On this page
-
Text (3)
-
what memorial and allegorical of statuar...
-
THE INDICATOR VINDICATED. The Indicators...
-
GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI. This remarkable man,...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Officers And Gentlemen". Eybrx One Has T...
sazed upon the portentous figures who lounge fbout the doors of West-end clubs , ^ and . ^ ang out of the windows of fashionable barracks . Their elaborate dress , their luxuriant whiskers , their supercilious air , and their martial tone of voice ; have been to us objects of wondering contemplation . They toil not , neither do they spin . Solomon in all his glory , was , most certainly , not arrayed like one of these . They have always massive gold chains hanging to then-waistcoat buttons ; they have always gold sovereigns jingling in their pockets ; they always ride in Hansom cabs ; their coats are always new ; and the expression of care—perhaps even of thought—is always absent from their aristocratic faces . They are creatures of a different mould from us common men—not to be judged ot by the same standard , or meted with the same
learnt wisdom . As far as they personally are concerned , we should be well content to leave them to their congenial pursuits . The more important consideration for the public arises from the fact that all these worthies were men of fortune and position—we will say nothing about education . If the reputation of the army is to be maintained , such things should be stopped with a high hand . There is such an offence as " conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman . Is not this a case in point ? " '
measure . Their daily life is hidden from common vision . What they do all day long , what they talk about amongst themselves , and still more , what they think about , are mysteries not disclosed to vulgar eyes . It is only from time to time that we catch a glimpse of their pastimes and occupations . One of these rare and cherished opportunities has been of late vouchsafed to us . It seems that on the evening of the 8 th of this month a party of our military heroes were in want of amusement . When the gods of Epicurus " teste Tennyson , " were tired of their conquests and their loves , they were wont to amuse themselves by watching the
turmoil that their thunderbolts created amongst common men . In like manner , our barrack-room and garrison-to"wn gods : were weary of their own company , and , god-like , sought to create amusement by interfering with the affairs of the inferior creation . Veni , vidi , vici , was to be the motto of the evening ' s sport . They drove down to Cremorne Gardens , the . favourite resort of cockney pleasure-seekers in this sultry weather , and looked out for objects for innocent recreation . It was the witching hour of midnight , and drink lent enchantment to the scene . One . of the party ,
a Mr . Wilson , was already not unknown to fame , on the self-same arena . Haroun Alraschid assumed an alias when he" went forth at night to watch the fortunes of his liege subjects , and sometimes got into trouble . How , therefore , shall we blame Mr . George Wilson , if , under this somewhat ordinary appellation , he chose to hide the glories of his name , and if an ungrateful public did not aj ) - preciate the marks of true aristocracy which surrounded his presence ? On a previous occasion—as little time ago , indeed , as the late Derby nighfc—Mr . WilsoiiAhad been given into custody for
insulting and annoying visitors at the gardens ; but the charge had been dropped by Mr . Simpson , the lessee of the place , on the prisoner ' s apologising , and pledging himself not to repeat the offence . This promise might have been an obstacle in th e way of common minds , but Mr . Wilson ' s free spirit was not to be shackled by such slight impediments as a mere promise . The amusements of great minds are proverbially simple , and so were those of Mr , Wilson and his friends . They hustled every gentleman who passed , and insulted every lady . Then they knocked down one waiter , threw
a chair at another ' s head , and , in Yankee phrase , liquored again . The classic sport of bonnetting a policeman was , of course , not omitted , and the volleys of oaths were discharged with due regularity . Mi-. Wilson , however , aspired to immortalise himself , and to rise above the dead level of mediocrity . Seeing a waiter standing by , o \ vc hero tore the stripes off the man ' s arm and twisted them round his neck , till ho fainted with suffocation . At this the police interfered , and , in spite of a gallant attempt at rescue made by Mr . Wilson ' s friends and admirers , succeeded in carrying him off with
three , pf his fellow rioters . After an investigation , tho prisoners were admitted to bail . At tho final examination this week , Mr . Wilson was not forthcoming , and his own and his friend ' s recognisances , to the amount of 401 . each , w » v < i forfeited , bo that Mi \ Wilson will have to pay 40 / . for tho pleasure of his spree , and his friend will lrovo to pay the same aum for the pleasure of his friendship . Whether , in either caae , the article was worth tlio Price , is a matter of opinion . Captain Baird was finod 71 . for the assault , and his own reoognisanoo was . also forfeited for non-appearance at tho proper wwe . Ensign Osborne ana Mr . Johnson wore bound over to keep tho peace . These gentlemen have all had to pay pretty clearl y for their whistle , ft » d wo trust may have
What Memorial And Allegorical Of Statuar...
ttb . 487 . Jm * 23 : i 85 Q . T THE XEADEB . 867
The Indicator Vindicated. The Indicators...
THE INDICATOR VINDICATED . The Indicators have won the day . Light has prevailed over darkness . The Emperor Napoleon turned aside from the walls of Verona , and in like manner Mr . Cowper and the powers of darkness have retired in defeat from their attack on the illuminated pillar . If they have not knocked their heads against a brick wall they have grazed their shins against an iron post , liet innovators and reformers be silent ! Henceforth " illuminated columns" an established institution , and will abide accordingly . Vested interests will gather round them . All we have to do is to accept them as a ' ¦ ' ¦ fait accompli" and make the , best of them .
what memorial and allegorical groups of statuary are only too well . Some day or other the hoarding will be removed . The veiled prophet will reveal his features . Lucky for us if our fate is not that of Moore ' s heroine . But of all standing nuisances the new clock-tower at Westminster is the worst . We Can pardon the hideousness of the clock-face . Indeed its resemblance to the pantomimic clock-face of youth * through which the clown used to jump upon the stage , is consistent with the ginger-bread appearance of the tower . It is true that the hands on two of the four faces do not move at all ; that one hand alone wriggles feebly round the third ,
and that the hands of the fourth face move by spasmodic jerks , and then cease their action . We could forgive all this , if it were not for that odious gong which strikes the hours . We remember , years ago , seeing a French p lay which ended with the departure of all the " dramatis persona ? " to the infernal regions , amidst a burst of lurid light and the ringing of a bell , which was termed the " crack of doom . " The horrors created by this spectacle are daily or rather nightly revived by the booming of this new instrument of torture . We are afraid to go to bed before midnight , and are not surprised to learn that the demand for laudanum is increasing rapidly . Heaven protect Mr . Beckett Denison from the curses which are nightly showered
upon his head . We mig ht go on multiplying examples indefinitely . Our position is , that , the monuments of London are neither Useful nor ornamental . Si monumenium requiras cirewnspice . If you want a proof , look around the streets , and you will be converted to our faith at once . Now , our indicator is useful . The clock at the top is a good clock , which tells , the time , and looks clear and cheerful ; the information contained upon the sides is decidedly valuable . It is pleasant for an idle man t 6
combine instruction with entertainment . _ After you have feasted your eyes upon the beauties iii the park , ' it is pleasant to come and pick up a stray bit of knowledge from our illuminated instructor . We like to speculate upon the distances we mig ht ride if we had money in our pocket to pay the cab fare . We feel a deep though abstract interest in the state of the thermometer and the direction of the wind . As for the advertisements , we can only say that if you don ' t like them you need not read them .
Perhaps there , is not much to be said positively in favour of our friend the indicator , but there is a great deal to be urged negatively . What we of the un-aristocratic , un-ofncial , and un-artistic classes wish to urge is , that there should be fair play for all . If our lamp-post is to be knocked down by Act of Parliament because it is vulgar , unapproved of by exalted patrons , and put up by a lot of tradesmen , let us be allowed , in return , to pull down one or two of the aristocratic outrages upon good taste and public convenience . If we might only topple over the Duke of York and cut off the clapper of the Westminster clock , wo would allow the illuminator to be smas hed without a protest . Then , and not till then .
Every body has had their shy at the unfortunate erection . The whole of that mysterious body , who contribute voluntary efiusions to periodicals in want of matter , under peculiar pseudonyms , have had their innings . Every species of missile , from the rattling , faking grape-shot of " Belgravia" to the feeble peniiy pop-gun of " Nemo , " has been discharged against the luckless pillar . It is a wonder if there is a pane lef t unbroken , or if the feeblest glimmer of light is still lef t a burning . Well , the anti-indicators have done their worst . In the
words of Lord Eldon ' s reply to the dissenting deputation , having inade their protest , the next best thing they can do is to go home and mind their own business . Now that the fury of the attack has subsided , let us , dodging round the lamp-post to avoid stray shot , speak a good word for our calumniated pillar of refuge . We " will confess at once that bur pillar is rather useful than ornamental . Unfortunately , the majority of structures which adorn the streets of London are neither useful nor ornamental . If
you once admit the high-art principle with reference to our public monuments , goodness only knows to what revolutionary conclusions you rnay not be logically forced . Why , for instance , is the view of every window in the neighbourhood of Hydepark-corner obstructed by that dreadful stone centaur . If the " Commandant" of Don Juan were perpetually grinning through ^ your window panes , he would be decidedly less objectionable . If , under the joint influence of lobster and of nightmaro , the Noah on horseback of one ' s childish days were to swell before your mental vision to the size
of Wyatt ' s statue , he would be more graceful and lifelike in bis attitude . Nobody , however , proposes to pull down the duke . Where there is room for this immense monstrosity , there surely might be place found fpr one little lamp-post . Look again at the column of the Duke of York . We have never been able to learn what claims his royal highness possessed to statuary fame ; but _ of this wo are certain , that however great his sins may have been , not even a royal duke could have sinned enough to deserve such a posthumous and perpetual pillory . "Why , too , are one ' s religious and artistic feeling ' s outraged at one and tlio same time by tlio image of George IV . on the sxuninit of Bloomsbury eteeple . His , moral character is not pleasant to contemplate ; his outward image is equally unpleasant to look upon . " Wo have every respect u A ^ v vt'vvvV * ' * ** *¦ * " ** ^ w —— **^ * rmw-w ^ m *¦•* w w w -w p "" . « w — " * ^ — — ¦ ¦ - t
^ for Dr . Jenner . We are duly grateful for the consideration , that if ho had never found out the system of vaccination , and if nobody else had found it out , and if we lwd happened to catch the malady our face might have been scarred with small-pox . But whyisCUariug-oross to be disfigured , in consequence , with , a sort of stone pock-mark of an cfllgyr Sir Robert Peel may have been a great man , but why is oux * daily journey CJity-warda to be obstructed at the most crowded corner of Choapside by a stone image of the defunct statesman , a sort of half-breed between a beadle and a bank-director . Thou there is a new trial to come . Ere long we shall have the Guards ' Memorial at the bottom of Waterloo-place . It is no use telling us we have never aeon it . Wo know what it will bo without seeing it . Wo know
Giuseppe Garibaldi. This Remarkable Man,...
GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI . This remarkable man , who has rendered such important servico to the allies during the late war in Italy , has been conspicuous for courage and daring in the various revolutionary movements of Italy from 1884 downwards . Ho was , born at Nice , July 4 th , 1807 , and on attaining the ago of adolescence entered the Sardinian navy , in which ho remamoa until his twenty-seventh year . In consequence o * the share he took in the troubles succeeding J » a ^ , ho was compelled to quit Italy , and did not ^ ovisit his native laud for some years . Ho wont to I * ranee for a time , and afterwards obtained service with the Dey of Tunis . Tired with the monotony ot his position , ho sought fbr scones of " <*™ mvure more congenial withiiis tastes in South America . As a republican in tho republic of Uruguay he formed lis fnmoua Itnlian leg ion , which rendered itself so formidable to tho troops of Buonos Ayres . Tlio outbreak of tho Italian revolution of ' 48 gave him ? he oppo ^ ni ? y for which he ardently longed , of bringing his bravo band to Europe , and emlyS m tho cause of his country \ gauwt not only tho Austrinns but also tho Frenoh . Garibaldi ' s mode of procedure has boon widely divore o fi-om that of his follow ropublioan , Mazzxxxi . Tho aptitude shown hy tho latter for kqep-
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), July 23, 1859, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23071859/page/15/
-