Note 120 — Chapter XXI · THE REIGN OF JINGOISM.
Reading edition
One finds in the advertising columns of the Era, strangely enough, a side-light on the Eastern policy of the Court at this period. A Mr. Charles Williams, who advertised himself as singing “the greatest war song on record” at four music-halls, added to his advertisement the following letter:—“Lieutenant-General Sir T. M. Biddulph has received the Queen’s commands to thank Mr. Charles Williams for the appropriate verses contained in his letter of the 18th inst., and her Majesty fully appreciates his motives.” One of the verses ran thus:—
“Bruin thinks we’ve been asleep; but a watch we’ve had to keep, Knowing well the value of his word; Look with many a skilful lie how they’ve blinded every eye, Till the Lion’s grand impatience now is heard; For every British heart would burn to take a part To fling the Russian lies back in their face; And to teach them, as of old, that Briton’s hearts are bold, And would die to save our country from disgrace.”
—Vide Era, February 20, 1878. The song was sung at the Metropolitan Music Hall, in connection with a ballet called “Cross and Crescent War.” When the Royal letter was pointed out to Count Schouvaloff, that easy-tempered diplomatist merely shrugged his shoulders. It may be mentioned incidentally that a study of the popular songs cf the period reflects faithfully the shifting moods of the London mob during the Eastern Controversy.