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THE INDICATOR VINDICATED -
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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.
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cazed upon the portentous figures who lounge about the doors of West-end , clubs , and hang out of the -windows of fashionable barracks . _ lneir elaborate 'dress , their luxuriant whiskers , their supercilious ah-, and their martial tone of voice , have been to us objects of wondering contemplation . They toil not , neither do they spin .. Solomon , In ad his glory , was , most certainly , not arrayed have massive
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 / act 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 ? '
like one ofthese . They always gold chains hanging to their 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 thenaristocratic faces . They are creatures of a different mould from us common men—not to be judged of by the sanie standard , or meted with the same
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 , " loves
were tired of their conquests and their , they were wont to amuse themselves by watching the turmoil that their thunderbolts created amongst common men . In like manner , bur barrack-room and garrison-town gods were weary of their own company , and , god-like , sought to create amuse rment 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 drink lent
the witching hour of midnight , and 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 wo blame Stir . George Wilson , if , under this somewhat ordinary appellation , he chose to hide the glories of Ms name , and . if an ungrateful public did not appreciate the marks of true aristocracy which surrounded his presence ? On a previous occasion- ^ -as
little time ago , indeed , as the late Derby nignt—Mr ; Wilson had 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 the way of common minds , but Mr . Wilson ' s free spirit was not to be shackled by such slight impediments ns a mere promise . The amusements of great minds are proverbially simple , and so were those of Mr . Wilson and his friends , They hulstled
every gentleman who passed , and insulted every lady . Then they knocked down one , waiter , tlirew a chair at another ' s head , and , in Yankee phrase , liquored again . The classic sport of bonnotting a policeman was , of course , not omitted , and the volleys of oaths -wore discharged with due regularity . Mr . Wilson , however , aspired to immortalise himself , and to rise above the dead level of mediocrity . Seeing a waiter standing by , our hero tore the stripes off the man ' s arm and twisted thorn round Ms neok , 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 of his follow rioters . After an investigation , the prisoners wore admitted to bail . At the final examination this week , Mr . Wilson was not forthcoming , and his own and his friend ' s recognisances , to the amount of 40 J . each , wero forfeited , so that Mr . Wilson will have to pay 40 / . for the pleasure of his spree , and Jus friend will have to pay the flame . sum for , the ploasuro of his friendship . Whether , in either case , the article was worth the price , is a matter of opinion . Captain Balrd was fined 71 . for the assault , and his own recognisance was also forfeited for non-appearance at the proper t » n » e . Ensign Osborne ana Mr . Johnson wore wound over to keep the ponce , Those gentlemen have all had , to pay pretty dearly for their whistle , and wo trust may have
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GIUSEPPE GAKIBALDI . This remarkable man , who has rendered such important service to the allies duriug the late war in Italy , has been conspicuous for courage and daring in the various revolutionary- movements of Italy ; from 1884 downwards . He was bora at Nice , July 4 th , 1807 , and on attaining the ago of adolescence entered the Sardinian navy ,, in . which ho remained until his twenty-seventh year . In consequence oi the share lie took in the troubles succeeding 183 % he was compelled to quit Italy , and did not revisit his native laud for somo years . Ho wont to * ranee for a time , and afterwards obtained sorvico with the Doy of Tunis . Tired with the monotony of his position , lie sough * for scones of adventure more congenial with his tastes in South America . As a republican in the republic of Uruguay ho formed hie famous Italian legion , which rendered itself so formidable to tho troops of Buenos Ayres . Tho outbreak of tho Italian revolution of ' 48 gave him the opportunity for which he ardently longed , of bringing his bravo band to Europe , and employing it in the cause of Iris country , against not only tho Austrians but also the French . Garibaldi ' s mode of proccduro has boen widely diverse from that of las fellow republican , Mazzini , The aptitude shown by tho latter for koop-
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mem groups are only too well . Some day or other the hoarding will be removed . *< Che 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 tbwer . 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 , one hand alone wriggles feebly round the third ,
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 . eowper 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 . Let 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 accompU" and make the best of them *
Everybody has had their shy at the unfortunate erection . The whole of that mysterious body , who contribute voluntary eflusions to periodicals in want of matter , under peculiar pseudonyms , have had their innino-s . Every species of missile , from the rattling , raking ' grape-shot of "Belgravia" to the feeble penny pop-gun of " Nemo , " has been discharged against the luckless pillar . It is a wonder if there is a pane left 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 made 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 our 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 princip le with reference to our public monuments , goodness only knows to what revolutionary conclusions you may 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 nightmare , the Noah on horseback of one ' s childish days were to swell before your mental vision to tho size
of Wyatt ' s statue , he would be more graceful and lifelike in his attitude . Nobody , however , proposes to pull down the duke . Where there is room for this immense monstrosity , there surely might be place found fbr one httle lamp-post . Look again at the column of the Duke of York . We have never been able to learn what claims bis 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 hav < 8 sinned enough to deserve such a posthumous and perpetual pillory . Why , too , are one ' s religious and artistic feeling ' s outrnged-at one and the samo time by the imago of George IV . on the summit of Bloomsbury steeple . His moral character is not pleusant to late his outward imagis equall
contemp ; e y unpleasant to look upon . We have every respect for Dr . Jeunor . We are duly grateful for the consideration , that if he had never found out tho sys ~ tern of vaocination , and if nobody else liad found it out , and if we hod happened to catch the malady our face might have boen scarred with small-pox . But why is Chaving-oross to bo diafigurod , in consequence , with a sort of stone pock-mark of an efiigy r Sir Robert Peel may have been a great man , but why is oar daily journey City-wards to be obstructed ^ at the most crowded corner of Cheopsido by a stone iuiago of tho dofnnot statesman , a sort of half-breed between a beadle and a banlc-diroctor . Thou there is a now trial to come . Ere long wo shall have tho Guards ' Momox'ial at tho bottom of Watorloo-placo . It is no use telling us we have never seen it . Wo know what it will bo without seeing it . Wo know
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 play 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 > xather 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 might go on multiplying examples indefinitely . Our position is , that the monuments of London are neither useful nor ornamental . Si moriumentum requiras circurnspice . 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 to combine instruction with entertainment . After
you have feasted your eyes upon the beauties in the park , it is pleasant to come and pick up a stray bit of knowledge from our iUuminated instructor . We like to speculate upon the distances we might 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-ofheial , and un-artistic classes wish to urge is , that there should be fair play for all . If our lamp-post ia 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 nii ° ht only topple over the Duke of York and cut off the clapper of the Westminster clock , we would allow the ujuminator to be smashed without a protest . Then , and not till then .
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what orial and allegorical of statuary No . 487 . Jv ^ 23 . 1859 / 1 THE LEADER . 867
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 23, 1859, page 867, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2304/page/15/
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