DOI Heft:
October 15, 1864
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16874#0169
October 15, 1864.]
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CH ARTY APT
163
INCORRIGIBLE.
Clerical Examiner. “ What is your Name ? ”
Incorrigible. “ Biler, Sir.”
Clerical Examiner. “Who gave you that Name?”
Incorrigible. “ The Boys in our Court, Sir.”
PROSPECTS OF ENGLISH MUSIC.
At length we have an English Opera Company, and
it opens in a becoming manner, with true English music.
We rejoice to learn that the reproach that we are not a
musical nation (observing what musical nations are,
some folks may, however, think the reproach a compli-
ment) will now be done away. The Season begins with
a masterpiece of the celebrated English or rather Irish
composer, Denis Auber. He Frenchified his name,
in accordance with fashion, but he was an Irishman, ana
his real names were Dennis O’Bare. His opera of
Masaniello, with which the Season begins, was originally
called Robert Emmet, and was based on a story of the
Irish rebellion, but the scene was transferred to Italy,
in order to avoid political agitation. We almost regret
that now that Ireland has no grievance (except the
English names of the streets in Dublin) the opera has
not been restored to its original form. The next Eng-
lish revival is Martha, the genuinely British work
of Mr. Floater, who, like O’Bare, varied his name to
Flotow. The fact that the only remarkable thing in
this work is the “ Last Rose of Summer,” shows its
Anglican origin. Of the third English work, a novelty
called Helvellyn, we know nothing, except that it is
written by a first-rate British musician, Mr. Mac-
earren, and ought to be as successful as either of the
operas that are to precede it. Let us add—and with
loud plaudit—that the new management announces that
“ there is to be no charge for booking places, nor are
the employes or boxkeepers to be permitted to take any
fees on any pretence whatever.” Did we say that
Covent Garden is the place, and Alfred Mellon the
Conductor ? Come, those are English features, anyhow.
Roo-i-too-i-too-ey!
How to Observe.
It is pleasing to compare the habits of different
nations. In Java an empty flower-pot at the window
means that inside the house is a young lady who wants
a husband. In England a full flower-pot at the window
means that inside the house is a young lady who has got
a husband,—and sells his old trousers.
AYES AND NOES.
Brighton will, Mr. Punch earnestly hopes, be soon
represented by an able and accomplished gentleman who
has no need of eyes to instruct him in statesmanship.
But if Brighton return a candidate with no eyes, its
neighbour Hastings ought, by all accounts, to return
one with no nose.
CLOSE OF THE EXHIBITION.
In Reviewing the Exhibition, which as we learn from our Vienna
Correspondent, is by Court direction now drawing to a close, we are
struck by the boldness of outline which distinguishes the great Works
of our modern female Artists. While complaining with pretty petulance
that they are excluded from many fields of professional competition,
these lovely and powerful Draughtswomen have confronted Man upon
his own ground, and made him deeply sensible of his comparative insig-
nificance. It is not speaking hyperbolically to say that their works in
steel have swept everything before them—including dust in several
volumes.
Resolved to carry out her magnificent designs to their fullest extent,
woman has triumphed over obstacles which some of our boldest engi-
neers might have shuddered to approach. When Stephenson was
required to throw a tubular bridge over an arm of the sea, he had no
misgivings of his success; but had he attempted with feminine temerity
to carry single-handed a hollow cylinder over Ludgate Hill, for example,
he would have found himself in fearful straits indeed. Yet this under-
taking is performed every day by Miss Smith with smiling impunity.
The Roman invasion left us some mighty monuments, which the
more recent conquest of Britain by woman has completely cast into the
shade. He whose egotism dictated the celebrated note of exclamations,
“ Tern—vidi—vici,” darkened this fair Isle by his overpowering pre-
sence ; but historians will agree that, looked upon simply as an extin-
guisher, CiESAR must bow to Crinoline.
No candid observer will deny that Man is a patient and much suffer-
ing creature. Arrested in the public streets, impeded in his daily
walks, crushed, worried and prostrated at Opera, Ball, and Conversazione,
hitherto scarcely a murmur has escaped from behind his long-enduring
vest. But now that the hour of his deliverance draws near, it is pos-
sible that a spirit of retaliation may spring up within him. After having
been so long kept at a chilling distance from Beatrice and bliss, who
could marvel if, with vindictive cunning, he should tear a leaf from the
book of Beauty when it has been haughtily thrown aside ? Suppose for
a moment that, animated by a Mephistophelean impulse, he were to
envelope his majestic form in a mantle curiously embroidered with
fishing-hooks, long enough and strong enough to hold a barbel ? Dare
she, whose huge example made him err, fling even a feather at her
humble copyist? Nemesis answers, No. Vain then will be her tears,
her penitence, her agony ; for as surely as fashion leads to folly, so with
painful certainty will Blanche be—caught at last.
In conclusion, let it be remembered that he is deserving of honour
who makes two blades of grass to flourish where but one grew before.
What compliments then may Punch not anticipate, when by repealing
a preposterous inclosure Act, a bevy of Beauties is enabled to rotate
upon ground where before it was utterly impossible to plant together
a Brunette and a Blonde ?
The Knot Untied.
The Davenport Brothers, whose extraordinary “ manifestations ”
have been so well shown up by the Rev. A. S. Dobbs, are attended by
three of their countrymen, who act as their expositors. These gentle-
men are taken for Yankees, but it seems more likely that they are
Confederates.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CH ARTY APT
163
INCORRIGIBLE.
Clerical Examiner. “ What is your Name ? ”
Incorrigible. “ Biler, Sir.”
Clerical Examiner. “Who gave you that Name?”
Incorrigible. “ The Boys in our Court, Sir.”
PROSPECTS OF ENGLISH MUSIC.
At length we have an English Opera Company, and
it opens in a becoming manner, with true English music.
We rejoice to learn that the reproach that we are not a
musical nation (observing what musical nations are,
some folks may, however, think the reproach a compli-
ment) will now be done away. The Season begins with
a masterpiece of the celebrated English or rather Irish
composer, Denis Auber. He Frenchified his name,
in accordance with fashion, but he was an Irishman, ana
his real names were Dennis O’Bare. His opera of
Masaniello, with which the Season begins, was originally
called Robert Emmet, and was based on a story of the
Irish rebellion, but the scene was transferred to Italy,
in order to avoid political agitation. We almost regret
that now that Ireland has no grievance (except the
English names of the streets in Dublin) the opera has
not been restored to its original form. The next Eng-
lish revival is Martha, the genuinely British work
of Mr. Floater, who, like O’Bare, varied his name to
Flotow. The fact that the only remarkable thing in
this work is the “ Last Rose of Summer,” shows its
Anglican origin. Of the third English work, a novelty
called Helvellyn, we know nothing, except that it is
written by a first-rate British musician, Mr. Mac-
earren, and ought to be as successful as either of the
operas that are to precede it. Let us add—and with
loud plaudit—that the new management announces that
“ there is to be no charge for booking places, nor are
the employes or boxkeepers to be permitted to take any
fees on any pretence whatever.” Did we say that
Covent Garden is the place, and Alfred Mellon the
Conductor ? Come, those are English features, anyhow.
Roo-i-too-i-too-ey!
How to Observe.
It is pleasing to compare the habits of different
nations. In Java an empty flower-pot at the window
means that inside the house is a young lady who wants
a husband. In England a full flower-pot at the window
means that inside the house is a young lady who has got
a husband,—and sells his old trousers.
AYES AND NOES.
Brighton will, Mr. Punch earnestly hopes, be soon
represented by an able and accomplished gentleman who
has no need of eyes to instruct him in statesmanship.
But if Brighton return a candidate with no eyes, its
neighbour Hastings ought, by all accounts, to return
one with no nose.
CLOSE OF THE EXHIBITION.
In Reviewing the Exhibition, which as we learn from our Vienna
Correspondent, is by Court direction now drawing to a close, we are
struck by the boldness of outline which distinguishes the great Works
of our modern female Artists. While complaining with pretty petulance
that they are excluded from many fields of professional competition,
these lovely and powerful Draughtswomen have confronted Man upon
his own ground, and made him deeply sensible of his comparative insig-
nificance. It is not speaking hyperbolically to say that their works in
steel have swept everything before them—including dust in several
volumes.
Resolved to carry out her magnificent designs to their fullest extent,
woman has triumphed over obstacles which some of our boldest engi-
neers might have shuddered to approach. When Stephenson was
required to throw a tubular bridge over an arm of the sea, he had no
misgivings of his success; but had he attempted with feminine temerity
to carry single-handed a hollow cylinder over Ludgate Hill, for example,
he would have found himself in fearful straits indeed. Yet this under-
taking is performed every day by Miss Smith with smiling impunity.
The Roman invasion left us some mighty monuments, which the
more recent conquest of Britain by woman has completely cast into the
shade. He whose egotism dictated the celebrated note of exclamations,
“ Tern—vidi—vici,” darkened this fair Isle by his overpowering pre-
sence ; but historians will agree that, looked upon simply as an extin-
guisher, CiESAR must bow to Crinoline.
No candid observer will deny that Man is a patient and much suffer-
ing creature. Arrested in the public streets, impeded in his daily
walks, crushed, worried and prostrated at Opera, Ball, and Conversazione,
hitherto scarcely a murmur has escaped from behind his long-enduring
vest. But now that the hour of his deliverance draws near, it is pos-
sible that a spirit of retaliation may spring up within him. After having
been so long kept at a chilling distance from Beatrice and bliss, who
could marvel if, with vindictive cunning, he should tear a leaf from the
book of Beauty when it has been haughtily thrown aside ? Suppose for
a moment that, animated by a Mephistophelean impulse, he were to
envelope his majestic form in a mantle curiously embroidered with
fishing-hooks, long enough and strong enough to hold a barbel ? Dare
she, whose huge example made him err, fling even a feather at her
humble copyist? Nemesis answers, No. Vain then will be her tears,
her penitence, her agony ; for as surely as fashion leads to folly, so with
painful certainty will Blanche be—caught at last.
In conclusion, let it be remembered that he is deserving of honour
who makes two blades of grass to flourish where but one grew before.
What compliments then may Punch not anticipate, when by repealing
a preposterous inclosure Act, a bevy of Beauties is enabled to rotate
upon ground where before it was utterly impossible to plant together
a Brunette and a Blonde ?
The Knot Untied.
The Davenport Brothers, whose extraordinary “ manifestations ”
have been so well shown up by the Rev. A. S. Dobbs, are attended by
three of their countrymen, who act as their expositors. These gentle-
men are taken for Yankees, but it seems more likely that they are
Confederates.