DOI Heft:
August 23, 1884
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17757#0102
August 23, 1884.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
95
THE PROROGATION.
We are glad to know that a suggestion made last year by Toby,
M.P., in respect of the ceremony of the Prorogation by Royal Com-
mission (before the annual exodus to the Moors and the seaside), was
this year adopted. Instead of troubling busy gentlemen like the
Loud Chancellor, Lord Derby, Lord Sydney, Lord Kenmare, and
Lord Monson to dress themselves up in red cloaks and three-
cornered hats, and sit as dummies on a bench before the Woolsack,
the resources of Madame Tussatjd’s Exhibition were called upon to
provide for the occasion. Five figures were selected from the surplus
stock, and, the original costumes being placed at the disposal of the
artist, very little trouble was needed to create counterfeit present-
ments of the Lords Commissioners that would defy detection by
the ordinary observer. A single assistant, hidden in the interior of
the box on which the figures were seated, worked them. On the
Lord Chancellor’s name being read in the Royal Commission, a
string was pulled, the figure brought its right hand from under the
cloak, lifted its hat, replaced it, and the arm returned to the cover
of the cloak. The same with the others, as the names of the Com-
missioners were successively read.
There was a little more trouble in arranging the Clerks, who stand
at either side of the table, one reading out the names of Bills, and
the other announcing the Royal Assent. Happily, the prescribed
action is very regular, and was successfully dealt with. The Clerk,
bowing low to the Lords Commissioners, the one on the right side
of the Table reads out the name of a Bill, at which both figures bow
low again. Then the one on the left slowly turns his head to the
Bar, where the Speaker and Members of the House of Commons
stand, and in melancholy voice intones, “ La reyne le veult! ” A
little ordinary clockwork put this all right. At regular intervals
the figures bowed ; a mumbling noise was heard from the figure on
the right; the figures bowed again, the one on the left slowly turning
its head, and more mumbling was heard.
Some remark was made at the Bar that the reading clerk seemed to
bring his voice from a situation seated low down in his chest, and Mr.
Wiggin took exception to the purity of the accent of the other clerk.
But it was explained to him that it was Norman-French, which of
course differs from that of Stratford-atte-Bow. On the whole, and
bearing in mind that it was the first time the experiment was tried,
it answered admirably. The best proof of its success is found in
the fact that the Speaker, the Members of the House of Commons,
and the other spectators withdrew without the slightest suspicion
that there had been any alteration in the customary arrangements.
The Lord Chancellor and Earl Sydney, secreted in the turreted
Gallery over the Throne, watched the proceedings with much interest.
THOUGHTS UPON THOUGHT READING.
Can it be that, after all, there is something in Thought Reading.
Mr. Gladstone and the Prince oe Wales are affirmed to have both
had their thoughts read—with their own consent and co-operation.
If our thoughts could be read against our wish, we should be incapable
of concealing them, even although we employed words for that pur-
pose, according to a celebrated Diplomatist’s view of the intent to
which we were gifted with speech. But Mr. Gladstone, for example,
would not be liable, if unwilling, to have his thoughts read by Lord
Salisbury, even if the Tory Chief were a Thought Reader as expert
as Mr. Irving Bishop or Mr. Stuart Cumberland.
However, like many other apparent marvels, upon their first pro-
mulgation pronounced impossible or illusory, Thought Reading, after
all, turns out to be mere matter-of-fact known long ago. As usual,
in the case of supposed discoveries, it was a phenomenon evidently
familiar to Shakspeare. See Richard the Third, Act IV., Scene 2.
“ -5T. Rich. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch,
To try if thou be current gold, indeed :
Young Edward lives Think now what I would sav.”
Richard, believing Buckingham to be a Thought Reader, knew
nevertheless that a combined effort on either side was necessary to
enable him to think the thought which he wanted him to read instead
of being told. This is clearly the supposition meant to be conveyed
by the Divine Williams. So in Othello, Act III., Scene 3, when the
Moor declares that he will know lago’s thoughts, I ago answers :
“ You cannot, if my heart were in your hand ;
Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.”
The Divine Williams means to imply that Othello, even if he were
a Thought Reader, could read the thoughts of logo only with Lugo’s
permission. So neither would Mr. Gladstone be able to read any
of Lord Salisbury’s thoughts, except those which Lord Salisbury
might think fit to let him. Nor need anybody suspect the possibility
that among his friends there are some who may be capable of reading
what he thinks of them, and does not wish them to know.
But, given Thought Reading, say by “ brain waves,” who knows
but that it may be practicable, with the concurrence, of mutual
minds, at long distances, through some medium of transmission ; per-
haps a wire, with the Thinker’s forehead at one end, and the Thought
Reader’s knuckles at the other ?
95
THE PROROGATION.
We are glad to know that a suggestion made last year by Toby,
M.P., in respect of the ceremony of the Prorogation by Royal Com-
mission (before the annual exodus to the Moors and the seaside), was
this year adopted. Instead of troubling busy gentlemen like the
Loud Chancellor, Lord Derby, Lord Sydney, Lord Kenmare, and
Lord Monson to dress themselves up in red cloaks and three-
cornered hats, and sit as dummies on a bench before the Woolsack,
the resources of Madame Tussatjd’s Exhibition were called upon to
provide for the occasion. Five figures were selected from the surplus
stock, and, the original costumes being placed at the disposal of the
artist, very little trouble was needed to create counterfeit present-
ments of the Lords Commissioners that would defy detection by
the ordinary observer. A single assistant, hidden in the interior of
the box on which the figures were seated, worked them. On the
Lord Chancellor’s name being read in the Royal Commission, a
string was pulled, the figure brought its right hand from under the
cloak, lifted its hat, replaced it, and the arm returned to the cover
of the cloak. The same with the others, as the names of the Com-
missioners were successively read.
There was a little more trouble in arranging the Clerks, who stand
at either side of the table, one reading out the names of Bills, and
the other announcing the Royal Assent. Happily, the prescribed
action is very regular, and was successfully dealt with. The Clerk,
bowing low to the Lords Commissioners, the one on the right side
of the Table reads out the name of a Bill, at which both figures bow
low again. Then the one on the left slowly turns his head to the
Bar, where the Speaker and Members of the House of Commons
stand, and in melancholy voice intones, “ La reyne le veult! ” A
little ordinary clockwork put this all right. At regular intervals
the figures bowed ; a mumbling noise was heard from the figure on
the right; the figures bowed again, the one on the left slowly turning
its head, and more mumbling was heard.
Some remark was made at the Bar that the reading clerk seemed to
bring his voice from a situation seated low down in his chest, and Mr.
Wiggin took exception to the purity of the accent of the other clerk.
But it was explained to him that it was Norman-French, which of
course differs from that of Stratford-atte-Bow. On the whole, and
bearing in mind that it was the first time the experiment was tried,
it answered admirably. The best proof of its success is found in
the fact that the Speaker, the Members of the House of Commons,
and the other spectators withdrew without the slightest suspicion
that there had been any alteration in the customary arrangements.
The Lord Chancellor and Earl Sydney, secreted in the turreted
Gallery over the Throne, watched the proceedings with much interest.
THOUGHTS UPON THOUGHT READING.
Can it be that, after all, there is something in Thought Reading.
Mr. Gladstone and the Prince oe Wales are affirmed to have both
had their thoughts read—with their own consent and co-operation.
If our thoughts could be read against our wish, we should be incapable
of concealing them, even although we employed words for that pur-
pose, according to a celebrated Diplomatist’s view of the intent to
which we were gifted with speech. But Mr. Gladstone, for example,
would not be liable, if unwilling, to have his thoughts read by Lord
Salisbury, even if the Tory Chief were a Thought Reader as expert
as Mr. Irving Bishop or Mr. Stuart Cumberland.
However, like many other apparent marvels, upon their first pro-
mulgation pronounced impossible or illusory, Thought Reading, after
all, turns out to be mere matter-of-fact known long ago. As usual,
in the case of supposed discoveries, it was a phenomenon evidently
familiar to Shakspeare. See Richard the Third, Act IV., Scene 2.
“ -5T. Rich. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch,
To try if thou be current gold, indeed :
Young Edward lives Think now what I would sav.”
Richard, believing Buckingham to be a Thought Reader, knew
nevertheless that a combined effort on either side was necessary to
enable him to think the thought which he wanted him to read instead
of being told. This is clearly the supposition meant to be conveyed
by the Divine Williams. So in Othello, Act III., Scene 3, when the
Moor declares that he will know lago’s thoughts, I ago answers :
“ You cannot, if my heart were in your hand ;
Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.”
The Divine Williams means to imply that Othello, even if he were
a Thought Reader, could read the thoughts of logo only with Lugo’s
permission. So neither would Mr. Gladstone be able to read any
of Lord Salisbury’s thoughts, except those which Lord Salisbury
might think fit to let him. Nor need anybody suspect the possibility
that among his friends there are some who may be capable of reading
what he thinks of them, and does not wish them to know.
But, given Thought Reading, say by “ brain waves,” who knows
but that it may be practicable, with the concurrence, of mutual
minds, at long distances, through some medium of transmission ; per-
haps a wire, with the Thinker’s forehead at one end, and the Thought
Reader’s knuckles at the other ?