DOI Heft:
November 16, 1867
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16880#0209
NOTE ON THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.
It is a great mistake, Mr. Punch, to suppose that, because we
Britons object to Popery, therefore we hate the Pope. The fact, Sir,
is, on the contrary, that we esteem him, personally, very much. We
believe him to be a good old man, and a jolly one too, for all his woes.
But besides, we entertain a respect for his present Holiness which is
peculiar. He has a great deal in common with one of our own kings,
whom we take to have been wrongheaded but sincere. We admire
Pius the Ninth as we do George tub Third. There is something
grand in the uncompromising obstinacy with which the Pope sticks to
his point, and holds his ground against both the demands of his adver-
saries and the entreaties of his friends. I consider him a fine old
fellow, Sir. “ Justum et tenacem propositi virum.”
Seated, as it were, aloft before the eyes of Europe, environed with
perils, and answering persuasion and remonstrance alike with his
dogged Non Possumus, he exhibits a spectacle of stubbornness which is
absolutely sublime—though a little, to be sure transcending the
border of sublimity. It suggests the associated ideas of “ Capitoli
immobile saxum” and Humpty-Dumpty. The Sovereign Pontiff
won’t give in; he is game, and he will die game—let us hope at an
uncommonly good old age.
The Pope believes in himself and his own pretensions, and he acts
out his belief. He disbelieves in modern progress, philosophy, political
economy and principles altogether ; and he says so. He hates the
freedom of printing and speech, civil and religious liberty, toleration,
and constitutional government all over the world. He detests the
j principles of ’89, and proclaims his detestation of them to his French
protectors. He launches excommunication at the head of the “ Sub-
Alpine King,” and flings a Syllabus in the face of Louis Napoleon.
He condemns and curses all propositions which he considers erroneous
right and left without fear, and with little favour. At any rate, he
sers the whole world of humbugs the example of speaking out; and
his Non Possumus is, in its way, equivalent to our British Protestants’
“ No Surrender.”
Then, Mr. Punch, in his own peculiar way of business see how
thorough the Pope is; how gallantly he goes the whole hog. He
makes Saints as fast as any of his predecessors ever did before him;
holds canonisations wholesale: doesn’t stick at canonising an In-
quisitor. Now, Sir, the anniversary which we have just celebrated
with squibs and crackers suggests one bold thing that his Holiness
might yet do to the encouragement of the faithful and in rebuke of
heretics. Couldn’t he resolve to crown the edifice which he has added
so many bricks to, namely the Calendar, and canonise Guy Fawkes ?
Poor Guy was hanged more than two centuries and a half ago. Is it
not high time that his claims to a niche were recognised ? Then the
Fifth of November might be kept by out-and-outers as the Festival
of St. Guido Fawkes, incendiary and martyr. I should honour the
Pope all the more for this—inasmuch as I am your humble servant.
Consistency.
WEBER IN THE WORKHOUSE.
A poor person died the other day at St. Pancras workhouse from
exhaustion, wanting stimulants and getting none, because the master
had removed the control of the brandy from the doctor, and gone away
leaving it locked up. The guardians have now resolved that the
brandy and other stimulants be placed in charge of the matron and
head nurse of the infirmary, and that they be held responsible for the
immediate administration of those requisites when prescribed by the
medical officer. This resolution doubtless cost the guardians a painful
effort in trying to practise a little humanity. It maybe the means of
saving lives; but the master saved brandy: and this, perhaps, is why
he has been let down so lighr.ly as by mere deposition from the dignity
of “ The Ruler of the Spirits.”
Political Extravagance,
The Trades-Unionists demand the revival of Protection. Political
Economy is as necessary as personal for the labouring classes ; and its
violation will probably lead working men from the Trades-Union to
the Union Workhouse.
19S
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
November 16, 1867.
“the happy pair then left town-”
A melia (who flatters herself they are taken for quite an Old Married Couple). “ Tell me, George, no you like Green Tea, or Black ?”
[.The Waiter winks, the Chambermaid chuckles.
It is a great mistake, Mr. Punch, to suppose that, because we
Britons object to Popery, therefore we hate the Pope. The fact, Sir,
is, on the contrary, that we esteem him, personally, very much. We
believe him to be a good old man, and a jolly one too, for all his woes.
But besides, we entertain a respect for his present Holiness which is
peculiar. He has a great deal in common with one of our own kings,
whom we take to have been wrongheaded but sincere. We admire
Pius the Ninth as we do George tub Third. There is something
grand in the uncompromising obstinacy with which the Pope sticks to
his point, and holds his ground against both the demands of his adver-
saries and the entreaties of his friends. I consider him a fine old
fellow, Sir. “ Justum et tenacem propositi virum.”
Seated, as it were, aloft before the eyes of Europe, environed with
perils, and answering persuasion and remonstrance alike with his
dogged Non Possumus, he exhibits a spectacle of stubbornness which is
absolutely sublime—though a little, to be sure transcending the
border of sublimity. It suggests the associated ideas of “ Capitoli
immobile saxum” and Humpty-Dumpty. The Sovereign Pontiff
won’t give in; he is game, and he will die game—let us hope at an
uncommonly good old age.
The Pope believes in himself and his own pretensions, and he acts
out his belief. He disbelieves in modern progress, philosophy, political
economy and principles altogether ; and he says so. He hates the
freedom of printing and speech, civil and religious liberty, toleration,
and constitutional government all over the world. He detests the
j principles of ’89, and proclaims his detestation of them to his French
protectors. He launches excommunication at the head of the “ Sub-
Alpine King,” and flings a Syllabus in the face of Louis Napoleon.
He condemns and curses all propositions which he considers erroneous
right and left without fear, and with little favour. At any rate, he
sers the whole world of humbugs the example of speaking out; and
his Non Possumus is, in its way, equivalent to our British Protestants’
“ No Surrender.”
Then, Mr. Punch, in his own peculiar way of business see how
thorough the Pope is; how gallantly he goes the whole hog. He
makes Saints as fast as any of his predecessors ever did before him;
holds canonisations wholesale: doesn’t stick at canonising an In-
quisitor. Now, Sir, the anniversary which we have just celebrated
with squibs and crackers suggests one bold thing that his Holiness
might yet do to the encouragement of the faithful and in rebuke of
heretics. Couldn’t he resolve to crown the edifice which he has added
so many bricks to, namely the Calendar, and canonise Guy Fawkes ?
Poor Guy was hanged more than two centuries and a half ago. Is it
not high time that his claims to a niche were recognised ? Then the
Fifth of November might be kept by out-and-outers as the Festival
of St. Guido Fawkes, incendiary and martyr. I should honour the
Pope all the more for this—inasmuch as I am your humble servant.
Consistency.
WEBER IN THE WORKHOUSE.
A poor person died the other day at St. Pancras workhouse from
exhaustion, wanting stimulants and getting none, because the master
had removed the control of the brandy from the doctor, and gone away
leaving it locked up. The guardians have now resolved that the
brandy and other stimulants be placed in charge of the matron and
head nurse of the infirmary, and that they be held responsible for the
immediate administration of those requisites when prescribed by the
medical officer. This resolution doubtless cost the guardians a painful
effort in trying to practise a little humanity. It maybe the means of
saving lives; but the master saved brandy: and this, perhaps, is why
he has been let down so lighr.ly as by mere deposition from the dignity
of “ The Ruler of the Spirits.”
Political Extravagance,
The Trades-Unionists demand the revival of Protection. Political
Economy is as necessary as personal for the labouring classes ; and its
violation will probably lead working men from the Trades-Union to
the Union Workhouse.
19S
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
November 16, 1867.
“the happy pair then left town-”
A melia (who flatters herself they are taken for quite an Old Married Couple). “ Tell me, George, no you like Green Tea, or Black ?”
[.The Waiter winks, the Chambermaid chuckles.