DOI issue:
August 2, 1862
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16870#0049
August 2, 1862.1
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
41
COWPER AND WATTS.
“ Mp.. Cowper said that the Trafalgar Fountains would be, in May,
something to be proud of.”—His Speech, March 31sf.
Why should those Fountains, made to hide
Yon Wilkins job, provoke our pride ?
They spoil our site, they waste our tin,
But shall not lead us into sin.
When first you laid the water on,
All hope of elegance was gone,
And now you want to make a boast
Of that sad proof of chances lost.
How proud we are, 0 yes, to view
Those stone dumb-waiters, squat and skew.
When every Aew Road stone-shop’s store
Kept better fountains long before.
Let’s show we know our own deserts,
Nor talk about our ugly squirts,
At least while two such fountains flow
As France displays at Brompton Show.
THE EXHAUSTED STUDENT.
Fond Parient. “ Bless his heart—always Studying ! Bead himself asleep
-Geography now, or something op that sort, I’ll be bound!”
[Ao. It’s the Cookery Book.
THE DENOMINATION OF SNOB.
Ti-ie South Pastern Gazette records the laying, by the
Earl op Darnley, of the foundation of the New Ragged
School about to be built at Gravesend. The Clergy and
Dissenting Ministers of the town were invited, and plenty
of the latter came; but the former were conspicuous by
their absence, and particularly two of them, who clid not
even answer the invitations they had received. A reverend
nonconformist had to perform the suitable devotions.
The noble Earl, professing himself “ a strict Churchman,”
regretted to find that the Gravesend clergy “ were totally
unrepresented on the occasion,” and “ that amongst other-
wise pious and godly men a system of exclusiveness
prevailed.” What is the meaning of all this ? Had the
Dissenting Ministers insulted the Clergy, or did the Clergy
mean to insult the Dissenting Ministers ? Which were the
Snobs ?
M’Clellan’s Last.
He that fights and recedes for a strategic reason,
May live to fight another season.
P.S. Yes, Sir.
A MUSICAL PETITION.
My dear Gladstone,
The Royal Academy of Music is in want of funds, and I
hear that a Memorial has lately been addressed to you to notify the fact.
Of course I need not ask if you have read this composition, for I know
that as a conscientious servant of the State you carefully peruse every
paper put before you, with, as much pains and attention as you do your
weekly Punch. I need therefore scarce remind you that, besides a
number of equally good grounds for claiming aid from your Exchequer,
it is urged in this memorial:—
“ That the gbod effect upon the million of the introduction of practical music into
the course of national education must afford Her Majesty's Government perfect
satisfaction with this important measure. As the public power of comprehending
an art increases, to elevate the character of those whose duty is both to form the
public taste and gratifj7 it becomes more and more indispensable. Music has made
prodigious progress in England during the last forty years, and it now holds promi-
nent importance in the intellectual development of the country ; coincident with
this course of advancement have been the workings of the Royal Academy of Music,
and the national advantages that might issue from such an Institution would
increase with the natural capacity to benefit by them. The revived importance of
Church Music is a significant feature of this progress; and another is the improve-
ment in the Music of the Army ; in both of which departments it would surely be
of value to the authorities that have the granting of appointments, could they refer
to certificates as to the competency of candidates for such appointments from an
Institution like the Academy, which was dignified by tbe countenance of Her
Majesty’s Government. In the consideration of the desirability and the capabilities
of the Academy, the immense importance of music as furnishing occupation to the
industrial classes must be taken into account, many thousands of the population
being at present engaged in the facture of musical instruments, the engraving and
printing of music, <fcc., and the extent of employment of this nature increases with
the increase of the knowledge of the art throughout the country.”
Surely, my dear Gladstone, for these reasons alone the Academy of
Music is deserving of support; and although only a few nights of the
Session now are left to you, I am sure you will name one of them to
bring the application for a grant before the House. What is wanted
the Memorialists have taken care to state; and you will not doubt their
comnetence to judge of it when you see among their signatures such
names as Bennett, Garcia, Smart, Benedict, Macfarren, Leslie,
Mellon, Wallace, Tietjens, and Jenny Lind :—
“ The Academy is not now to be considered as an experiment; the forty years’
experience of its operations, through all its vicissitudes of fortune and of manage-
ment, is a sufficient test of its capabilities. These capabilities are restricted by the
extent of its funds, and qualified by the necessary means of acquiring these funds.
It is not always the most gifted individuals who have the best pecuniary resources,
and it is therefore deeply to be regretted that the present large rate of annual
payment (three and thirty guineas) should be required from the pupils. While,
therefore, the grant by Government of a building for the carrying on of the opera-
tions of the establishment (a support enjoyed by all the scientific and artistic bodies
in the metropolis) would greatly relieve the academy of its apprehensions, the
concession of yet more liberal assistance would give the power of diminishing the
charges to students, and increasing the number of free scholarships, and thus vastly
enhance the benefits of the Institution.’'
Being devoted to “the spreading of a pure knowledge of art and the
extending of its refining influence,” the Academy ot Music, if helped
liberally by Government, might really work such wonders as one hardly
dares to guess at. If only properly encouraged, there is very little
doubt that its “refining influence” might eventually be extended to
street-singers and musicians; and that, being instructed in a “pure
knowledge of art,” these performers would no longer cause such toi-
ture as they now do to the ears of all who hear them. Much as 1 now
loathe, detest and execrate street-music, I should not complain if
Joachim came once a week or so and played a bit of Beethoven
awhile beneath my window ; nor should I growl or grumble if a Mario
or a Sims Reeves were now and then to serenade me with Rossini or
Mozart. Well, you see if the Academy of Music be supported, there
really is no saying how the Joachims and Marios and Sims Reeveses
may be multiplied; and I am sure that this reflection will be in itself
sufficient to incline a liberal Government to be liberal in its grant.
Music, it is said, has done much for the million; and something short
of a million might do much for music.
With just a nudge to Pam to back you in the matter, I remain, my
dear Gladstone, yours most sincerely,
Vol. 43.
2—2
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
41
COWPER AND WATTS.
“ Mp.. Cowper said that the Trafalgar Fountains would be, in May,
something to be proud of.”—His Speech, March 31sf.
Why should those Fountains, made to hide
Yon Wilkins job, provoke our pride ?
They spoil our site, they waste our tin,
But shall not lead us into sin.
When first you laid the water on,
All hope of elegance was gone,
And now you want to make a boast
Of that sad proof of chances lost.
How proud we are, 0 yes, to view
Those stone dumb-waiters, squat and skew.
When every Aew Road stone-shop’s store
Kept better fountains long before.
Let’s show we know our own deserts,
Nor talk about our ugly squirts,
At least while two such fountains flow
As France displays at Brompton Show.
THE EXHAUSTED STUDENT.
Fond Parient. “ Bless his heart—always Studying ! Bead himself asleep
-Geography now, or something op that sort, I’ll be bound!”
[Ao. It’s the Cookery Book.
THE DENOMINATION OF SNOB.
Ti-ie South Pastern Gazette records the laying, by the
Earl op Darnley, of the foundation of the New Ragged
School about to be built at Gravesend. The Clergy and
Dissenting Ministers of the town were invited, and plenty
of the latter came; but the former were conspicuous by
their absence, and particularly two of them, who clid not
even answer the invitations they had received. A reverend
nonconformist had to perform the suitable devotions.
The noble Earl, professing himself “ a strict Churchman,”
regretted to find that the Gravesend clergy “ were totally
unrepresented on the occasion,” and “ that amongst other-
wise pious and godly men a system of exclusiveness
prevailed.” What is the meaning of all this ? Had the
Dissenting Ministers insulted the Clergy, or did the Clergy
mean to insult the Dissenting Ministers ? Which were the
Snobs ?
M’Clellan’s Last.
He that fights and recedes for a strategic reason,
May live to fight another season.
P.S. Yes, Sir.
A MUSICAL PETITION.
My dear Gladstone,
The Royal Academy of Music is in want of funds, and I
hear that a Memorial has lately been addressed to you to notify the fact.
Of course I need not ask if you have read this composition, for I know
that as a conscientious servant of the State you carefully peruse every
paper put before you, with, as much pains and attention as you do your
weekly Punch. I need therefore scarce remind you that, besides a
number of equally good grounds for claiming aid from your Exchequer,
it is urged in this memorial:—
“ That the gbod effect upon the million of the introduction of practical music into
the course of national education must afford Her Majesty's Government perfect
satisfaction with this important measure. As the public power of comprehending
an art increases, to elevate the character of those whose duty is both to form the
public taste and gratifj7 it becomes more and more indispensable. Music has made
prodigious progress in England during the last forty years, and it now holds promi-
nent importance in the intellectual development of the country ; coincident with
this course of advancement have been the workings of the Royal Academy of Music,
and the national advantages that might issue from such an Institution would
increase with the natural capacity to benefit by them. The revived importance of
Church Music is a significant feature of this progress; and another is the improve-
ment in the Music of the Army ; in both of which departments it would surely be
of value to the authorities that have the granting of appointments, could they refer
to certificates as to the competency of candidates for such appointments from an
Institution like the Academy, which was dignified by tbe countenance of Her
Majesty’s Government. In the consideration of the desirability and the capabilities
of the Academy, the immense importance of music as furnishing occupation to the
industrial classes must be taken into account, many thousands of the population
being at present engaged in the facture of musical instruments, the engraving and
printing of music, <fcc., and the extent of employment of this nature increases with
the increase of the knowledge of the art throughout the country.”
Surely, my dear Gladstone, for these reasons alone the Academy of
Music is deserving of support; and although only a few nights of the
Session now are left to you, I am sure you will name one of them to
bring the application for a grant before the House. What is wanted
the Memorialists have taken care to state; and you will not doubt their
comnetence to judge of it when you see among their signatures such
names as Bennett, Garcia, Smart, Benedict, Macfarren, Leslie,
Mellon, Wallace, Tietjens, and Jenny Lind :—
“ The Academy is not now to be considered as an experiment; the forty years’
experience of its operations, through all its vicissitudes of fortune and of manage-
ment, is a sufficient test of its capabilities. These capabilities are restricted by the
extent of its funds, and qualified by the necessary means of acquiring these funds.
It is not always the most gifted individuals who have the best pecuniary resources,
and it is therefore deeply to be regretted that the present large rate of annual
payment (three and thirty guineas) should be required from the pupils. While,
therefore, the grant by Government of a building for the carrying on of the opera-
tions of the establishment (a support enjoyed by all the scientific and artistic bodies
in the metropolis) would greatly relieve the academy of its apprehensions, the
concession of yet more liberal assistance would give the power of diminishing the
charges to students, and increasing the number of free scholarships, and thus vastly
enhance the benefits of the Institution.’'
Being devoted to “the spreading of a pure knowledge of art and the
extending of its refining influence,” the Academy ot Music, if helped
liberally by Government, might really work such wonders as one hardly
dares to guess at. If only properly encouraged, there is very little
doubt that its “refining influence” might eventually be extended to
street-singers and musicians; and that, being instructed in a “pure
knowledge of art,” these performers would no longer cause such toi-
ture as they now do to the ears of all who hear them. Much as 1 now
loathe, detest and execrate street-music, I should not complain if
Joachim came once a week or so and played a bit of Beethoven
awhile beneath my window ; nor should I growl or grumble if a Mario
or a Sims Reeves were now and then to serenade me with Rossini or
Mozart. Well, you see if the Academy of Music be supported, there
really is no saying how the Joachims and Marios and Sims Reeveses
may be multiplied; and I am sure that this reflection will be in itself
sufficient to incline a liberal Government to be liberal in its grant.
Music, it is said, has done much for the million; and something short
of a million might do much for music.
With just a nudge to Pam to back you in the matter, I remain, my
dear Gladstone, yours most sincerely,
Vol. 43.
2—2