Punch (66.1874)

January 17, 1874.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

23


SKULLS IN SAFE KEEPING.

rvotedly, His Holi-
ness the Pope (ac-
cording to the
Times' Special
Correspondent at
Rome), is busily
engaged in trans-
ferring the various
relics, heretofore pre-
served in the Roman
Churches, to the Vati-
can, lest they should
be desecrated by the
hands of sub-Alpine
unbelievers :—

left to them. The officers of the Oronoque have not been seen in Rome to-day.”

“ With this view, he
has already withdrawn the
heads of the Apostles Peter
and Paul from a Passionist
monastery, and that of St.
John the Baptist from a
Clarissan nunnery. The
pious sisterhood who had
this latter precious skull in
their keeping, expressed to
His Holiness their regret at
parting with the relic, but
begged to be allowed, by
way of consolation, at least
to retain the reliquary ; and
the empty wooden box, all
studded with jewels, was

Heretics will not fail to draw comparisons between the acts of the Pope, in respect of the
Apostles’ heads, so called, and the acts of the Apostles themselves. Let them. Those latest
acts of his have a political significance. Of course, there is now no fear that the Holy Father
entertains any idea of quitting Rome. It is incredible that he has not made up his mind to
abide by the sacred and osteological treasures which he has amassed at the Vatican. If he
were to leave them behind him there, what would become of them ? The alleged heads of the

Saints above-named would, perhaps, he
transferred to a museum of anatomy, by
authorities who would not consider them
stamped as genuine with the seal of Infal-
libility. Sceptical phrenologists would pro-
bably procure casts to he taken of them,
with a view to see whether their conforma-
tion was what it ought to he if they were
authentic. No; the Pope cannot choose
but stay by the heads of the Apostles and
the Saint—miraculously preserved for above
eighteen centuries. To any counsellor who
might advise him to decamp, his reply
would he, Non possunius. Now, therefore,
it is evident that the French Government
has no longer the faintest shadow of reason
or excuse for keeping the frigate Oronoque
one moment longer on the station which
she has so long offensively occupied off
Civita Vecchia.

AN INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

“ What is Manzanilla ? ”

’Tis a kind of wine
Drunk in many a villa,

Where small parties dine.

’Tis a wine, though known as
One of Sherry’s shapes,

Not like Desdemona's,

That was made of grapes.

This, we ’re told the way to
Make on British soil :—
Brandy—bad—potato
Spirit, fusel oil,

Oil of almonds bitter,

Wine-cask wash quant: suff:—
For the table fitter
Fancy any stuff!

IN IlE REREDOS.

QUOTH DEAN FREEMAN.

(See the Exeter Case.)

A Second Domitian, a new Diocletian,

These times to High Churchmen will bring out,

If, in hot persecution, with no retribution,

A Temple can thus take his fling out;

A Phillpots—for beagle—allowed to inveigle—

O ciuantule, ex quanto, sacerdos !■—

In his Court, which I don’t own, declaring he won’t own
As legal, my extra-high Reredos.

’Tis time for my moan in Priest’s Latin intoning,

As an Anglican Dean rightly zealous,

Called to face, as offender, the mercies untender
Of Temple,—that scourge,—and his fellows.

Infelix Ecclesice, heus, decus,

Ore Templi projectum in akeno,

An sit Iscce dorsale, aut Pontificate
Liddell * Barnabce Baldacchino !

O’er rough places and plain they won’t let us give rein,
On our ride, priestly, post-haste, to Rome still,

The Anglican stipends we stoop to retain
Should their owners, they say, keep at home still.

Will have no introducing, and won’t see a use in
Rome’s ritual, with no Romish right to—

Her moppings and mowings, her bobbings and bowings,
Bells, vestments, incensings, and lights, too.

’Tis enough saints to fret—they forbid us to set
The Church ’bove the Law in our borders,

Till the priest and his functions no reverence can get
But respect for his mere holy orders.

Nay—what could we be less ?—we ’re not free to confess,
A thing every M.P. is free to—

And—vile persecution—on priest’s absolution
And its white-washing power they clap veto.

T. carnifex, perge—deny to the Clergy
All the powers to a priesthood belonging ;

* Liddeli, gen : Lat: Liddell—Rev. R. understood.

So far from being ever in the right, we are never—

If their judgments can put us the wrong in.

Law of Church has turned fetterer; to “ Quod semper, et cetera,”
These heretics give a new reading—

“ But give Ritualism scope, and you ’ll find that for rope
To hang itself ever ’tis pleading.”

While “obedience” is rule, for the priests of our school
That rule only holds on conditions :

Obey the Priest: true : but the Bishop ? not you—

Unless he accepts our positions.

If the Bench dare to raise, in these heretic days,

As they’re apt, in the priests’ teeth their horn up,

We spit at their ruling, we kick at their schooling,

Their orders we tear, in our scorn, up!

They may prate of humility, preach up docility,

As virtues for special Church benison,

That’s all very well, till your Bishops rebel,

Then follow example of Denison.

Kick over the ropes, cry up candles and copes,

Mariolatry, bows, genuflexions,

Baldacchino and reredos, and uphold sacerdos
’Gainst bishops’ and laymen’s objections !

PEERAGE FROM THE PHCENIX-CITY.

Our friends the Americans are thought to take a good deal of
interest in the British aristocracy. That such interest is an intelli-
gent one is clear from the following Wheatstone which we have just
cut from the leading Chicago paper :—

“ GREAT BRITAIN.

“ THE DUKE OP ELDRLDGE.

“ London, Nov. 16.—It is said that Sir John, the Duke of Eldridge,
will be elevated to the Peerage.”

The eminent Baronet, who is also a Duke, and yet not a Peer, will
be glad to hear the good news of his approaching elevation. If he
will come and lunch with us, and talk it over, we will ask the noble-
man who was the other day Sir John Duke Coleridge to meet
him. Would he be surprised to read the above ?