempted to reproduce the lines, only
suppressing the writer’s name for fear of exciting the jealousy of his brother profes-
sionals.

“ Music is both a science and an art
That refines the mind and that cheers the heart,
And keeps fearless youth from many a snare.
And relieves old age of many a care.

“ How wonderful! how potent! O, how rare
An art to diminish old age of care,

And a science, to guard the young so fair !
Then nor wealth nor honour with it compare.

Every reader of our newspapers, our pamphlets and our
magazines, of course is well acquainted with “ the intelli-
gent foreigner.” This exemplary person is introduced to
public notice on all possible occasions, and is spoken of as
one who knows our insular peculiarities, and has a thorough
insight into all our ways. According to what we hear of
him, the “ intelligent foreigner ” knows a good deal more
about us than we do ourselves, and is far more fit to venture
an opinion on any point connected with our government or
habits than any one who chances to be British bred and born.

It is however a sad fact that the “ intelligent foreigner”
very rarely condescends to put his thoughts in foreign print,
and that the foreigners who publish their opinions about
England are the last people in the world to whom the
epithet “ intelligent ” could be with truth applied. That
we English keep fierce bull-dogs, live on raw rump-steaks,
and sell our wives in Smithfield: world-known facts like
these our foreign friends are never tired of recording.
But it is seldom they report some other of our customs,
which are not less to our credit or less worthy to be known.
An exception to the rule we have however noticed in a
writer for the Temps—(M. Scherer by name)—who, after
dilating on the magnitude of London and the valour of our
volunteers, admiringly reports that:—

“ Every Englishman who respects himself begins his day by plung-
ing into the Eurotas, we mean the cold bath, which fortifies the soul
as well as the constitution.”

It is not surprising that a Frenchman should be struck
by our habits of lavation, which to the foreign mind must
surely seem a proof of no ordinary fortitude. But hear
what M. Scherer says of hunting, cricket, and other
English field sports :—

“ An Englishman would feel that he was wanting to himself if he
did not give two or three hours to a walk, or a ride across country.
If his means and his occupation permit him ever so little, he will
mount on horseback, hunt, or handle the oar. He has learnt from
an early age how to fight; not as we do, with shut eyes, and flinging
by chance his arms round his body, but in a rational manner, using
his fists at once to parry and to attack. He knows that science and
knowledge make up for inequality in bodily strength. He is aware
that in a contest with a cabman or a shoeblack he will have the upper
hand, because he has more skill; and he thus exhibits the pacific
assurance of a man who trusts only to himself. We have often thought
that the noblest present our own France could receive, the most effi-
cacious means to regenerate and strengthen our youth, would be the
introduction among us of some national sports like that of the English
cricket. It is an exercise that excites emulation, requires force and
address, calls into play every physical aptitude, invites to wholesome
fatigue and to the open air, and prepares vigorous bodies for vigorous
souls. ‘ Without frankness,’ said Walter Scott, ‘ there is no virtue;
and without courage there is no frankness.’ He might have added,
‘and without force there is no courage.’ We affirm it in the most
positive manner, the Englishman is a magnificent specimen of human
kind, and it is cricket which has made the Englishman what he is.”

“ Earth's Goddess, thou dost with thy charming dart
Tempt me, for (0, thou most delightful art)

Mine ear is pleas’d, my soul rais’d, and my heart
Is moved by thee, 0, thou divinest art.”

Now, this subtle employment of poesy in honour of music is so artistic that
henceforth we hope there will be less readiness to believe that the musician does
not appreciate the poet, and Mr. Punch is much obliged to the correspondent who
has supplied him with the newspaper whence is extracted this refutation of a
vulgar belief.

The Titan of Westminster Improvement.

It is said that Mr. Tite “already fills sixteen appointments.” He must indeed
be a great man if he really does fill all the places he holds, so as, in each of them,
t,o constitute a Tite fit.

Bravo, M. Scherer! _ Well said, good Monsieur! That
we Englishmen are magnificent specimens of humanity our
modesty of course will scarce allow us to agree ; but that
it is cricket and similar field exercises which have made us
what we are, we know no reason to dispute. Strong and
healthy minds in strong and healthy bodies, such it is the
aim of wholesome field sports to ensure, and Englishmen of
course must feel great reverence for cricket. We suppose
the French will take to playing cricket, and that inter-
national matches will annually come off, wherein for the
first year ot two eleven Englishmen will play some half a
hundred foreigners. We shall be curious to see how our
slang words are translated, and what the French equiva-
lent will be for a “wide ball,” or “Now then, butter-
fingers 1 ”