THE TESTIMONIAL MANIA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1229, 13 May 1857, Page 4

THE TESTIMONIAL MANIA.

[From the Times, Jan. 7.]

Time was whan a Roman Emperor presented 1 a “testimonial" to his horse in the form of a ' marble statue, and Rome adopted the principle without difficulty. The horse was probably a remarkable one. In our days—and we live in the 1 days of testimonials —we heap up these marks of ' regard upon men whose lives lie open before us like a printed book, and yet of whom it would be 1 difficult to say that any one of the number will ' be remembered ten years alter lie has been called 1 to his account. We are very sorry in such a 1 matter if we at all hurt the feelings of any worthy ! people, but the simple fact is, that testimonials 1 have become almost as great a nuisance as the old [ advertising-vans. The annoyance meets one in a thousand insidious forms. Let a middle-aged 1 gentleman return to his home at night, bis very 1 soul weary with stock-jobbing, or bawling in a 1 law court, or drawing inferences from the condi- 1 tion of his patients’ tongues, and ten to one but lie will find bis eldest daughter Maud cunningly , plying her needle upon a gorgeous vestment which 1 is intended as a testimonial for the Rev. Leo 1 Manybuttons, the High Church Curate of St. 1 Silvester-in-tbe-Tiles, while Evangeline is as sedulously employed upon a beautiful pair of Low Church slippers, which she, for her part, is minded to present, in company with 364 other young ladies of a s-’rious turn, each armed with a corresponding offering, to the Rev. TEneas M’Grow) upon the New Ycar’s-day. Let “Paterfamilias” but hint that these worthy clergymen are only labouring in their vocation as he is in bis, and the eldest of the two young ladies will heave a gentle sigh, as though for faith's sake she were about to be parboiled in a cauldron of heated oil, or nicely done upon a gridiron at the bidding of her ruthless parent, while her younger sister will probably give him a broad hint about Martha and Mary, with an inuendo to the effect that the slippers and the motives which lead to them are beyond his comprehension. Now, this is a little hard upon poor Potts, who pays for the gold thread with which the “vestment” is wrought, and the many-hued worsted of which M'Growl'a slippers are composed, to make no mention ol the fact that he has been at great charges for the food, raiment, lodging, education, and other preparation of these saintly seamstresses for their self-appointed tasks. Sometimes we find sacramental plate, sometimes tea services, sometimes elegantly-bound books offered as testimonials to our clerical friends. It is but justice to them to add that, although it would be difficult to say why ninetynine out of a hundred are entitled to any testimonial al all beyond their salaries and the approval of their own consciences, the laity do not lag behind on so flowery a path. Visit your old college friend in the country —he is a member of Parliamen' —and you will find that his lady has been presented with a “testimonial." It is a fulllength portrait of her lord, it may be in the full costume of the Squashborough Yeomanry, reining in a fiery charger, or possibly in civil attire, with folded arms, and intent upon senatorial thoughts. You may be fully aware from long familiarity that your old friend sees by no means further than his neighbours iulo rhe destinies of nations, but what of that ? The cacoethes of testimonials is abroad, and be cannot escape his fate. Captain Blowhard lias been presented with a silver spyglass for his eminent services in the navigation of the “ Deputy Dobbs,” steampacket, between the ports of Loudon and Margate during a period of 20 years. The medical man has got his silver inkstand. The alderman and the provincial mayor are generally painted at full length, so is the Highland chief, —repetition is forced upon us, for the portrait testimonial is one of the commonest forms of the nuisance. About ten years back, if a roan were a chairman of a railway company, or otherwise known as a large dispenser of scriy, he could with difficulty avoid a statue. This last case, however, io more intelligible than the others of which we have made mention. Let it be made clear to the mind of A that he can se-

cure to himself a permanent annuity of £lOO, or even say £5O per annum, if he can worm his way into the good will of B, and it is perfectly natural that he should show all reverence, to that eminent man by help of the plastic arts or otherwise. The transaction is one of a commercial nature, Now, we say that, unless order be taken in this matter, we shall entirely deprive ourselves ol the power of showing reverence to our really great men. This custom of “ testimonials " will come to be like the French custom of making, or rather of interchanging, presents upot New Year's-doy. If everybody gives something to everybody nothing is proved. It is even st with us and our testimonials. The only advan. tage we can discern in the custom, as it at present obtains among us, is that the refusal of i testimonial may oct as a heavy but indirect cen sure. A man, for example, has committed murder or a forgery—the judge may order tba he be hung or transported, and the public may decline to give him a testimonial. We agree with those who think that too much reverence cannot be shown to our really great men. Let us preserve in enduring marble or brass—let us

commit to the faithful canvass the very form and features of those worthies who have defended the liberties of their country in the Senate, or vho have died for them in the field—of all who have made an illustrious name in science, in literature, in the fine arts. But why thia insane veneration for men who have really done nothing to distinguish them from the common herd, however estimable they may be in their private characters—however upright and respectable in their lives 1 Within the last few days we have seen it announced that it is intended to collect subscriptions for testimonials to the late Sir Robert Inglis, and to the happily existing Mr. Mechi. ■Now, Sir Robert Inglis was a very fine old gentleman, and a very worthy man. Nature had endowed him with an excellent digestion and a robust constitution. Fortune had given him an ample estate and a good position in the country. By birllt, by education, by station, by association, he became the representative in Parliament of colleges, cathedrals, painted windows, Greek iambics, and old port. Through a long period of years he represented this constituency to admiration, and it ought to be represented like oil other interests, and the more efficiently and vigorously the better. It was natural that those who enjoyed the intimacy and friendship of Sir Robert Inglis should regret his loss ; for be was a man ol kindly nature, a good scholar, a good com panion, and a good friend. We can understand, too, that within the walls of Parliament his death should have excited a certain amount of painful sensation, so courteous was he in debate, so much

i gentleman in his acts, so pleasant was it to sec the cordial old man, with a fresh flower in hi.-■ buttonhole, strolling up to bis place with a friendly smile for all. Surely, when we say this, no oo< will accuse ’is of disrespect to the memory of the late Sir Robert Inglis ; but despite of ail this, we cannot see what be ever did that we should deal with him as with the Shakspeares, and Cromwells, and llampdens, and Chatbams, and Scotts. He enjoyed life es few men have enjoyed it. Hr never bad cause for a care or an anxiety in worldly matters ; he kept open table, and presided at it ; he acted in political affairs according to his lights, which were not very dazzling to the sense of mankind ; but why should the discharge of such functions excite our peculiar gratitude or respect 1 How many among the millions who inhabit the British Islands would not willingly compromise for the position of Sir Robert Inglis, and cheerfully renounce all claim to the reverence of their country, unless they performed greater things than he ever accomplished ! So that with regard to Mr. Mechi. We are not about to speak of the owner of Tiptree Farm in any flippant or disparaging manner, for his career is worthy of respect. By great intelligence and industry he has realized a very considerable fortune in trade, and we have never heard that he has been accused of a mean or discreditable act. But io the fortune which be baa realized and in the esteem of his fellow-citizens he, too, has his reward. Let us, however, suppose that his claim to a testimonial is founded upon the services which he has rendered to agriculture by the exhibition of modern scientific processes upon his model farm. Now, what we would wish to know is this, and we do not see how Mr. Mechi’s friends can escape from the dilemma, —has Tiptree Farm been a gain or a loss ? If it has been a gain, there ia Mr. Mechi’s reward, —what need of a testimonial ? If it has been a loss, then his agricultural processes are nothing worth. That farm which we call England cannot be cultivated at a loss. We only wonder that so quick-sighted and intelligent a man as Mr. Mechi can consent to have his name associated with such fooleries. The notoriety which he has acquired in the character of proprietor and host at Tiplree Farm is an ample compensation for his toils, without testimonial of any kind. One class of cases, however, may well constitute an exception to our remarks. We see that it is intended to make a subscription for the benefit of Dr. Livingston, the African Traveller. He has earned the money honestly and well, at the peril of his life, and he has rendered great service to the country. It would be much better, indeed, if our sense of his services should have been marked by a vote ol the House of Commons, but, st any rate, when there is a question of a pecuniary “testimonial” to such a man, there is nothing amiss about it but the name.