DOI Heft:
June 11, 1881
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17750#0275
June 11, 1881.]
PUNCH, OE THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
269
Vassassin du pere de Patrice. The female interest is, however,
■weak, and the comic portions should be cut out wholesale.
Mr. Byron's Punch at the Vaudeville is disappointing. When he
got this Punch in his eye, our clever and popular Author was
expected to do something with such a favourite subject that would
surpass or at least equal his Our Boys, Upper Crust, and so forth.
But, good as Mr. David James is, and capital as is much of the
dialogue, there is really
so little story, so little
interest; and so little
distinctive "Punch-and-
Judiness" about the
play, that, except for the
title, the hero might
have been a '' galanty-
showman," the proprie-
tor of a "peepshow," a
conjuror, or a provider of
fireworks.
Mr. James as Profes-
sor Mistletoe—with his
delightfully character-
istic "Mistletoe bow,"
which he makes with a
jerk of the head and a
kick of the leg,—and Professor Mistletoe saluting his Brother with-
Mr. Farren as the self- out the politeness of a " Mistletoe Bow."
made man, are simply
Mr. Middlewick in two—a split B. and S.—only the soda is in excess
of the spirit. The tour de force at the end of Act II. shows Mr.
James at his best, and this is the success of the piece.
La Boulangere is bright and sparkling at the Globe. Miss Amadi
good as the Bakeress ; Miss Wad man (from the Gaiety) coming out
strongly as a singeress ; and Miss Maud Taylor the most perfect
little Louis Quinze, about whose per-
formance there is something so fresh,
graceful, and refined, that it is well
worth a visit to La Boulangere to see
a small part played by a small person
of whom there is so little that an audience
La Boulangere. Toinette and the pretty little King; or
A French role — rather the Fifteenth Loo, and ready to take
"Crummy." Miss.
can't make too much of her. She has a dangerous rival, in Paris
at the Folies LJramatiques, who also plays the same little King in
Les Poupees de VInfante, an opera which, we suppose, will be
produced here in the course of the year.
Mr. Toole is amusing tout le monde—•" Toole monde," of course—
at the Folly with his new absurdity, TVelsh Babbits. A provos, as we
have a French Company, a German Company, and two Italian (Opera)
Companies, why not a Welsh Company ? Shakspeare in Welsh!
Now, Mr. Ap-Harris, advertise that for 1883, and we may be 'Appy
yet!
Whether in German or English, if Julius Ccssar were a modern
play by a modern Author, would it stand a chance of any Manager
undertaking its production ? Is it a play " for a nineteenth century
audience ? ' No ; it is a Chronicle in action for a sixteenth century
audience. And a nineteenth century audience says with Christo-
pher Sly, "Avery excellent piece of work, Madame Lady, would
't were done," and then nods in his Cobbler's Stall. Well, perhaps
it's " Bard taste " on the part of the nineteenth century.
a self-evident sell.
On the Derby Day was laid the foundation-stone of a College at
Cambridge in honour of George Augustus-Yes! the surname
begins with " S." Of course everyone who reads the Illustrated
London News guesses—eh ?•—the name is ... . Selwyn !
A SENATORIAL DIARY.
(Very much in the Future.)
Various London Correspondents of provincial newspapers have
been lately publishing "rumours emanating from authentic sources,"
to the effect that Mr. Gladstone contemplates resigning the post of
Chancellor of the Exchequer to Mr. Childers or Sir W. Harcourt,
and accepting a Peerage. In profound horror at the thought,
Mr. Punch feels bound to publish a prospective page from the
future diary of the Premier in the Senate.
Monday.—Go down to the Peers for the first time. Brimful of
subjects; have just composed a capital Peroration to my speech on
Thames Water Bill: also evasive and diplomatic answers to (pro-
bable) questions on Transvaal, Afghanistan, Ireland, &c.: also my
list of arguments for the new scheme for making repentant burglars
eligible for election to the Upper House of Convocation.
6 p.m.—Arrive at House. Doors shut! Ask policeman why.
Policeman very respectful: says House has risen an hour ago:
and it only met at four ! I ask, what has happened to Thames
Water Bill ? Policeman doesn't know, but rather thinks Lord
Redesdale " put it under the Woolsack : " offers to lend me even-
ing paper to see what did happen to Bill. Accept offer with thanks.
Bill read a Second Time without discussion ! And this is called a
Deliberative Assembly! Wonder if Granville did the diplomatic
and evasive answers. Drop into Peers' Gallery of House of Commons.
Splendid and refreshing shindy going on. Randolph more perky,
if possible, than usual. Parnell badgering Forster. Hartington
hitting out splendidly with his left. Wish I were there ! Find
myself constantly catching Speaker's eye : must really get over
this habit. Leave House, and go to see Irving in Othello instead.
Tuesday.—Take luncheon down to House, as 1 am determined to
be in good time to-day : old lady sweeping out the Gilded Chamber,
seems surprised to see me sitting here.
4 p.m.—Question-time, but no questions ! Feel inclined to ask
myself a lot. This comes of there being no Home-Rulers in Upper
House. Who is it who says, " Oh, for one hour of Dandolo ! " Don't
know, think it was Byron. Oh, for only 7ia//-an-hour of Healy !
Wonder if Healy would accept a Peerage on condition of coming
down here and badgering me with questions every evening. Must
sound him about it. Is that a Bishop that I see fast asleep a long
way off at the end of that empty bench r Am just thinking of making
a personal explanation, or asking a few questions (without notice) of
Lords Salisbury, Cranbkook, Lytton, &c, when—House rises !
I ask Granville, bitterly, if Peers are always like this. He smiles,
and says something about 1' a pleasant change after worry of Lower
Chamber." Hopes it will give me "mental repose!" To Peers'
Gallery of Commons again. Dear old Chaplin making no end of a
shindy. Should hardly have known Sir Stafford : he has become
ever so much more vivacious since I left House. Find myself crying
silently several times when I think of my House of Commons days.
Can't stand it any longer. Go off to Exeter Hall, and preside over
a Children's Tea-Party: "to such base uses," &c. Several times
on the point of calling the Superintendent of the children '' the
Right Honourable Lady ! " Must really conquer this habit.
Thursday.—Note from Editor of Nineteenth Century: another from
Editor of Contemporary. Both say "my articles'very good, but
too many of them." Ask me to send them "not more than one article
a week," as their space is limited. Happy Thought—Write a Novel.
Will think about it, and try.
Another letter—from Lytton. Promises to ask me a question to-
night about Ouettah! Good fellow, Lytton ! Wish I hadn't
opposed him so about Candahar, &c.
5 p.m. — House. Attendance as usual — scanty, but dignified.
Thanks to dear old Lytton, have got out my diplomatic and evasive
reply about Afghanistan at last. There were quite three Peers lis-
tening to it,—a more than average audience, Granville assures me.
We all three then go off to dinner, and House rises for another fort-
night.
7 p.m.— Can't help it. Back in Commons—Peers' Gallery—as
before. Fancy Hartington doesn't like my being here and sending
him constant tips as to what answers to give, arguments to use, &c.
Does he feel in a position of greater freedom and less responsibility
when I'm not here, I wonder ? Don't know. Chaplin sparring with
Harcourt to-night. Does it gloriously. Find myself saying, " Go
it, Chaplin ! " aloud every now and then. Usher doesn't seem to
like it. Know I shall get up and address the House before long.
Ouery, would Gosset turn me out if I did ? Listen to Chaplin for
two happy hours. Never thought I should get to like Chaplin as
much as I do. Would he accept Peerage, I wonder ?
Next Morning, or soon after.—Have resigned Peerage ! Hurrah !
Never felt so happy. Couldn't stand it any longer. " Better fifty
hours of Healy," than any amount of the Upper Chamber. Pass on
title to Herbert, go a trip in Grantully Castle, give up Nineteenth
Century and Contemporary, stand for Northampton, and there I am !
PUNCH, OE THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
269
Vassassin du pere de Patrice. The female interest is, however,
■weak, and the comic portions should be cut out wholesale.
Mr. Byron's Punch at the Vaudeville is disappointing. When he
got this Punch in his eye, our clever and popular Author was
expected to do something with such a favourite subject that would
surpass or at least equal his Our Boys, Upper Crust, and so forth.
But, good as Mr. David James is, and capital as is much of the
dialogue, there is really
so little story, so little
interest; and so little
distinctive "Punch-and-
Judiness" about the
play, that, except for the
title, the hero might
have been a '' galanty-
showman," the proprie-
tor of a "peepshow," a
conjuror, or a provider of
fireworks.
Mr. James as Profes-
sor Mistletoe—with his
delightfully character-
istic "Mistletoe bow,"
which he makes with a
jerk of the head and a
kick of the leg,—and Professor Mistletoe saluting his Brother with-
Mr. Farren as the self- out the politeness of a " Mistletoe Bow."
made man, are simply
Mr. Middlewick in two—a split B. and S.—only the soda is in excess
of the spirit. The tour de force at the end of Act II. shows Mr.
James at his best, and this is the success of the piece.
La Boulangere is bright and sparkling at the Globe. Miss Amadi
good as the Bakeress ; Miss Wad man (from the Gaiety) coming out
strongly as a singeress ; and Miss Maud Taylor the most perfect
little Louis Quinze, about whose per-
formance there is something so fresh,
graceful, and refined, that it is well
worth a visit to La Boulangere to see
a small part played by a small person
of whom there is so little that an audience
La Boulangere. Toinette and the pretty little King; or
A French role — rather the Fifteenth Loo, and ready to take
"Crummy." Miss.
can't make too much of her. She has a dangerous rival, in Paris
at the Folies LJramatiques, who also plays the same little King in
Les Poupees de VInfante, an opera which, we suppose, will be
produced here in the course of the year.
Mr. Toole is amusing tout le monde—•" Toole monde," of course—
at the Folly with his new absurdity, TVelsh Babbits. A provos, as we
have a French Company, a German Company, and two Italian (Opera)
Companies, why not a Welsh Company ? Shakspeare in Welsh!
Now, Mr. Ap-Harris, advertise that for 1883, and we may be 'Appy
yet!
Whether in German or English, if Julius Ccssar were a modern
play by a modern Author, would it stand a chance of any Manager
undertaking its production ? Is it a play " for a nineteenth century
audience ? ' No ; it is a Chronicle in action for a sixteenth century
audience. And a nineteenth century audience says with Christo-
pher Sly, "Avery excellent piece of work, Madame Lady, would
't were done," and then nods in his Cobbler's Stall. Well, perhaps
it's " Bard taste " on the part of the nineteenth century.
a self-evident sell.
On the Derby Day was laid the foundation-stone of a College at
Cambridge in honour of George Augustus-Yes! the surname
begins with " S." Of course everyone who reads the Illustrated
London News guesses—eh ?•—the name is ... . Selwyn !
A SENATORIAL DIARY.
(Very much in the Future.)
Various London Correspondents of provincial newspapers have
been lately publishing "rumours emanating from authentic sources,"
to the effect that Mr. Gladstone contemplates resigning the post of
Chancellor of the Exchequer to Mr. Childers or Sir W. Harcourt,
and accepting a Peerage. In profound horror at the thought,
Mr. Punch feels bound to publish a prospective page from the
future diary of the Premier in the Senate.
Monday.—Go down to the Peers for the first time. Brimful of
subjects; have just composed a capital Peroration to my speech on
Thames Water Bill: also evasive and diplomatic answers to (pro-
bable) questions on Transvaal, Afghanistan, Ireland, &c.: also my
list of arguments for the new scheme for making repentant burglars
eligible for election to the Upper House of Convocation.
6 p.m.—Arrive at House. Doors shut! Ask policeman why.
Policeman very respectful: says House has risen an hour ago:
and it only met at four ! I ask, what has happened to Thames
Water Bill ? Policeman doesn't know, but rather thinks Lord
Redesdale " put it under the Woolsack : " offers to lend me even-
ing paper to see what did happen to Bill. Accept offer with thanks.
Bill read a Second Time without discussion ! And this is called a
Deliberative Assembly! Wonder if Granville did the diplomatic
and evasive answers. Drop into Peers' Gallery of House of Commons.
Splendid and refreshing shindy going on. Randolph more perky,
if possible, than usual. Parnell badgering Forster. Hartington
hitting out splendidly with his left. Wish I were there ! Find
myself constantly catching Speaker's eye : must really get over
this habit. Leave House, and go to see Irving in Othello instead.
Tuesday.—Take luncheon down to House, as 1 am determined to
be in good time to-day : old lady sweeping out the Gilded Chamber,
seems surprised to see me sitting here.
4 p.m.—Question-time, but no questions ! Feel inclined to ask
myself a lot. This comes of there being no Home-Rulers in Upper
House. Who is it who says, " Oh, for one hour of Dandolo ! " Don't
know, think it was Byron. Oh, for only 7ia//-an-hour of Healy !
Wonder if Healy would accept a Peerage on condition of coming
down here and badgering me with questions every evening. Must
sound him about it. Is that a Bishop that I see fast asleep a long
way off at the end of that empty bench r Am just thinking of making
a personal explanation, or asking a few questions (without notice) of
Lords Salisbury, Cranbkook, Lytton, &c, when—House rises !
I ask Granville, bitterly, if Peers are always like this. He smiles,
and says something about 1' a pleasant change after worry of Lower
Chamber." Hopes it will give me "mental repose!" To Peers'
Gallery of Commons again. Dear old Chaplin making no end of a
shindy. Should hardly have known Sir Stafford : he has become
ever so much more vivacious since I left House. Find myself crying
silently several times when I think of my House of Commons days.
Can't stand it any longer. Go off to Exeter Hall, and preside over
a Children's Tea-Party: "to such base uses," &c. Several times
on the point of calling the Superintendent of the children '' the
Right Honourable Lady ! " Must really conquer this habit.
Thursday.—Note from Editor of Nineteenth Century: another from
Editor of Contemporary. Both say "my articles'very good, but
too many of them." Ask me to send them "not more than one article
a week," as their space is limited. Happy Thought—Write a Novel.
Will think about it, and try.
Another letter—from Lytton. Promises to ask me a question to-
night about Ouettah! Good fellow, Lytton ! Wish I hadn't
opposed him so about Candahar, &c.
5 p.m. — House. Attendance as usual — scanty, but dignified.
Thanks to dear old Lytton, have got out my diplomatic and evasive
reply about Afghanistan at last. There were quite three Peers lis-
tening to it,—a more than average audience, Granville assures me.
We all three then go off to dinner, and House rises for another fort-
night.
7 p.m.— Can't help it. Back in Commons—Peers' Gallery—as
before. Fancy Hartington doesn't like my being here and sending
him constant tips as to what answers to give, arguments to use, &c.
Does he feel in a position of greater freedom and less responsibility
when I'm not here, I wonder ? Don't know. Chaplin sparring with
Harcourt to-night. Does it gloriously. Find myself saying, " Go
it, Chaplin ! " aloud every now and then. Usher doesn't seem to
like it. Know I shall get up and address the House before long.
Ouery, would Gosset turn me out if I did ? Listen to Chaplin for
two happy hours. Never thought I should get to like Chaplin as
much as I do. Would he accept Peerage, I wonder ?
Next Morning, or soon after.—Have resigned Peerage ! Hurrah !
Never felt so happy. Couldn't stand it any longer. " Better fifty
hours of Healy," than any amount of the Upper Chamber. Pass on
title to Herbert, go a trip in Grantully Castle, give up Nineteenth
Century and Contemporary, stand for Northampton, and there I am !