Punch's Cockade
An emotional story from 1848 appeared in the American newspapers. You probably know that "Punch" was a humorous character from comedy shows of the past. This story is about when Punch took the stage at a theater in Naples.
At Naples in the little theatre of San Carlino, a curious incident took place. All the actors having appeared with Italian colors, the audience observed with surprise that Punch had no cockade. Immediately violent shouts came from every corner of the hall: “The cockade, Punch, the cockade!” cried the pit.
The costume of the Neapolitan Punch resembles that of a clown. He wears loose trousers, a shirt with full sleeves, and a grey high-pointed hat.
The actor who represents his character advanced to the front of the stage, took off his mask, and saluting the audience, said, “If it is to me, John Casita, that your appeals are addressed, I will tell you, gentlemen, that the national cockade is on my heart,” and opening his vest, he displayed an enormous tri-colored cockade, “but I thought it a profanation to put it upon the jacket of Punch.”
At these words, pronounced with a firm voice and incredible sincerity and frankness, frantic applause sounded throughout the hall, and tears of emotion fell over more than one cheek. It is the first time Punch ever made his audience weep.
