Punch (99.1890)

220

PUNCH, OK THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [November 8, 1890.

The R. L. Oh, I think you are so right. Because, after all, it is
only a Pastel, isn't it ? and it oughtn't to pretend to he anything else.
{She looks reproachfully at the too ambitious Pastel.) And it isn't
as if it was successful, either—it won't hear heing looked into
at all closely.

The 8. P. Ton should never look at a Pastel closely; they are
meant to he seen from a distance.

The R. L. {brightly). Or else you miss the effect ? I quite see.
Now, I like this—{indicating a vague and streaky little picture)—
don't you ? That's whit I call a real Pastel.

The S. P. {screicing up his eyes). H'm' Yes. Perhaps. Clever-
ish. Suggestive.

The R. L. {shocked). Oh, do you think so ? I don't see anything
of that kind in it—at least, I don't think it can he intentional.

The S. P. The beauty of Art is to suggest, to give work for the
imagination.

The R. L. {recovering herself). I know so exactly what you mean
—just as one makes all sorts of things out of the patches of damp on
an old ceiling ?

The S. P. Hardly. I should define Damp as the product of
Nature—not Art.

'The R. L. Oh, yes; if you put it in that way, of course ! I only
meant it as an illustration—the two things are really as different as
possible. {Changes the subject.) They don't seem to mind what
coloured paper they use for Pastels, do they ?

The S. P. {oracularly). It is—er—always advisable in Pastels to
use a tone of paper to harmonise as nearly as possible with the par-
ticular tone you—er—want. Because, you see, as the colour
doesn't always _ cov°r the whole of the paper, if the paper which
shows through is different in tone, it—er-—-

The R. L. Won't match? I see. How clever! {She arrives at
a highly eccentric composition, and ventures upon an independent
opinion.) Now I can't say I care for that—there's so very little done
to it, and what there is is so glaring and crude, don't you think ?
I call it stupid.

The S. P. I was just about to say that it is the cleverest thing in
the Exhibition—from an artistic point of view. No special interest
in it, but the soheme of colour very harmonious—and very decorative.

The R. L. Oh, isn't it ? That's just the right word for it—it is
so decorative! and I do like the scheme of colour. Yes, it's very
clever. I quite feel that about it. (With a gush.) It is so nice
looking at pictures with somebody who has exactly the same tastes
as oneself. And I always was fond of pastilles !

A Pavement Pastellisl {to a friend). Well, Jim, I dunno what you
think, but I call it a sheliin' clean chucked away, I do. I come in
yere,—hearin' as all the subjicks was done in chorks, same as I do
my own—I come in on the chance o' pickin' up a notion or two
as might be useful to me in my perfessiou. But, Lor, they ain't got
a ideer among 'em, that they ain't! They ain't took the measure
of the popilar taste not by a nundred miles, they 'aven't. Why, I
ain't seen a single thing as I 'd reckincile it to my conscience to
perduee before my public—there ain't 'ardly a droring in the'ole
bloomin' show as I'd be seen settin' down beyind! Put down some
of these 'ere Pastellers to do a mouse a nibbling at a candle, or a
battle in the Soudang, or a rat sniffia' at a smashed hegg, and
you'd soon see they was no good ! Precious few coppers 'ud fall
into their 'ats, I '11 go bail! [Exit indignantly, as Scene closes.

EXCELLENT EXAMPLE.

In a recent trial for Breach of Promise, a letter was read from
Defendant saying that '' he must now get a monkey ;" whereupon the
" learned Under-Sheriff," as reported in the Daily Telegraph, ex-
claimed, " A Monkey ! What the goodness does he mean ? " Now,
isn't that better than saying, "What the deuce?" Of course, no
doubt the learned Under-Sheriff is sufficiently learned to remember the
old rhyme „ jnere wa3 an 0j<j man 0f Domingo

Who'd a habit of swearing, ' By Jingo !'
But a friend having come
Who suggested ' By Gum !'
He preferred it at once to ' By Jingo!' "

The goodness of the learned Under-Sheriff is worthy of all praise,
and of general imitation.

Sweets to the Sweet.—It is stated that one of the features of
the Lord Mayor's Show this year is to be a Detachment of the Sur-
vivors of the Balaclava Charge. This is an excellent idea, that may
be developed to almost any extent. Could we not have the Hero who
had read every Novel that has been published during the last six
months; the Brave Man who has been to every Dramatic Matinee
since January; and the Scorner of Death, who has existed during
an entire season in the odours (sweet, or otherwise) of Kensington and
Tyburnia ? The latter on the present oocasion might immediately
precede the Lord Mayob Elect, for, by association of ideas, he would,
certainly serve as an excellent foil to Mr. Alderman Sayoby!

OPERATIC NOTES.

Monday.—Rentree of Miss Maggie McIntyre, appropriately enough
as Marguerite. " She's Macintyrely first-rate," says our blase young
man, on being caught napping after the Opera,
and interviewed on the spot, " but can't say much
for the rest,"—except the rest he took himself. _

Tuesday.—Our blase young man went to this,
but as we only saw him for a moment passing in
a cab, when he looked out, and bade us a " Good
night," we can only suppose that it was " a good
night" at the Opera. He writes to say that the
performance of The Huguenots was excellent,
Giulta Ravogli being specially good, but the
draughts too strong. What draughts f

Wednesday.—La Gioconda. A good perform-
ance all round. But the night specially memor-
able as being the first appearance of Miss Geace
Damian on the stage of the Royal Italian Opera
anywhere. It is a good omen for her that she
appeared in Signor Ponchielli's Opera, the com-
Our Reporter hoff to p0ser being a distant connection of the great
the Hopera. ancient Italian family of the Ponctnelli, of
which Mr. Punch is now the chief universal representative. It
is a remarkable fact, too, showing the strong force of canine attach-
ment, which centuries cannot obliterate, that the Libretto of La
Gioconda, set to music by Signor Ponchiklxi (the "h" came in

when the genuine liquid " n" was
dropped) was written by Tobia
Gorrio. That an Opera, written by
Tobia, or Toby, and com-
^ posed by Puncinello,
should possess all the ele-
ments of success, goes with-
out saying. We welcome
Signor Galassi (a sporting
title, reminding us of Gay
Lass), with Mabia Peri (who must
appear in II Paradiso), and Giui-ia
Ravogli. Her Grace of Daman
made a most successful debut as La
Cieca, and was cheered to the echo.
Thank Heaven, there isn't an echo ia
Covent Garden—but, if there had
been, Echo would have repeated hos-
pitably the "good cheer" a dozen
times, as she does somewhere about
'iBHi IV*MW Kvliarney. Sisnor Lago stars " Her
pr}_^mmlum^ Majesty the Queen " at the head of

his bill, but it is only to say that Her

Miss Damian as La Cieca feeling G-raei0U8 Majesty has been graciously
her way. pleased to honour him by subscribing

for the Royal Box during the present season, which is, in effeot,
saying that he has let the best box in the house for a Sovereign !

Thursday Night.—Albani as the unhappy Traviata. Big and
enthusiastic House. Signor Padilla, as the Elder Germont, excel-
lent, and just contrived most gracefully to refuse the honour of
an encore for his '' Di Provenza." Since Ronconi, it is difficult to call
to mind an artist equal histrionically to Signor Padilla, who is so
grave and impressive at, that utter bore, "the Elder Germont" so gay
and eccentric as Figaro, and so dashing and reckless as the unscru-
pulous Don Giovanni. That milksop, Germont Junior, known as
Alfredo, was adequately played by Signor Giannini, whose name,
were it spelt Gia-" ninny," would partly describe the character he
represented.

.Friday Night.—Our blase young man writes to say, "I am
suffering from effects of draughts at Opera. Think it must be some
Operatic air which has given me cold. It's a gruel case for yours
truly."

Saturday Night.—Occasion described as "popular;" and, conse-
quently, II Trovatore announced. a little old-fashioned, but what
of that ? Yeedi just the composer "to keep your memory green."
Alas! cold once more to the froat. The blase one still off duty, so
no reliable report to hand. No doubt everything passed off plea-
santly. Manrico obviously, when on the stage, more of a man than
Germont Junior. The standing line has been, "large audience muoh
pleased with the entertainment." Altogether a successful week.

Mem. fob Visitors to London.—Don't forget to look in at the
bird-pictures of Stacey Marks, R.A. Stay, see Marks! See
Marks! They are land-marks in the history of Modern Art.

Mb. Punch's Prize Novels.—No. VI., " Thrums on the Auld
String" next week.