Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . G . The Royal Masonic Cyclopwdia of History , Rites , Symbolism , and Biography . Edited by KENNETH ft . H . MACKENZIE , IX " . ( " Cryptonymns . " ) London : Bro . John Hogg , 15 A Paternoster How , E . G .
WE have received Part I . of what promises to be a most valuable contribution to Masonic Literature—a work , indeed , which , if carried out as it has been begun , will form not only a complete , but , as far as a somewhat hasty perusal has enabled us to judge , a thoron -hly trustworthy compendium of Masonic history in all
countries . The utmost care has evidently been taken to make the work as clear and concise , yet at the same time as complete in all its details as possible . This indeed forms the basis of an apology for the delay that has occurred in bringing out this first instalment . We do not think any apology was needed . At all events , the
reason for the delay—that the utmost pains have been taken , and that this involved a greater amount of labour , and a longer extension of time than had been originally anticipated—is a just one , nor will any sensible brother object to such delay , if he ultimately becomes
possessed of a work whose value will be the greater the greater the labour bestowed upon its compilation . The task of the editor has been admirably performed , and the appearance of the Part does ample credit to the publisher , Bro . Hogg .
About Buying a Horse , § 'c , fyc . By F . C . BURNAND , Author of "Happy Thoughts , " "More Happy Thoughts , " "My Health , " " The New Sandford and Merton , " " Out of Town , " & o ., & c . " Occasional Happy Thoughts . " London : Bradbury , Agnew and Co ., 9 Bouverie-street . 1875 .
THE " Happy Thoughts " of Mr . Burnand have for some time past been one of the most amusing features in that most amusing contemporary of ours , Punch . Ordinarily , an idea carried out again and again becomes somewhat wearisome . Not so is the case with Mr . Burnard ' s humourous papers . The idea is repeated , but not tho humour . Unlike Paganini , Mr . Burnand is not continually playing on a single string .
Or at least , when ho does so , with a view to show his marvellous skill , he produces an infinite variety of humourous ditties , and the result is always something new . The whole of the volume before us is most amusing . Tho main feature is " About buying a horse , " and we heartily confess that if buying a horse in company with Mr . Burnand were accompanied with such agreeable fun as is recorded
in these pages we should be careful to indulge in tho outlay very frequently . The happy thoughts that occur to tho writer are too numerous to record and too amusing to reproduce , save , at least exceptionally , or we should anticipate the pleasure of the reader , yet are there some few excerpts we cannot forbear to make . Here , for example , is a pleasant piece of writing , and true to nature , at p . 11 : -
Happij Thought . —By the way , to assume every one to be something merely for the purposes of conversation , must load to discussion . " For example , assume a man to be a soldier ; talk to him of tho latest invention in breechloaders ( if you can—I can't ) , manoeuvres , campaigns , the exemplary conduct of the Light Cavalry in Abyssinia
( if yon know anything about it—I don't ) , and so forth . lie will join you satisfactorily for some time , then you can put such a test question to him as would tend to elicit his opinion with regard to ' the probable expense of a messman ' s kit , ' or any such professionally military-sounding inquiry . Should he really happen to bo in the army , then he will propably stick his glass in his eye , seem puzzled , and ask
you 'What tlie deuce j'ou mean ? ' in which case you can retire behind your trenches ( I haven't the faintest notion what effect this would have on an enemy , but I have often met the phrase in print , and like it ) , and pleasantly beg to be pardoned if your "phraseology " ( use the word ) is incorrect ; or say , 'technically incorrect , ' which does look as if you had some acquaintance with the subject—and
add that you yourself are not a military man . " Should he , however , have to excuse himself on the same score , you can take high ground ( all part of metaphorical operations with trenches and ' high ground' ) , and observe that yon had asked for information , under the impression that he was jn the army . This will flatter him as a rule , and he may afterwards confide to you , with a smile , that he travels in the wool trade . "
In further illustration of the same happy thought , wo read"Assume a banker to be a distinguished artist , and he'll be delighted . Assume an artist to be a Queen ' s Counsel , and he'll be immensely pleased . Assume a gentleman at largo to be the secretary attached to some foreign legation , with a secret mission , and he'll be highly gratified . Assume 1 hat a literary man would have made a first-rate preacher , and that a philosophical writer would have made
his fortune if he had only stuck to the violoncello , aud you will increase the number of your friends everywhere . " On the strength of these assumptions , tliey will everywhere speak of you as a ' deuced sharp chap , ' a man who ' sees below the surface , ' one who can read you up , ' and so forth . And wh y ? Because you ' ve struck the key note of that general dissatisfaction which every one feels , and which is the strongest reason for every one so working in his ' station of life , ' as to make the best of it . "
There is an amusing hit at the facility with which testimonial s are obtained . A " Bun cure " is suggested , and the following is one of the numerous testimonials supposed to be received iu testimony of the wonderful efficacy of the new cure , from a Bishop : —
Reviews.
" Sir , —I have now taken one of your Buns , per diem , for three months , and have not had a return of the Thingummies , ( whatever it may be ) , to which I had previously been a , martyr . I can now preach for three liours at a stretch , 'without the slightest inconvenience .
" Yours , " BATH AND QUITE WELLS . " The visit to Boulogne , and the imaginary incident at Folkstone , after retnrning , are capitally told , as indeed are the various experiences connected with this purchase of a horse . Cases in point , are " the station master , " who " won't be a party to any duplicity about this
horse , " and the postmaster , " a long young man , loosely put together , as if he'd been made up gradually , and added to at different times whenever there might have been some large bones to spare , " and whose face , " which is broad and round , and with a very uneven surface , is expressive of chronic astonishment at everything and everybody . "
In Chapter XXII . tho subject of " Freemasonry in Eelation to Horse Dealing " is discussed , the result being two or three pages of very laughable matter . The imaginary conversation is carried on as between the writer and one Cazell . We extract tho following as to the utility of Masonry in travelling : —
" ' I've heard , ' I say , in order to show I am not bigoted , ' that Masonry is very useful in travelling . ' ' It is , ' answers Cazell , decidedly . < How ?' ' How f' he returns . ' Oh , lots of ways . ' He considers awhile ,
then he resumes : ' Well , it is a passport to society in some places . It's of great use if you get into a difficulty . Yon pick up companions ; and , in fact , —Oh , there are heaps of instances where Freemasonry has been of the greatest possible service . I recollect a man saying how he was had up before a magistrate in Naples , and
the case was just going against him , when he made a sign to the bench , and the magistrate returned it . I forget whether he got off or not , but I know that it benefited him somehow . Why , ' he continues , hurrying on , as if to avoid being too closely questioned about
this last interesting incident , ' when I was on the Continent , I was all alone somewhere , and I didn't know what on earth to do with myself ; and I found the landlord where I was stopping was a Mason , and so was another fellow staying there , and we got quite chummy , and we had a rubber with dummy in the evening . '"
One result of bargaining for a horse is that the writer catches a severe cold , and adopts his aunt ' s remedy , the old-fashioned one , of " feet in hot water at night , hot rum before going to bed , and 'jump into bed directly j'ou'vo drank it , and keep yourself well covered up , '" with the following result : " Not being accustomed to spirits ,
least of all rum , and finding it uncommonly nice , I took three doses of it , one after the other . On this occasion I certainly kept myself well covered up at night , for I found myself in bed with my boots on in the morning . My cold had gone , however . " This suggests the
following : " Haypii Thought ( for receipt ) . Go to bed with your boots on . Also don ' t wind up your watch at night . I didn't . And what ' s more , I don ' t exactly know how or when I got into bed . I mention these details because they must form part of a cure for a cold—as most certainly I was cured . "
Wo need say little further . Besides tho occasional Happy Thought " about ; Buying a Horse , " we have others , such as , " The story of my Legal Examination , "" My Aunt ' s great Police Case , " and "Our Kcpvo < Tiitntive Men , " in the Isle of Wight , Brittany , and elsewhere . In \<\ c course of these hist experirruvs wo take leave to cite the case
of t lie " Wi'll-lufiiruied Friend , " who is great on archileeturo in parllcniar , : nid on every variety of Mibjoot as well , and who is always niidJiiir mental resolves •' to look up tho whole subject the -instant he . ' . ln . ulil get homo among' his books . " Our readers who may wish to i ' i joy a hriirty ! an _; li — and who does not ?—will find f ' iv <; uout occasion for satisfying such WKI-. U .-I in running through the pages of these " Occasional Happy Thoughts . " We hope to read many more such Thoughts from the same delightful pen .
We have much pleasure in stating that Bro . Eobert Wenfcworth Little was so far recovered as to be able to be present at the committee meeting of the Royal Benevolent Institution on Wednesday last .
Bro . S . 0 . Hadley , P . A . G . D . Grand Lodge of England , was elected Alderman of the Ward of Castle Baynard , by a majority of one .
A crowded audience was present on Thursday evening , at the Royal Music Hall , Holborn , at a complimentary benefit to Bro . J . S . Sweasey , on the occasion of his tenth year of proprietorship . A host of talent was present .
Bro . Herr Schubert , No . 186 , has returned ' from the Continent , after a successful tour , and the concerts of the Schubert Society will commence in December , where rising artists will have an opportunity of appearing before select and fashionable audiences .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . G . The Royal Masonic Cyclopwdia of History , Rites , Symbolism , and Biography . Edited by KENNETH ft . H . MACKENZIE , IX " . ( " Cryptonymns . " ) London : Bro . John Hogg , 15 A Paternoster How , E . G .
WE have received Part I . of what promises to be a most valuable contribution to Masonic Literature—a work , indeed , which , if carried out as it has been begun , will form not only a complete , but , as far as a somewhat hasty perusal has enabled us to judge , a thoron -hly trustworthy compendium of Masonic history in all
countries . The utmost care has evidently been taken to make the work as clear and concise , yet at the same time as complete in all its details as possible . This indeed forms the basis of an apology for the delay that has occurred in bringing out this first instalment . We do not think any apology was needed . At all events , the
reason for the delay—that the utmost pains have been taken , and that this involved a greater amount of labour , and a longer extension of time than had been originally anticipated—is a just one , nor will any sensible brother object to such delay , if he ultimately becomes
possessed of a work whose value will be the greater the greater the labour bestowed upon its compilation . The task of the editor has been admirably performed , and the appearance of the Part does ample credit to the publisher , Bro . Hogg .
About Buying a Horse , § 'c , fyc . By F . C . BURNAND , Author of "Happy Thoughts , " "More Happy Thoughts , " "My Health , " " The New Sandford and Merton , " " Out of Town , " & o ., & c . " Occasional Happy Thoughts . " London : Bradbury , Agnew and Co ., 9 Bouverie-street . 1875 .
THE " Happy Thoughts " of Mr . Burnand have for some time past been one of the most amusing features in that most amusing contemporary of ours , Punch . Ordinarily , an idea carried out again and again becomes somewhat wearisome . Not so is the case with Mr . Burnard ' s humourous papers . The idea is repeated , but not tho humour . Unlike Paganini , Mr . Burnand is not continually playing on a single string .
Or at least , when ho does so , with a view to show his marvellous skill , he produces an infinite variety of humourous ditties , and the result is always something new . The whole of the volume before us is most amusing . Tho main feature is " About buying a horse , " and we heartily confess that if buying a horse in company with Mr . Burnand were accompanied with such agreeable fun as is recorded
in these pages we should be careful to indulge in tho outlay very frequently . The happy thoughts that occur to tho writer are too numerous to record and too amusing to reproduce , save , at least exceptionally , or we should anticipate the pleasure of the reader , yet are there some few excerpts we cannot forbear to make . Here , for example , is a pleasant piece of writing , and true to nature , at p . 11 : -
Happij Thought . —By the way , to assume every one to be something merely for the purposes of conversation , must load to discussion . " For example , assume a man to be a soldier ; talk to him of tho latest invention in breechloaders ( if you can—I can't ) , manoeuvres , campaigns , the exemplary conduct of the Light Cavalry in Abyssinia
( if yon know anything about it—I don't ) , and so forth . lie will join you satisfactorily for some time , then you can put such a test question to him as would tend to elicit his opinion with regard to ' the probable expense of a messman ' s kit , ' or any such professionally military-sounding inquiry . Should he really happen to bo in the army , then he will propably stick his glass in his eye , seem puzzled , and ask
you 'What tlie deuce j'ou mean ? ' in which case you can retire behind your trenches ( I haven't the faintest notion what effect this would have on an enemy , but I have often met the phrase in print , and like it ) , and pleasantly beg to be pardoned if your "phraseology " ( use the word ) is incorrect ; or say , 'technically incorrect , ' which does look as if you had some acquaintance with the subject—and
add that you yourself are not a military man . " Should he , however , have to excuse himself on the same score , you can take high ground ( all part of metaphorical operations with trenches and ' high ground' ) , and observe that yon had asked for information , under the impression that he was jn the army . This will flatter him as a rule , and he may afterwards confide to you , with a smile , that he travels in the wool trade . "
In further illustration of the same happy thought , wo read"Assume a banker to be a distinguished artist , and he'll be delighted . Assume an artist to be a Queen ' s Counsel , and he'll be immensely pleased . Assume a gentleman at largo to be the secretary attached to some foreign legation , with a secret mission , and he'll be highly gratified . Assume 1 hat a literary man would have made a first-rate preacher , and that a philosophical writer would have made
his fortune if he had only stuck to the violoncello , aud you will increase the number of your friends everywhere . " On the strength of these assumptions , tliey will everywhere speak of you as a ' deuced sharp chap , ' a man who ' sees below the surface , ' one who can read you up , ' and so forth . And wh y ? Because you ' ve struck the key note of that general dissatisfaction which every one feels , and which is the strongest reason for every one so working in his ' station of life , ' as to make the best of it . "
There is an amusing hit at the facility with which testimonial s are obtained . A " Bun cure " is suggested , and the following is one of the numerous testimonials supposed to be received iu testimony of the wonderful efficacy of the new cure , from a Bishop : —
Reviews.
" Sir , —I have now taken one of your Buns , per diem , for three months , and have not had a return of the Thingummies , ( whatever it may be ) , to which I had previously been a , martyr . I can now preach for three liours at a stretch , 'without the slightest inconvenience .
" Yours , " BATH AND QUITE WELLS . " The visit to Boulogne , and the imaginary incident at Folkstone , after retnrning , are capitally told , as indeed are the various experiences connected with this purchase of a horse . Cases in point , are " the station master , " who " won't be a party to any duplicity about this
horse , " and the postmaster , " a long young man , loosely put together , as if he'd been made up gradually , and added to at different times whenever there might have been some large bones to spare , " and whose face , " which is broad and round , and with a very uneven surface , is expressive of chronic astonishment at everything and everybody . "
In Chapter XXII . tho subject of " Freemasonry in Eelation to Horse Dealing " is discussed , the result being two or three pages of very laughable matter . The imaginary conversation is carried on as between the writer and one Cazell . We extract tho following as to the utility of Masonry in travelling : —
" ' I've heard , ' I say , in order to show I am not bigoted , ' that Masonry is very useful in travelling . ' ' It is , ' answers Cazell , decidedly . < How ?' ' How f' he returns . ' Oh , lots of ways . ' He considers awhile ,
then he resumes : ' Well , it is a passport to society in some places . It's of great use if you get into a difficulty . Yon pick up companions ; and , in fact , —Oh , there are heaps of instances where Freemasonry has been of the greatest possible service . I recollect a man saying how he was had up before a magistrate in Naples , and
the case was just going against him , when he made a sign to the bench , and the magistrate returned it . I forget whether he got off or not , but I know that it benefited him somehow . Why , ' he continues , hurrying on , as if to avoid being too closely questioned about
this last interesting incident , ' when I was on the Continent , I was all alone somewhere , and I didn't know what on earth to do with myself ; and I found the landlord where I was stopping was a Mason , and so was another fellow staying there , and we got quite chummy , and we had a rubber with dummy in the evening . '"
One result of bargaining for a horse is that the writer catches a severe cold , and adopts his aunt ' s remedy , the old-fashioned one , of " feet in hot water at night , hot rum before going to bed , and 'jump into bed directly j'ou'vo drank it , and keep yourself well covered up , '" with the following result : " Not being accustomed to spirits ,
least of all rum , and finding it uncommonly nice , I took three doses of it , one after the other . On this occasion I certainly kept myself well covered up at night , for I found myself in bed with my boots on in the morning . My cold had gone , however . " This suggests the
following : " Haypii Thought ( for receipt ) . Go to bed with your boots on . Also don ' t wind up your watch at night . I didn't . And what ' s more , I don ' t exactly know how or when I got into bed . I mention these details because they must form part of a cure for a cold—as most certainly I was cured . "
Wo need say little further . Besides tho occasional Happy Thought " about ; Buying a Horse , " we have others , such as , " The story of my Legal Examination , "" My Aunt ' s great Police Case , " and "Our Kcpvo < Tiitntive Men , " in the Isle of Wight , Brittany , and elsewhere . In \<\ c course of these hist experirruvs wo take leave to cite the case
of t lie " Wi'll-lufiiruied Friend , " who is great on archileeturo in parllcniar , : nid on every variety of Mibjoot as well , and who is always niidJiiir mental resolves •' to look up tho whole subject the -instant he . ' . ln . ulil get homo among' his books . " Our readers who may wish to i ' i joy a hriirty ! an _; li — and who does not ?—will find f ' iv <; uout occasion for satisfying such WKI-. U .-I in running through the pages of these " Occasional Happy Thoughts . " We hope to read many more such Thoughts from the same delightful pen .
We have much pleasure in stating that Bro . Eobert Wenfcworth Little was so far recovered as to be able to be present at the committee meeting of the Royal Benevolent Institution on Wednesday last .
Bro . S . 0 . Hadley , P . A . G . D . Grand Lodge of England , was elected Alderman of the Ward of Castle Baynard , by a majority of one .
A crowded audience was present on Thursday evening , at the Royal Music Hall , Holborn , at a complimentary benefit to Bro . J . S . Sweasey , on the occasion of his tenth year of proprietorship . A host of talent was present .
Bro . Herr Schubert , No . 186 , has returned ' from the Continent , after a successful tour , and the concerts of the Schubert Society will commence in December , where rising artists will have an opportunity of appearing before select and fashionable audiences .