The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, Or the London Charivari, Volume 107, October 27th, 1894, by Various This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: Punch, Or the London Charivari, Volume 107, October 27th, 1894 Author: Various Release Date: September 6, 2014 [EBook #46784] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PUNCH *** Produced by Punch, or the London Charivari, Malcolm Farmer, Wayne Hammond and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Punch, Or the London Charivari Volume 107, October 27th 1894 edited by Sir Francis Burnand INFORMAL INTRODUCTION. 'Arry (shouting across the street to his "Pal"). "Hi! Bill! This is 'er!" POLYCHROME ENGLISH. A short suburban dialogue, illustrating the deplorable downward spread of the New Colour- descriptiveness, as exemplified in such works as the "Arsenic Buttonhole." Scene—Peckham. Characters—Bill, a Greengrocer. Jim, an Oil and Colour Man. Jim. 'Ow are yer, Bill? Fine pink morning, yn't it? 193 Bill. Um, a shyde too migenta for me, mate—'ow's yerself? Jim. Oh, I'm just gamboge, and the missus, she's bright vermilion. 'Ow's your old Dutch? Bill. She's a bit off colour. Pussonally, I'm feelin' lemon yaller, hall through a readin' o' this yer Pioneer kid. Jim. Buck up, mate; you've no call to be yaller, nor a perminent bloo, heither! 'Ow's tryde? Bill. Nothin' doin'. Wy, I ain't sold an indigo cabbige or a chocolate tater to-day. It's enuff to myke a cove turn blackleg, s'elp me! Jim. Well, I'm a tyking pupils—leastways, I've a young josser of a bankclurk come messin' around my pyntshop, wantin' to know wot sort o' noise raw humber mykes, an' wot's the feel o' rose madder. I gives 'im the tip—'arf a crown a go! Bill. Well, that is a tyke-down! 'E must be a bloomin' green-horn! Jim. Yus, a carnation green-horn, you tyke it from me! I've done 'im vandyke brown, I tell yer! I don't think 'e'll hever pynt the tarn red! Bill. Blymy, you're a knockout! Look 'ere, mate, now you've got the ochre, you'll stand 'arf a quartern at the "Blue Pig," eh? [Exeunt ambo. By an Old Bachelor. "Are children humorous?" the Spectator asks. Practical jokers are they, every one of them; Their laughter my poor tympanum sorely tasks, But I'll be hanged if I can see the fun of them! LETTERS FROM A DÉBUTANTE. My Dear Marjorie,—You remember Cecil Cashmore? Of course no theatricals could be a success unless he took the entire management. He is a celebrated private performer, and his name is frequently seen in "Amateur Dramatic Notes," where he is freely compared to Coquelin, Arthur Roberts, Irving, and Charles Kean, in his earlier manner—I mean Charles Keane's earlier manner, not Cecil's. He always greets me with, "Oh, I'm so afraid of you. I believe you're very cross with me"; and his parting words are invariably "Good-bye; I'm coming to see you so soon!" Cissy— everyone calls him Cissy—seems to be a little particular, not to say fidgetty. Baby Beaumont heard him say to his valet, "Take away that eau-de-cologne—it's corked." He seems to think himself ill, though he looks blooming; and says he has neurasthenia. He's always going through some "course," or "treatment." One hears him cry to the footman who hands him a forbidden dish, "Good Heavens, my dear man, don't offer me that—I'm under Jowles!" We wanted to act The School for Scandal, but Cissy has persuaded us to get up a burlesque of his own—Red Riding Hood. I am to be Red Riding Hood!!! I am delighted. I have never acted before; but they say I have only to trip on with a basket. Baby declared he would be a Proud Sister. In vain he was told there were no Proud Sisters in Red Riding Hood; he seemed to have set his heart on it so much that Cissy has written one in for him. Now Baby is happy, designing himself a gorgeous frock, and passing hours in front of a looking-glass, trying various patterns against his complexion. All the strength of the piece falls upon Cissy, who plays the Wolf, and has given himself any amount of songs and dances, lots of "serious interest," and all the "comic relief." He says it's not an ordinary burlesque, but a mixture of a problem play and a comic opera. Captain Mashington is to play the Mother, so I see a good deal of him. (The Lorne Hoppers are in Scotland). We had had sixteen rehearsals when Lady Taymer suddenly horrified us by saying it seemed so much trouble—why not give it up, and if we wanted a little fun, black our faces and pretend to be niggers!! Of course, we would not listen to her. I hear Captain Mashington rehearsing his part every morning, quietly, in the billiard-room. He Gladys never can remember the lines "Good bye, my dear, now mind you're very good, And shun the dangers lurking in the wood." He thinks the mother ought to kiss Red Riding Hood before she starts. I think not. We asked Cissy. He says it's optional.... Cissy rose with the owl to-day, and said he was not well. A little later he came and told us complacently that he had been looking it up in the Encyclopedia, and found he had "every symptom of acute lead-poisoning." He added that there was nothing to be done. "I thought there was something wrong with you yesterday," said Baby. "You declined all nourishment between lunch and tea." "By the way," said Cissy, pretending not to hear, "Mashington really is not quite light enough for the Mother. You should persuade him to go through a course, Miss Gladys." "He's just been through a course," I said, "at Hythe." "My dear lady, I don't mean musketry. He ought to consult Castle Jones, the specialist. No soup, no bread, no potatoes—saccharine. What are you allowed?" turning to Baby, who was sitting on a window seat eating marrons- glacés out of a paper-bag. This sight seemed to infuriate our manager. He made a wild dart at Baby, saying, "Oh, look at this; it's fatal, positively fatal!" snatched violently at the bag, secured a chestnut, and calmly walked out of the room eating it and saying it was delicious. I had just come home from a very nice drive with Jack—I mean Captain Mashington—when I found a letter from Oriel. He says he is engaged to Miss Toogood. The matter is to be kept a profound secret for the present.... He asks me, for the sake of the past, to try and get him a stamp of the Straits Settlements, in exchange for a Mauritian.... She collects stamps too—it must have been the bond of union.... How fickle men are! It's enough to disgust one with human nature. I know I broke it off, but still—— Ever your loving friend, . I wonder if Miss Toogood will have a bangle. I should like to advise her not to have it rivetted on. It's such a bother getting them filed off. "BUT OH, IT WAS SUCH AN 'ORRIBLE TAIL!" MRS. PROWLINA PRY. You hope you don't intrude? Prowlina Pry You do, you do! In ignorance it may be, The rôle of Rhadamanthus you would try, With scarce the fitness of a bumptious baby. With folly's headlong haste you would rush in Where well-tried wisdom treads with fear and trembling. Gregarious Silliness would cope with Sin; But when geese swarm what comes of such assembling? Cackle, and cant, and chaos! Needless noise, Meddling and mischief and sheer moral muddle! Reformers must not act like gutter-boys Who rake up mud, stir each malodorous puddle. Life's purlieus are defiled; will it avail To grub and rake in reeking slum and by-way, Until the foul infection loads the gale, And pestilence stalks boldly in the highway? 194 195 And pestilence stalks boldly in the highway? Prowlina Pry, your purview is too small; Life is not plumbed by microscopic peeping, And Nature is too large for nursery-thrall. The globe is not in Mrs. Grundy's keeping. Clear sense, and not lop-sided sentiment, Must front Society's perplexing puzzles; Humanity, when roused, has ever rent Partington policies of mops and muzzles. Humanity is a most complex thing, Not simple as a gag or feeding-bottle. You, lest it stray, would rob it of its wing. Lest it feed ill would simply close its throttle. The Puritanic plan in a new guise!— A female Praise-God-Barebones now would rule us. We Britons, who have baffled our male Prys, Are little like to let she-ones befool us. Unclean! Unclean! 'Twas the old lepers' cry, You'd silence them and call it—purifying! Drive swine possessed of devils from their sty, And bid them spread infection as they're flying! Did some steep place lead down into the sea Of dead oblivion and sheer extirpation, 'Twere well to scourge them thither. What if, free, They carry foul contagion through—a nation? Thousands of fellow-creatures flung from work At the mere pen-stroke of a hasty censor!— An unconsidered trifle Zeal may shirk! But Sense may not, nor Justice! They are denser Than Punch imagines, our new Bumble-band, If Mistress Pry's decision they abide by; But should they fail us, Punch throughout the land Will wake the People prudes and prigs are tried by! Petticoat-government, Prowlina Pry, Of this peculiar sort will scarcely suit us. Such cases clear collective sense must try, Not a she-Draco or a lady-Brutus. To sweeten our poor world we all may strive, But life's not one long Puritanic Sunday; And the great World while manhood is alive, Shall not be wholly swayed by Mrs. Grundy. Prowlina Pry Society's festering ills Will not be healed by your pragmatic plaster. Tare-rooting that the growing corn-crop kills Was not the plan or counsel of the Master. You with rash hand would wield the whip of cords He raised but once in righteous indignation. Heed the great lesson that the fact affords, And leave our woes to Wisdom's mild purgation. MRS. PROWLINA PRY.—"I HOPE I DON'T INTRUDE!" Thousands of fellow-creatures flung from work At the mere pen-stroke of a hasty Censor!— An unconsidered trifle Zeal may shirk! But Sense may not, nor Justice! They are denser Than Punch imagines, our new Bumble-band, If Mistress Pry's decision they abide by; But should they fail us, Punch throughout the land Will wake the People prudes and prigs are tried by! TO A VENETIAN POLICEMAN. [The guardia municipale of Venice is now dressed like the London policeman.] That afternoon when first you burst Upon my quite bewildered eyes, I seemed in London; you are too Confusing in that strange disguise. The very clothes of blue! It's true In black kid gloves you are arrayed, No truncheon at your side you hide, A sword is openly displayed. That vile black helmet yet you get, Most dismal head-dress ever planned. In Venice this! Where once doge, dunce, Dame, doctor, all were gay and grand. In that prosaic dress! Oh, bless The man, why wear such awful things? In Venice long ago, we know, The costermongers looked like kings. Italians love what's new, so you Suit buildings all, de haut en bas, Restored and new—how bad and sad! But you're a still worse novità. A peeler pacing here—how queer! A copper checking crimes and larks, When gleams on lone lagoon the moon! A bobby's beat beside St. Mark's! By a Birkenhead Man.—The Lever, though strong, could not quite lift the Liberal minority into power, but it brought the Conservative majority down to its Lees! LYRE AND LANCET. (A Story in Scenes.) PART XVII.—A BOMB SHELL. Scene XXVI.—A Gallery near the Verney Chamber. Time—About 10.30 P.M. 196 Spurrell (to himself). I must say it's rather rough luck on that poor devil. I get his dress suit, and all he gets is my booby-trap! (Phillipson, wearing a holland blouse over her evening toilette, approaches from the other end of the passage; he does not recognise her until the moment of collision.) Emma!! It's never you! How do you come to be here? Phillipson (to herself). Then it was my Jem after all! (Aloud, distantly.) I'm here in attendance on Lady Maisie Mull, being her maid. If I was at all curious—which I'm not—I might ask you what you're doing in such a house as this; and in evening dress, if you please! Spurr. I'm in evening dress, Emma, such as it is (not that I've any right to find fault with it); but I'm in evening dress (with dignity) because I've been included in the dinner party here. Phill. You must have been getting on since I knew you. Then you were studying to be a horse-doctor. Spurr. I have got on. I am now a qualified M.R.C.V.S. Phill. And does that qualify you to dine with bishops and countesses and baronets and the gentry, like one of themselves? Spurr. I don't say it does, in itself. It was my Andromeda that did the trick, Emma. Phill. Andromeda? They were talking of that downstairs. What's made you take to scribbling, James? Spurr. Scribbling? how do you mean? My handwriting's easy enough to read, as you ought to know very well. Phill. You can't expect me to remember what your writing's like; it's so long since I've seen it! Spurr. Come, I like that! When I wrote twice to say I was sorry we'd fallen out; and never got a word back! Phill. If you'd written to the addresses I gave you abroad—— Spurr. Then you did write; but none of the letters reached me. I never even knew you'd gone abroad. I wrote to the old place. And so did you, I suppose, not knowing I'd moved my lodgings too, so naturally—— But what does it all matter so long as we've met and it's all right between us? Oh, my dear girl, if you only knew how I'd worried myself, thinking you were—— Well, all that's over now, isn't it? [He attempts to embrace her. Phill. (repulsing him). Not quite so fast, James. Before I say whether we're to be as we were or not, I want to know a little more about you. You wouldn't be here like this if you hadn't done something to distinguish yourself. Spurr. Well, I don't say I mayn't have got a certain amount of what they call "kudos," owing to Andromeda. But what difference does that make? Phill. Tell me, James, is it you that's been writing a pink book all over silver cutlets? Spurr. Me? Write a book—about cutlets—or anything else! Emma, you don't suppose I've quite come to that! Andromeda's the name of my bull-dog. I took first prize with her; there were portraits of both of us in one of the papers. And the people here were very much taken with the dog, and—and so they asked me to dine with them. That's how it was. Phill. I should have thought, if they asked one of you to dine, it ought to have been the bull-dog. Spurr. Now what's the good of saying extravagant things of that sort? Not that old Drummy couldn't be trusted to behave anywhere! Phill. Better than her master, I daresay. I heard of your goings on with some Lady Rhoda or other! Spurr. Oh, the girl I sat next to at dinner? Nice chatty sort of girl; seems fond of quadrupeds—— Phill. Especially two-legged ones! You see I've been told all about it! Spurr. I assure you I didn't go a step beyond the most ordinary civility. You're not going to be jealous because I promised I'd give her a liniment for one of her dogs, are you? Phill. Liniment! You always were a flirt, James! But I'm not jealous. I've met a very nice-spoken young man while I've been here; he sat next to me at supper, and paid me the most beautiful compliments, and was most polite and attentive—though he hasn't got as far as liniment, at present. Spurr. But, Emma, you're not going to take up with some other fellow just when we've come together again? Phill. If you call it "coming together," when I'm down in the Housekeeper's Room, and you're up above, carrying on with ladies of title! Spurr. Do you want to drive me frantic? As if I could help being where I am! How could I know you were here? Phill. At all events you know now, James. And it's for you to choose between your smart lady-friends and me. If you're fit company for them, you're too grand for one of their maids. Spurr. My dear girl, don't be unreasonable! I'm expected back in the Drawing Room, and I can't throw 'em over now all of a sudden without giving offence. There's the interests of the firm to consider, and it's not for me to take a lower place than I'm given. But it's only for a night or two, and you don't really suppose I wouldn't rather be where you are if I was free to choose—but I'm not, Emma, that's the worst of it! Phill. Well, go back to the Drawing Room, then; don't keep Lady Rhoda waiting for her liniment on my account. I ought to be in my ladies' rooms by this time. Only don't be surprised if, whenever you are free to choose, you find you've come back just too late—that's all! [She turns to leave him. Spurr. (detaining her). Emma, I won't let you go like this! Not before you've told me where I can meet you again here. Phill. There's no place that I know of—except the Housekeeper's Room; and of course you couldn't descend so low as that.... James, there's somebody coming! Let go my hand—do you want to lose me my character! [Steps and voices are heard at the other end of the passage; she frees herself, and escapes. Spurr. (attempting to follow). But, Emma, stop one—— She's gone!... Confound it, there's the butler and a page- boy coming! It's no use staying up here any longer. (To himself, as he goes downstairs.) It's downright torture— that's what it is! To be tied by the leg in the Drawing-Room, doing the civil to a lot of girls I don't care a blow about; and to know that all the time some blarneying beggar downstairs is doing his best to rob me of my Emma! Flesh and blood can't stand it; and yet I'm blest if I see any way out of it without offending 'em all round. [He enters the Chinese-Drawing-Room. Scene XXVII.—The Chinese Drawing Room. Miss Spelwane. At last, Mr. Spurrell! We began to think you meant to keep away altogether. Has anybody told you why you've been waited for so impatiently? Spurr. (looking round the circle of chairs apprehensively). No. Is it family prayers, or what? Er—are they over? Miss Spelw. No, no; nothing of that . Can't you guess? Mr. Spurrell, I'm going to be very bold, and ask a great, great favour of you, I don't know why they chose me to represent them; I told Lady Lullington I was afraid my entreaties would have no weight; but if you only would—— Spurr. (to himself). They're at it again! How many more of 'em want a pup! (Aloud.) Sorry to be disobliging, but —— Miss Spelw. (joining her hands in supplication). Not if I implore you? Oh, Mr. Spurrell, I've quite set my heart on hearing you read aloud to us. Are you really cruel enough to refuse? Spurr. Read aloud! Is that what you want me to do? But I'm no particular hand at it. I don't know that I've ever read aloud—except a bit out of the paper now and then—since I was a boy at school! Lady Cantire. What's that I hear? Mr. Spurrell professing incapacity to read aloud? Sheer affectation! Come, Mr. Spurrell, I am much mistaken if you are wanting in the power to thrill all hearts here. Think of us as instruments ready to respond to your touch. Play upon us as you will; but don't be so ungracious as to raise any further obstacles. Spurr. (resignedly). Oh, very well, if I'm required to read, I'm agreeable. [Murmurs of satisfaction. Lady Cant. Hush, please, everybody! Mr. Spurrell is going to read. My dear Dr. Rodney, if you wouldn't mind just —— Lord Lullington, can you hear where you are? Where are you going to sit, Mr. Spurrell? In the centre will be best. Will somebody move that lamp a little, so as to give him more light? Spurr. (to himself, as he sits down). I wonder what we're supposed to be playing at! (Aloud.) Well, what am I to read, eh? 197 "I'm coming to take you!" O U T T T T T B Miss Spelw. (placing an open copy of "Andromeda" in his hands with a charming air of deferential dictation). You might begin with this—such a dear little piece! I'm dying to hear you read it! Spurr. (as he takes the book). I'll do the best I can! (He looks at the page in dismay.) Why, look here, it's Poetry! I didn't bargain for that. Poetry's altogether out of my line! (Miss Spelwane opens her eyes to their fullest extent, and retires a few paces from him; he turns over the leaves backwards until he arrives at the title-page .) I say, this is rather curious! Who the dickins is Clarion Blair? (The company look at one another with raised eyebrows and dropped underlips.) Because I never heard of him; but he seems to have been writing poetry about my bull-dog. Miss Spelw. (faintly). Writing poetry—about your bull-dog! Spurr. Yes, the one you've all been praising up so. If it isn't meant for her, it's what you might call a most surprising coincidence, for here's the old dog's name as plain as it can be—Andromeda! [Tableau. "You might begin with this—such a dear little piece!" "LIVING PICTURES." The Downey ones, meaning thereby the photographers W. & D. "of that ilk," have produced some excellent photographic portraits in their fifth series recently published. The Czarevich and The Right Hon. Henry Chaplin, M.P., two sporting names well brought together, and both capital likenesses, though the Baron fancies that The Czarevich has the best of it, for secret and silent as Mr. Chaplin is as a politician, yet did he never manage to keep so dark as he is represented in this picture. Here, too, is Mr. Charles Santley—"Charles our friend"—looking like a mere boy with "a singing face," where "Nature, smiling, gave the winning grace." Mr. Sydney Grundy, endimanché, is too beautiful for words. But the picture of Mrs. Bancroft, wearing (in addition to a trimmed fur cloak) a wonderful kind of "Fellah! don't-know-yar-fellah!" expression, at once surprised, pained, and hurt, does not at all represent the "little Mrs. B." whom the public knows and loves. "How doth the little busy Mrs. B. delight to bark and bite" might have been under this portrait, and Downey must be more Downey another time, and give us a more characteristic presentment of this lively comédienne. The Right Hon. Arthur J. Balfour is the best of all. Capital. Just the man: "frosty but kindly." Then there is a first rate portrait of Miss Fanny Brough, and after her comes the King of Saxony!! O Albert of Saxony! after Miss Fanny Brough!! What'll Queenie Caroline say? Perhaps Messrs. Downey, by kind permission of Cassell & Co., will explain. Battle With Bacilli.—Dr. Roux has been successful against the Diphtheria Bacillus. He can afford to look on at any number of Bacilli and exclaim, "Bah! silly!" Unless he pronounces Latin more Italiano, and then he would say "Bah! chilly!" Which would signify that they were lifeless and harmless. "Bravo Roux!" UR ALL-ROUND STOCK-EXCHANGERS' COMPANY. NPARALLELED PROFITS TO EVERYBODY! HE ALL-ROUND COMPANY PERFORMS IMPOSSIBILITIES!! HE ALL-ROUND COMPANY ARE SQUARE DEALERS!!! RY OUR NEW G STOCK. HE G IS A REGULAR GALLOPER. HE G CAN CANTER; UT THE ALL-ROUND COMPANY CAN'T CANT. B T L H T T T T T T T T B C T T T H H I T H HE ALL-ROUND COMPANY ARE SHEKEL-SCOOPERS. HE ALL-ROUND COMPANY must be Tried at once. HE SENTENCE will be Hard Cash FOR Life WITHOUT ANY Labour. HE G STOCK FOR BREAKFAST. HE G STOCK FOR BILIOUS HEADACHES. HE G STOCK FOR BEANFEASTS. HE NEW G STOCK FOR THE NEW G WO-MAN. Y OUR COVER SYSTEM we have never yet drawn blank. Surprise profits are made by all Investors who trust us with their balances, so that a swinging amount always stands to their credit. We have never yet received a check. Our Customers come to Order, but they never go to Law. In June, 1893, we received information about Grand Post Defs. and Tympanum Prefs., and a Bull-dozing Operation was decided on. As a consequence we were able to present all Subscribers with a £50 dumb-bell apiece, which has made them strong enough to move a Market. HE ALL-ROUND COMPANY'S PEBBLE-BEECHED POPLAR HOAX DEAL. Everyone should therefore PLANK DOWN HIS MONEY and HROW HIS SCRUPLES OVER-BOARD. Y our New Purchase System all OMMISSIONS ARE ABOLISHED. HE ALL-ROUND COMPANY DEALS IN LARGE BLOCKS. HE ALL ROUND COMPANY BLOCK-HEADS THE LIST. HE ALL-ROUND COMPANY TELLS YOU OW TO WATCH A STOCK and OW TO STRIKE A TIME-BARGAIN. F YOU DON'T LIKE G STOCK BUY B STOCK. HE BUSY B BUZZES! USH A-BUY B STOCK!! AST YEAR we recommended all bonneted widows to buy B's. The result is that they now wear poke-bonnets, and own pigs. They are also in clover. STOCK FOR EVER!!! THE H CANNOT DROP. H STOCK FOR AMPSTEAD! H STOCK FOR IGHGATE! H STOCK FOR OLLOWAY! H STOCK FOR HISLINGTON! H STOCK FOR THE OUSE! Customers who deal with THE ALL-ROUND COMPANY HAVE NEVER FAILED TWICE. WE CAN SHOW YOU HOW YOU'RE DONE ON APPLICATION TO OUR ALL-ROUND STOCK-EXCHANGERS' COMPANY, ENGLAND. AWKWARDLY EXPRESSED. (A Cosy Corner in a Country House.) Hostess. "This is good of you, Major Grey! When I wrote I never expected for a moment that you would come!" "WINDING 'EM UP." ["If he believed that the majority of the Liberal-Unionist party, or indeed any considerable section of them, held the opinion which was expressed by this writer in the Times, he, for one, would at once resign the responsible position which he held, and would claim to take up a more independent position, because he was certain that their efforts would be fruitless, and that they would not succeed in defeating the policy of Home Rule if they were to accept the negative position which had been suggested to them."—Mr. Chamberlain at Durham.] Showman Joe soliloquiseth:— Waxworks indeed! Hah! I've took over the management of 'em, and I suppose, as Misther Thleary said, I must "make the betht of 'em, not the wurtht." But I'm a bit tired of the job—sometimes. Wish I could feel Mrs. Jarley's pride in the whole bag o' tricks! 'Ave to purtend to, of course. Can't cry creaky waxworks any more than you can stinking fish. But a more rusty, sluggish, wheezy, wobbly, jerky, uncertain, stick-fast, stodgy, unwillin' lot o' wax figgers I never did——Well, there, it tries a conscience of injy-rubber to crack 'em up and patter of 'em into poppylarity, blowed if it don't! Kim up, Dook! Dashed if 'e don't look as if 'e fancied hisself the Sleepin' Beauty, and wanted to forty-wink it for another centry. Look at the flabby flop of 'im! Jest as though 'e wouldn't move if 'is nose wos a meltin'. Large as life, and twice as nateral? Wy, a kid's Guy Fox on the fifth o' November 'ud give 'im hodds, and lick 'is 'ead orf—heasy! Bin a-ileing 'is works this ever so long, and still 'e moves as if 'is wittles wos sand-paper, and 'is drink witrol. Kim up! As to the Markis, well, 'e's a bit older, but dashed if 'e don't move livelier—when 'e is on the shift. At the present moment 'owever, utter confloption is a cycle-sprinter to 'im. As if a pair o' niddity-noddities in "negative" positions was likely to fetch 'em in front in these days! Yah! Should like to keep the Old Show a-runnin', too,—leastways, until I can start a bran-new one of my very own. Won't run to it yet, I'm afraid. Oh, to boss a big booth-full all to myself! I'd show 'em! This Combination Show—old stock-in-trade of one company, and cast-offs from another—ain't the best o' bisness arter all. But I must keep 'em together as a going concern till I can run a star company of my own choosing. 'Ere, 'and us that ile-can again! Talk about rust and rickets! Curting about to be rung up? Then I must get 'em in working horder somehow! 'Ang this Dook! Can't git anythink nateral out of 'im—'cept a yawn. That 'e does as like as life. Kim up old nose-o'-wax and don't nod yerself into nothingness! 'Ow much more ile do yer rusty old innards want to stop their clogging and creaking? Proprietors beginning to pull long faces at my pace? 'Int that I'll shake the machinery to smithereens by too much haction? Well, I am blowed! Wy, they'd slow down a sick snail, and 'andicap a old tortus, they would! Tell yer wot it is, if they don't give me a free 'and at the crank I shall turn the whole thing up, so there! Some nameless, nidnoddy, negative old crocks 'ave bin a-earwigging 'em, that's wot's the matter. But I give 'em the straight tip, if they lend a ear to them slow-going stick-in-the-muds, I shall jest resign my responserble persition, and take up a hindependent one—jine the Opposition Show, or p'r'aps start one o' my own, and then where will they be, I wonder? Cling-cling! Curting rising? Well, 'ere goes once more then! (Winding hard and addressing audience). "Ladies and gen'l'men! The Himperial and Royal Grand Unionist Combination Waxworks Show is about to start for the season! Largest and most life-like set o' wax figgers ever exhibited to a hadmiring public!! As I wind you will perceive hunmistakeable signs of hanimation in 'is Grace the Nobble Dook; arter wich, with your kyind permission, I shall take a turn at the Illustrous Markis!!!" 198 "WINDING 'EM UP." Showman Joe. "LADIES AND GEN'L'MEN, 'IS GRACE THE DOOK WILL SHORTLY BEGIN TO SHOW SIGNS OF HANIMATION—HAFTER WHICH, WITH YOUR KIND PERMISSION, I WILL PERCEED TO TAKE A TURN AT THE MARKIS!" WHERE ARE YOU GOING, REVOLTING MAID? (New Song to an Old Tune, for the New Woman.) [The Quarterly Review says that man will not marry the New Woman, which must be the final blow to her ambition.] "Where are you going, Revolting Maid?" "As far as I may, fair Sir," she said. "Shall I go with you, Revolting Maid?" "You may follow—behind me, Sir!" she said. "What is your object, Revolting Maid?" "Emancipation, Sir!" she said. "Will you marry, Revolting Maid?" "Perhaps—on my own terms, Sir!" she said. "And what may those terms be, Revolting Maid?" "Absolute Liberty, Sir!" she said. "Then I shan't wed you, Revolting Maid!" "Did anyone ask you, Sir?" she said. Title for New London Japanese Journal (Weekly).—"The Happy Dispatch, edited by Hari Kari." THE SONG OF THE LEADERS. 199 200 201 When the much-enduring Dockers, In the city of the Smoke-Cloud, By the banks of the Tems-Ri-Va, Struck to gain a larger stipend, Lead them on did Burnsiwatha. And the ruler of these matters, Who is called the Bry-Tish-Pu-Blyck, Took the side of dock-gate casuals, Of the somewhat lordly stevedore, And informed the proud Dy-Reck-Tas That they soon must yield to reason; Gave its sympathy in gallons, Gave its coin to make a strike-fund; So the proud Dy-Reck-Tas yielded. But when many moons had vanished, Came the rather wild Keir-Har-Di, Came Tom-Mann the earnest minded, Talked of "Independent Labour," Soundly rated Burnsiwatha And all useful Labour-Members. Then the strong man, Burnsiwatha, Hurled their language back with interest, With the breathing of his nostrils, With the tempest of his anger, Hurled it back on his assailants. Said Tom-Mann was feather-headed, Said the rather wild Keir-Har-Di Was no better than a "bounder." And the Independent Lab'rers, Not to be outdone in scolding, Scandalised poor Burnsiwatha, Said they thought him quite conceited, Called him "Boss," likewise "Bull-dozing." And the Bry-Tish-Pu-Blyck wondered At the manners of these leaders, At the Unionists' disunion. "Go, my sons," it said, "instanter, Go back to your homes and people; Slay all ravening labour-sweaters, All the Kum-Panies, the giants, All the serpents, the Emp-Loias; But, for goodness' sake have done with Petty piques and jealous slangings; Or, next time you ask for coppers For the holy cause of Labour, You will find these coppers wanting!" STUDIES IN ANIMAL LIFE. The Chick-a-leary Cochin. BAYARD AND BOBBY. Oh, Robert, in our hours of ease Butt of those outworn pleasantries, Not less with pride thy praise we hear Hymned in another hemisphere, When Bayard, chivalrously graphic, Tells how you regulate the traffic. Firm as a statue on its plinth 'Midst the vertiginous labyrinth Of circus, street and bridge you stand, And rule the storm with calm, unarmèd hand. Rarely our soldiers of the law Do Themis' awful truncheon draw, Their Orphic whistle sùbdue can All save the crew of Hooligan. Though western Jonathan prefer A force not vainly claviger, Yet Bayard, taught in English ways, That suaver regiment must praise That trusts to moral weight and nerve And keeps the bludgeon in reserve. Stalwart and patient 'midst the strife Of all our seething city life, When pageants twice or thrice a year Throw the whole Empire out of gear, Then, stolid symbol of good sense, A wonder-worker, sans pretence, Fulfill'st authority's decrees, With thy familiar "Stand back, please!" And rather by that sober charm Than by the might of brawny arm, The many-headed own thy sway; They laugh, they jostle, and obey. Worthy thy deeds of loftier rhyme, Than topic-song or pantomime. Not quite sublime, but on the border, Type of our British law and order, Thy figure shall be graved upon The frieze of some new Parthenon, Wherein by glyphic art portray'd Reigns the ideal parlour-maid, Thy dauntless soul's domestic lure Trim, natty, roguish, and demure, Waiting the age's unborn Layard To illustrate the praise of Bayard. Query in the Country.—New agricultural version of an ancient cockney slang phrase—"Has your farmer sold his mangel?" Advice to any Dramatic Author who has written a Lengthy Piece.—"Cut, and run." THE TALE OF A VOTE. Bedad, 'twas meself was as plaised as could be When they tould me the vote had bin given to me. "St. Pathrick," ses Oi, "Oi'm a gintleman too, An' Oi'll doine ivry day off a grand Oirish stew." The words was scarce seen slippin' off of me tongue When who but the Colonel comes walkin' along! "Begorrah, 'tis callin' he's afther, the bhoy, Oi'm a gintleman now wid a vingeance," ses Oi. The Colonel come in wid an affable air, An' he sat down quite natteral-loike in a chair. "So, Rory," ses he, "'tis a vote ye've got now?" "That's thrue though ye ses it," ses Oi, wid a bow. "Deloighted!" ses he, "'tis meself that is g'ad, For shure ye're disarvin' it, Rory me lad. An' how are ye goin' to use it?" ses he, "Ye could scarcely do betther than give it to me." Oi stared at the Colonel, amazed wid surprise. "What! Give it away, Sorr?—Me vote, Sorr?" Oi cries. "D'ye think that Oi've waited ontil Oi am gray, An' now Oi'm jist goin' to give it away?" The Colonel he chuckled, an "Rory," ses he. But "No, Sorr," Oi answers, "ye don't diddle me." Thin he hum'd an' he haw'd, an' he started agin, But he'd met wid his equal in Rory O'Flynn. Thin the smoile died away, an' a frown come instead, But for all that he tould me, Oi jist shook me head, An' he gnawed his moustache, an' he cursed an' he swore, But the more that he argued, Oi shook it the more. Thin he called me a dolt an' an ignorant fool, An' he said that Oi ought to go back to the school, An' he flew in a rage an' wint black in the face, An' he flung in a hullaballoo from the place. Bedad, Oi was startled. Him beggin' me vote, An' he'd three of his own too!—The gradiness o't! Ye could scarcely belave it onless it was thrue, An' him sittin' oop for a gintleman too! Was it betther he thought he could use it than Oi? Begorrah, Oi'll show he's mistaken, me bhoy. Oi'll hang it oop over me mantlepace shelf, For now that Oi've got it, Oi'll kape it meself. The Zuyder Zee.—"Wha' be the Zider Zee?" repeated a Devonian farmer. "Why, I always thought as the Zee of Exeter were the Zider Zee. Ain't it pratty well in the middle o' Zider Country?" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. I.—PROPOSED HAIR-DRESSING ROOM. "A series of alterations has, during the recess, been in active progress within the Houses of Parliament," &c.... "Space will be set apart to provide dressing-room accommodation and a hair-dressing saloon."—Times, Wednesday, October 17. 202 203 MAYENNAISE VERSUS MAYONNAISE. (Vide last Number of "Punch.") Dear Punch, your praise Of Mayonnaise Is certainly most telling: But don't it seem That such a theme Deserves the proper spelling? I sometimes look At a cookery book By A. Dumas, the younger; And find he says That Mayennaise (A certain cure for hunger) Should be spelt so; Not with an o, But like Mayenne, that city, Whose siege's fame Supplied the name Mis-spelt now; more's the pity Maybe D's right, Although it might Be just a yarn he's telling. So hope your bard Won't be too hard And simply "D" my spelling. 'Tother Way About.—Mr. Le Gallienne says, epigrammatically, that "Beauty is the smile on the face of Power." Humph! Gallant Mr. Punch prefers to put it the other way, and say "Power is the smile on the face of Beauty!" Surely that is equally true. But it's a poor rule (or paradox) that won't work both ways. Motto most Practical for all who are compelled to Travel constantly in our Metropolitan Public Conveyances.—"In Omnibus Caritas." OUR DECADENTS. Algy. "What's the matter, Archie? You're not looking well!" Archie. "You wouldn't look well, if you'd been suffering from Insomnia every Afternoon for a Week!" VERSE AND CHORAL SUMMING-UP. [Of a recently protracted discussion in the Times on "Anglican Orders," set to the air of what was once