* *

LAYING IT ON THICK.

Of a certain author--or artist--or actor--or somebody else--who had
acquired much notoriety by laudatory criticisms--it was said that his
reputation was built of plaster.

* * * * *

PUNCH AT A ROYAL CHRISTENING.

It is not often that _Punch_ has to protest against anything that
happens at our own Court, but unless the Court Newsman has misinformed
us, there was something very objectionable in the proceedings at
Buckingham Palace on the occasion of the last Royal Christening.
Recollecting that the Sponsors promise in the name of the infant to
renounce "the pomp and glory of this world," we cannot help asking
whether the following description of what took place is not lamentably
at variance with the spirit of the promise that was given:--

"The sacred rite was performed in the private chapel in the Palace,
which was duly prepared for the occasion. Two rows of chairs of
crimson satin and gold were placed on each side of the centre, for
the use of the QUEEN, the Sponsors, and the Royal personages invited
to be present."

This might pass as coming under the head of luxury rather than of pomp,
but what shall we say to the next paragraph?--

"The altar was lined with crimson velvet, panelled with gold lace,
and on the communion-table were placed the golden vessels used in
the Sacrament, with salvers and two large candlesticks. Seats of
crimson and gold were placed for the officiating clergy. The font
was placed in advance of the _haut pas_; it was a most elegantly
formed tazza of silver gilt, the rim was formed of the leaves and
flowers of the water lily, and the base from which its elegant stem
sprang was composed of infant angels playing the lyre; in the front
was the Royal arms. The font was placed on a fluted plinth of white
and gold."

Riches, we are taught, add to the difficulty of entering the Kingdom of
Heaven, then why this profusion of gold to encumber the first step of a
Royal infant on his entrance into the Church which is to secure his
eternal happiness? "Gold lace," "golden vessels," and seats of "crimson
and gold" for the clergy, are scarcely the appliances that would seem
appropriate to the ceremony of receiving the "sign of the cross," which
is certainly not typified by any of the accessories of pomp and
splendour that abounded on that occasion. Surely this must have struck
o