The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 98, May 24, 1890, by Various This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 Title: Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 98, May 24, 1890 Author: Various Editor: Francis Cowley Burnand Release Date: January 21, 2010 [EBook #31039] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PUNCH *** Produced by Neville Allen, Malcolm Farmer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. VOLUME 98. MAY 24, 1890. * * * * * MR. PUNCH'S MORAL MUSIC-HALL DRAMAS. No. XI.--THE RIVAL DOLLS. "Miss JENNY and POLLY Had each a new dolly."--_Vide Poem._ CHARACTERS. _Miss Jenny_ } } By the Sisters LEAMAR. _Miss Polly_ } _The Soldier Doll_} } By the Two ARMSTRONGS. _The Sailor Doll_ } SCENE--_A Nursery. Enter_ Miss JENNY and Miss POLLY, _who perform a blameless step-dance with an improving chorus_. Oh, isn't it jolly! we've each a new dolly, And one is a Soldier, the other's a Tar! We're fully contented with what's been presented, Such good little children we both of us are! [_They dance up to a cupboard, from which they bring out two large Dolls, which they place on chairs._ _Miss J._ _Don't_ they look nice! Come, POLLY, let us strive To make ourselves believe that they're alive! _Miss P._ (addressing Sailor D.). I'm glad you're mine. I dote on all that's nautical. _The Sailor D. (opening his eyes suddenly)._ Excuse me, Miss, your sister's more _my_ sort o' gal! [_Kisses his hand_ to Miss J., _who shrinks back, shocked and alarmed_. _Miss J._ Oh, POLLY, did you hear? I feel so shy! _The Soldier D. (with mild self-assertion)._ _I_ can say "Pa" and "Ma"--and wink my eye. [_Does so at_ Miss P., _who runs in terror to_ Miss J.'s _side_. _Miss J._ Why, both are showing signs of animation! _Miss P._ Who'd think we had such strong imagination! _The Soldier Doll_ (_aside to the_ Sailor D.). I say, old fellow, we have caught their fancy-- In each of us they now a real man see! Let's keep it up! _The Sailor D. (dubiously)._ D'ye think as we can _do_ it? _The Soldier D._ You stick by me, and I will see you through it. Sit up, and turn your toes out,--don't you loll; Put on the Man, and drop the bloomin' Doll! [_The_ Sailor Doll _pulls himself together, and rises from chair importantly_. _The Sailor D. (in the manner of a Music-hall Chairman)_--Ladies, with your kind leave, this gallant gent Will now his military sketch present. [Miss J. _and_ P. applaud; _the_ Soldier D., _after feebly expostulating, is induced to sing_. _Song, by the Soldier Doll._ When I used to be displayed In the Burlington Arcade, With artillery arrayed Underneath. Shoulder Hump! I imagine that I made All the Lady Dolls afraid, I should draw my battle-blade From its sheath, Shoulder Hump! For I'm Mars's gallant son, And my back I've shown to none, Nor was ever seen to run From the strife! &c. Oh, the battles I'd have won, And the dashing deeds have done, If I'd ever fired a gun In my life! &c. _Refrain (to be sung marching round Stage)._ By your right flank, wheel! Let the front rank kneel! With the bristle of the steel To the foe. Till their regiments reel, At our rattling peal, And the military zeal We show! [_Repeat, with the whole company marching round after him._ _The Soldier Doll._ My friend will next oblige--this jolly Jack Tar Will give his song and chorus in charąck-tar! [_Same business with_ Sailor D. _Song, by the Sailor Doll._ In costume I'm So maritime, You'd never suppose the fact is, That with the Fleet In Regent Street, I'd precious little naval practice! There was saucy craft, Rigged fore an' aft, Inside o' Mr. CRE-MER'S. From Noah's Arks to Clipper-built barques, Like-wise mechanical stea-mers. But to navigate the Serpentine, Yeo ho, my lads, ahoy! With clockwork, sails, or spirits of wine, Yeo-ho, my lads, ahoy! I did respeckfully decline, So I was left in port to pine, Which wasn't azactually the line Of a rollicking Sailor Boy, Yeo-ho! Of a rollicking Sailor Bo-oy! Yes, there was lots Of boats and yachts, Of timber and of tin, too; But one and all Was far too small For a doll o' my size to get into! I was too big On any brig To ship without disas-ter, And it wouldn't never do When the cap'n and the crew Were a set o' little swabs all plas-ter! _Chorus_--So to navigate the Serpentine, &c. An Ark is p'raps The berth for chaps As is fond o' Natural Hist'ry. But I sez to SHEM And the rest o' them, "How you get along at all's a myst'ry! With a Wild Beast Show Let loose below, And four fe-males on deck too! I never could agree With your happy fami-lee, And your lubberly ways I objeck to." [_Chorus. Hornpipe by the company, after which the_ Soldier Doll _advances condescendingly to_ Miss JENNY. _The Sold. D._ Invincible I'm reckoned by the Ladies. But yield to you--though conquering my trade is! _Miss J. (repulsing him)._ Oh, go away, you great conceited thing, you! [The Sold. D. _persists in offering her attentions_. _Miss P. (watching them bitterly)._ To be deserted by one's doll does sting you! [_The_ Sailor D. _approaches_. _The Sailor D. (to_ Miss P.) Let me console you, Miss, a Sailor Doll As swears his 'art was ever true to POLL! (_N.B.--Good opportunity for Song here._) _Miss P._ (_indignantly to_ Miss J.) Your Sailor's teasing me to be his idol! Do make him stop--(_spitefully_)--When you've _quite_ done with _my_ doll! _Miss J. (scornfully)._ If you suppose _I_ want your wretched warrior, I'm sorry _for_ you! _Miss P._ I for you am sorrier. _Miss J. (weeping_, R.). POLLY preferred to me--what ignominy! _Miss P. (weeping,_ L.). My horrid Sailor jilting me for JENNY! [_The two Dolls face one another_, C. _Sailor D. (to_ Soldier D.). You've made her sluice her skylights now, you swab! _Soldier D. (to_ Sailor D.). As you have broke her heart, I'll break your nob! [_Hits him._ _Sailor D. (in a pale fury)._ This insult must be blotted out in bran! _Soldier D. (fiercely)._ Come on, I'll shed your sawdust--if I can! [Miss J. _and_ P. _throw themselves between the combatants_. _Miss J._ For any mess you make we shall be scolded, So wait until a drugget we've unfolded! [_They lay down drugget on Stage._ _The Soldier D. (politely)._ No hurry, Miss, _we_ don't object to waiting. _The Sailor D. (aside)._ His valour--like my own--'s evaporating! (_Defiantly to_ Soldier D.). On guard! You'll see how soon I'll run you through! (_Confidentially_). (If you will not prod _me_, I won't pink _you_.) _The Soldier D._ Through your false kid my deadly blade I'll pass! (_Confidentially_). (Look here, old fellow, don't you be a _hass_!) [_They exchange passes at a considerable distance._ _The Sailor D. (aside)._ Don't lose your temper now! _Sold. D._ Don't get excited. Do keep a little farther off! _Sail. D._ Delighted! [_Wounds_ Soldier D. _by misadventure_. _Sold. D. (annoyed)._ There now, you've gone and made upon my wax a dent! _Sail. D._ Excuse me, it was really quite an accident. _Sold. D. (savagely)._ Such clumsiness would irritate a saint! [_Stabs_ Sailor Doll. _Miss J. and P. (imploringly)._ Oh, stop! the sight of sawdust turns us faint! [_They drop into chairs, swooning._ _The Sailor D._ I'll pay you out for that! [_Stabs_ Soldier D. _Sold. D._ Right through you've poked me! _Sailor D._ So you have _me_! _Sold. D._ You shouldn't have provoked me! [_They fall transfixed._ _Sailor D. (faintly)._ Alas, we have been led away by vanity. Dolls shouldn't try to imitate humanity! [_Dies._ _Soldier D._ For, if they do, they'll end like us, unpitied, Each on the other's sword absurdly spitted! [_Dies._ Miss J. _and_ P. _revive, and bend sadly over the corpses_. _Miss Jenny._ From their untimely end we draw this moral, How wrong it is, even for dolls, to quarrel! _Miss Polly._ Yes, JENNY, in the fate of these poor fellows see What sad results may spring from female jealousy! [_They embrace penitently as Curtain falls._ * * * * * [Illustration: THE ROSE-WATER CURE.] * * * * * THE ROSE-WATER CURE. [The Report of the Sweating Committee says that "the inefficiency of many of the lower class of workers, early marriages, and the tendency of the residuum of the population in large towns to form a helpless community, together with a low standard of life and the excessive supply of unskilled labour are the chief factors in producing sweating." The Committee's chief "recommendations" in respect of the evils of Sweating seem to be, the lime-washing of work-places and the multiplication of sanitary inspectors.] SEVENTY-ONE Sittings, a many months' run, Witnesses Two Hundred, Ninety and One: Clergymen, guardians, factors, physicians, Middlemen, labourers, smart statisticians, Journalists, managers, Gentiles and Jews, And this is the issue! A thing to amuse A cynic, the chat of this precious Committee, But moving kind hearts to despair blent with pity. CANTUAR., DERBY, and mild ABERDEEN, Such anti-climax sure never was seen! ONSLOW and ROTHSCHILD and MONKSWELL and THRING, Are you content with the pitiful thing? DUNRAVEN out of it; lucky, my lad! (Though your retirement seemed caused by a fad) Was the Inquiry in earnest or sport? What is the pith of this precious Report? Sweating--which all the world joined to abuse-- Is not the fault of poor Russians or Jews; 'Tisn't the middleman more than the factor, 'Tisn't, no 'tisn't, the sub-contractor; 'Tisn't machinery. No! In fact, What Sweating _is_, in a manner exact, After much thinking we cannot define. Who _is_ to blame for it? Well, we incline To think that the Sweated (improvident elves!) Are, at the bottom, _to blame themselves_! They're poor of spirit, and weak of will, They marry early, have little skill; They herd together, all sexes and ages, And take too tamely starvation wages; And if they _will_ do so, much to their shame, How can the Capitalist be to blame? Remedies? Humph! We really regret We don't see our way to them. People _must_ sweat, _Must_ stitch and starve till they almost drop; But _let it be done in a lime-washed shop_! To drudge in these dens is their destined fate, But keep the dens in a decent state. More inspectors, fewer bad smells, These be our cures for the Sweaters' Hells! Revolutions with rose-water cannot be made! So it was said. But the horrors of Trade, Competition's accursed fruit, The woman a drudge, and the man a brute, These, our Committee of Lordlings are sure, Can only be met by the Rose-water Cure! The Sweating Demon to exorcise Exceeds the skill of the wealthy wise. Still he must "grind the face of the poor." (Though some of us have a faint hope, to be sure, That the highly respectable Capitalist To the Lords' mild lispings will kindly list.) No; the Demon must work his will On his ill-paid suffering victims still; But--he'd better look with a little _less_ dirt, So sprinkle the brute with our Rose-water Squirt!!! * * * * * [Illustration: HARDLY LIKELY. (_An Incident in a "Point to Point" Race._) _Fallen Competitor (to his Bosom Friend, who now has the Race in hand)._ "HI, GEORGE, OLD MAN! JUST CATCH MY HORSE, THERE'S A GOOD CHAP!"] * * * * * AN ENTERTAINMENT OF A GOOD STAMP.--The Penny Postage Jubilee Exhibition at the Guildhall. * * * * * SONG SENTIMENTIANA. (_A delightful "All-the-Year-Round" Resort for the Fashionable Composer._) EXAMPLE IV.--Treating of a passion which, in the well-meant process of making the best of it, unconsciously saddles its object with the somewhat harassing responsibility of competing with the Universal Provider. THOU art all the world to me, love, Thou art everything in one, From my early cup of tea, love, To my kidney underdone; From my canter in the Row, love, To my invitation lunch-- From my quiet country blow, love, To my festive London _Punch_. Thou art all in all to me, love,-- Thou art bread and meat and drink; Thou art air and land and sea, love,-- Thou art paper, pens, and ink. Thou art all of which I'm fond, love: Thou art Whitstables from RULE'S,-- "Little drops" with SPIERS AND POND, love,-- Measures sweet at Mr. POOLE'S. Thou art everything I lack, love, From a month at Brighton gay (Bar the journey there and back, love) To the joys of Derby Day-- From the start from my abode, love, With a team of frisky browns, To the driving "on the road," love, And the dry _vin_ on the Downs! Thou art all the world to me, love,-- Thou art all the thing contains; Thou art honey from the bee, love,-- Thou art sugar from the canes. Thou art----stay! I've made a miss, love; I'm forgetting, on my life! Thou art all--excepting _this_, love,-- Your devoted servant's wife! * * * * * CHARLES THE FIRST. SIR,--Did CHARLES THE FIRST walk _and_ talk half an hour after his head was cut off, or not? Yours, A VERIFIER OF FACTS. SIR,--CHARLES THE FIRST walked and talked _one quarter of an hour_, not half, as is erroneously supposed, after his decollation. We know this by two Dutch pictures which I had in my possession until only the other day, when I couldn't find them anywhere. Yours, HISTORIAN. SIR,--King CHARLES THE FIRST lost his head long before he came to the scaffold. I have the block now by me. From it the well-known wood-cut was taken. CONSULE PLAUCO. SIR,--It is a very curious thing, but all the trouble was taken out of CHARLES'S head and put into mine years ago by one of the greatest CHARLESES that ever lived, whose name was DICKENS; and mine, without the "ENS," is Yours truly, "Mr. DICK." P.S.--"'Mr. DICK sets us all right,' said My Aunt, quietly." * * * * * A CHAPTER OF DICKENS UP TO DATE. [Illustration] (_In which Mrs. Harris, assisted by a Carpet, is the cause of a division between Friends._) MRS. GAMP'S apartment wore, metaphorically speaking, a Bab-Balladish aspect, being considerably topsy-turvey, as rooms have a habit of being after any unusual ebullition of temper on the part of their occupants. It was certainly not swept and garnished, although its owner was preparing for the reception of a visitor. That visitor was BETSEY PRIG. Mrs. GAMP'S chimney-piece was ornamented with three photographs: one of herself, looking somewhat severe; one of her friend and bosom companion, Mrs. PRIG, of far more amiable aspect; and one of a mysterious personage supposed to be Mrs. HARRIS. "There! Now, drat you, BETSEY, don't be long!" said Mrs. GAMP, apostrophising her absent friend. "For I'm in no mood for waiting, I do assure you. I'm easy pleased, but I must have my own way (as is always the best and wisest), and have it directly minit, when the fancy strikes me, else we shall part, and that not friendly, as I could wish, but bearin' malice in our 'arts." * * * "BETSEY," said Mrs. GAMP, "I will now propoge a toast. My frequent pardner, BETSEY PRIG!" "Which, altering the name to SAIRAH GAMP, I drink," said Mrs. PRIG, "with love and tenderness!" "Now, SAIRAH," said Mrs. PRIG, "jining business with pleasure, as so often we've done afore, wot is this bothersome affair about which you wants to consult me? _Are_ you a-goin' to call me over the Carpet once more, SAIREY?" "Drat the Carpet!" exclaimed Mrs. GAMP, with a vehement explosiveness whose utter unexpectedness quite disconcerted her friend. "_Is_ it Mrs. HARRIS?" inquired Mrs. PRIG, solemnly. "Yes, BETSY PRIG, it _is_," snapped Mrs. GAMP, angrily, "that very person herself, and no other, which, after twenty years of trust, I never know'd nor never expected to, which it 'urts a feeling 'art even to name her name as henceforth shall be nameless betwixt us twain." "Oh, shall it?" retorted Mrs. PRIG, shortly. "Why bless the woman, if _I_'d said that, you'd ha' bitten the nose off my face, as is your nature to, as the poick says." "Don't you say nothink against poicks, BETSEY, and I'll say nothink against musicians," retorted Mrs. GAMP, mysteriously. "Oh! then it _was_ to call me over the Carpet that you sent for me so sudden and peremptory?" rejoined Mrs. PRIG, with a smile. "DRAT THE CARPET!!!" again ejaculated Mrs. GAMP, with astonishing fierceness. "Wot do _you_ know about the Carpet, BETSEY?" "Why nothink at all, my dear; nor don't want to," replied Mrs. PRIG, with surprise. "Oh!" retorted Mrs. GAMP, "you don't, don't you? Well, then, I _do_, and it's time you did likewise, if pardners we are to remain who 'ave pardners been so long." Mrs. PRIG muttered something not quite audible, but which sounded suspiciously like, "'Ard wuck!" "Which share and share alike is my mortar," continued Mrs. GAMP; "that as bin my princerple, and I've found it pay. But Injin Carpets for our mutual 'ome, of goldiun lustre and superfluos shine, as tho' we wos Arabian Knights, I cannot and I will not stand. It is the last stror as camels could not forgive. No, BETSEY," added Mr. GAMP, in a violent burst of feeling, "nor crokydiles forget!" "Bother your camels, and your crokydiles too!" retorted Mrs. PRIG, with indifference. "Wy, SAIREY, wot a tempest in a teapot, to be sure!" Mrs. GAMP looked at her with amazement, incredulity, and indignation. "Wot!" she with difficulty ejaculated. "A--tempest--in--a--Teapot!! And does BETSEY PRIG, my pardner for so many years, call her friend a Teapot, and decline to take up SAIREY'S righteous quarrel with a Mrs. HARRIS?" Then Mrs. PRIG, smiling more scornfully, and folding her arms still tighter, uttered these memorable and tremendous words,-- "Wy, certainly she does, SAIREY GAMP; _most_ certainly she does. Wich I don't believe there's either rhyme or reason in sech an absurd quarrel!" After the utterance of which expressions she leaned forward, and snapped her fingers, and then rose to put on her bonnet, as one who felt that there was now a gulf between them which nothing could ever bridge across. * * * * * THE PATIENT AT PLAY. _Adviser._ Have you ever been present at a performance of _The Dead Heart_? _Patient._ No; and I know nothing of a _Tale of Two Cities_. _A._ Then surely you are well acquainted with _All for Her_? _P._ I regret to reply in the negative. _A._ Perhaps, you have seen the vision in _The Bells_, or the _Corsican Brothers_? _P._ Alas! I am forced to confess I am familiar with neither! _A._ Dear me! This is very sad! Strange! I will give you a prescription. Go to _Paul Kauvar_. You will then be provided with a thoroughly enjoyable mixture. [_Exit Patient to Drury Lane, where he passes a delightful evening._ * * * * * NELLIE AT THE SODGERIES. (_Another Legend of the Royal Military Exhibition._) [Illustration] THE Lady once more left her frame in the Club Morning Room. "So I was wrong," she murmured, as she wended her way towards the now familiar spot. "Poor NELLIE, after all, was _not_ forgotten. I am glad of it,--very glad indeed!" And the flesh tints of Sir PETER LELY'S paint-brush brightened, as a smile played across the canvas features. "I' faith! the Military gentlemen are gallants, one and all! To be sure! Then how would it be possible that the foundress of a hospital should be overlooked? And one as comely as myself!" So, well pleased, she journeyed on. As she reached the river, there was quite a crowd,--people were coming by rail, and boat, and omnibus. It was quite like the olden days of the Exhibitions at South Kensington. She passed through the turnstiles, and then found the cause of the excitement. There were all sorts of good things. A gallery full of pictures, and relics of battles ancient and modern, a museum of industrial work, a collection of everything interesting to a soldier. In the grounds were balloons, and fireworks, assaults at arms, and the best military bands. At length the Lady from the frame in the Club Morning Room stood before a portrait showing a good-natured face and a comely presence. "And so there I am! And in my hands a model of the Hospital hard-by! 'Gad zooks!' as poor dear ROWLEY used to say, I have no cause for complaint! I thank those kind hearts who can find good in everything,--even in poor NELLIE!" And, thoroughly satisfied at the treatment she had received at the Sodgeries, Mistress NELL GWYNNE returned to her haunt in the Club Morning Room. * * * * * A GLEE QUARTETTE.--Welcome to the Meister Glee Singers. Mr. SAXON, in spite of his name, is by no means brutal, though he might be pardoned for being so when he sees his colleague Mr. SAXTON suiting everybody to a T. Mr. HAST has just as much speed as is necessary, and the fourth gentleman should be neither angry NORCROSS, since he always sings in tune. 'Tis a mad world, my Meisters, but, mad or not, we shall always be glad to hear your glees. * * * * * AT THE DENTIST'S.--"_It won't hurt you in the least, and it will be out before you know where you are_;" _i.e._, "You will suffer in the one minute and thirty-nine seconds I am tugging at your jaw, all the concentrated agony of forty-eight continuous hours of wrenching your crushed and tortured body off your staring and staggered head." * * * * * WEEK BY WEEK. _Wednesday._--Great Day everywhere. _Mr. Punch_ appears. Crowds in Fleet Street. The Numbers up in the Office Window. Receptions, alarums, (eight day) excursions (there and back) to meet H.M. STANLEY. Curfew at dusk. No followers allowed. _Thursday._--Crowds out to meet H. M. STANLEY. Mrs. NEMO'S sixth and last dance to meet Mr. H. M. STANLEY, as he hasn't been to any of the others. _Friday._--Lecture by Mr. CHARLES WYNDHAM on "the block system," in the time of CHARLES THE FIRST. Admission by entrances only. _Saturday._--Centenary Celebration of a lot of things. Review of the events of the past month in Hyde Park, by the Editor of the _Nineteenth Century_, to meet Mr. STANLEY. Ceremony of conferring the Order of the Adelphi on H. M. STANLEY, by Messrs. GATTI. _Sunday._--Short services from Dover to Calais. No sermon. Collection in Hyde Park. H. M. STANLEY goes to meet somebody else for a change. _Monday._--Expedition to find H. M. STANLEY. _Tuesday._--Readings of the Barometer, and lecture on hot-house plants and French grapes, by Sir SOMERS VINE. At Tattersall's, Lecture on the approaching "Eve of the Derby," and the female dark races. * * * * * It has been finally settled that Mr. PHIL GORMAN, who will be remembered in connection with the catering department at all the public dinners held of late years in Sloshfield, is to be the next incumbent of the highest municipal office in that prosperous borough. Mrs. GORMAN is a daughter of the celebrated local poet, JAMES POSH, whose verse still occasionally adorns the _Sloshfield Standard_. * * * * * A remarkable incident is stated to have taken place at Lady B----'s fancy dress ball. A gentleman, wearing the gorgeous costume of a Venetian Senator of the _renaissance_ period, somewhat awkwardly entangled his spurs in the flowing train of a beautiful _débutante_, dressed to represent Diana the Huntress. Some of those in the immediate vicinity of the ill-used goddess aver that she was distinctly heard to say, "Pig!". Those who know her better declare, however, that, with her usual politeness, she merely remarked, "I _beg_ your pardon." Hence the misconception, which is certainly pardonable. * * * * * The trees in the Park are now assuming their brightest verdure. It is interesting to note that the number of sparrows shows no signs of diminution. * * * * * Excellent subject Sir ARTHUR has chosen for his serious opera--_Ivanhoe_. It is now finally settled that the part of _Rowena_ will not be entrusted to Mr. HERBERT CAMPBELL. It is whispered that the great effect will be the song of _Isaac of York_, magnificently orchestrated for fifteen Jews' harps, played by lads all under the age of twelve. They have already commenced practice under the eye of Sir ARTHUR, who himself is no unskilled performer on the ancient lyre of JUBAL. * * * * * [Illustration: THE MODERN PISTOL. "BASE IS THE SLAVE THAT PAYS!"] * * * * * A RUM CUSTOMER. [Illustration] THEY have bin so jolly busy lately at the "Grand Hotel," and a reel grand Hotel it is too, that they wanted sum assistence in the werry himportant line of Waiters; so they werry naterally sent for me, and in course I went, and a werry nice cumferal place it is for ewerybody, both Waiters and Wisiters, and I can trewly say as I aint had not a singel complaint since I have been here. Well, one day a young Swell came a sauntering in, about 4 o'clock, and wanted to know if he cood have a lunch for a gentleman, and in the hansomest room as there was in the house. Of course I was ekal to the ocashun, and told him, yes, he coud, and not only in the hansomest room in that house but in the hansomest room in Lundon, and I at wunce showed him into our Marble Pillow Room, which I coud see at a glarnce made a werry deep impression on his mind, which I was not at all surprized at, for it is about as near a approach to Paradise as you can resonably expect so werry near the Strand. So I sets him down at a sweet little round table, and I puts a lovely gold candlestick on it, with two darling little cherubs a climing up it, jest as if they was a going for to lite the candle, and then he horders his simple luncheon, which it was jest a cup of our shuperior chocolate and two xquisite little beef and am sandwitches, and wile he eat and drank 'em he arsked me sech lots of questyuns as farely estonished me. Such as, how much did the four Marbel Pillows cost? So I said, about 200 pound, for I allers thinks as an hed Waiter should be reddy to anser any question as he is arsked, weather he knos anythink about it or not. Then he wanted to know where we got all our bewtifool flowers from, and I told him as we had 'em in fresh every morning from the South of France along with our Shampane, which was made a purpose for us by the most sellebrated makers, and consisted of two sorts, wiz.: dry for the higneramuses and rich for the connysewers. So he ordered a bottle of the latter, and drunk two glasses of it, and then acshally made me drink one two, and sed as it was the finest as he had ewer tasted. He then asked me what made us line all the room with such bewtifool looking glass, and I told him as it was by order of most of the most bewtifoolest Ladys in Lundon, who came to dine there wunce or twice every week. So he said as how he shood drop in now and then to see 'em, for he thort as they gave a sort of relish to a good dinner. He then got up, and saying as he didn't want not no Bill, he throwed down a soverain and saying, "I shall allus know where to cum to when I wants a reelly ellegant lunch, in a reelly ellegant room, and to be waited on by a reelly respectful Waiter," went away. And now cums the strangest part of the hole affair, for presently in rushes our most gentlemanly Manager, and he says, says he, "Do you know, ROBERT, who that was as you've bin a waiting on?" "No, Sir!" says I. "Why it's no other than the young ----" But wild hosses shan't tear the name and title from me, as I was forbid to menshun it; but all I can say is, that if it was known when he was a coming next time, there wood be sich a crowd to see him as ewen our bewtifool Marble Pillow Room wouldn't hold. ROBERT. * * * * * REPORTED ACCIDENT TO A COLONEL AND AN ALDERMAN.--Members of the Ancient Corporation will do well to open their Royal Academy Guide very cautiously, at least when they come to the Sculpture Department, as, if come upon suddenly, their nervous system would receive a severe shock from the following announcement:--"2023. Colonel W. H. WILKIN--bust." We are glad to say that the worthy and gallant Alderman has pulled himself together, and is uncommonly well. By the way, it is but fair to the sculptor to state that his name is--ahem!--"WALKER." * * * * * [Illustration: AN ANTEDILUVIAN SURVIVAL. _Ęsthetic Party (looking over Furnished House)._ "A--I'M AFRAID, MY LOVE, THAT THIS IS THE KIND OF DINING-ROOM--A--IN WHICH ONE WOULD FEEL THAT ONE OUGHT TO DINE AT SIX O'CLOCK!!!"] * * * * * "NOT SUCH A FOOL AS HE LOOKS." _Leo Britannicus, loquitur_;-- GOOD Gentlemen both, you're on opposite tacks! Well, your plans you are perfectly welcome to try on. They talk of the patience of lambs, or park hacks; They're not in it, my lads, with an elderly Lion. A Lion, I mean, of the genuine breed, And not a thin-skinned and upstart adolescent. Dear me! did I let everybody succeed In stirring me up, or in making things pleasant, By smoothing me down in a flattering style, I'd have, there's no doubt, a delectable time of it. You think I look drowsy, and smile a fat smile; Well, what if I do? Where's the very great crime of it? A Lion, you know, is not all roar and ramp, So, STANLEY my hero, why worry and chivey? Mere blarney won't blind me; I'm not of that stamp; So don't hope to hypnotise _me_, good CAPRIVI. Why, bless you, my boys, long before you were cubbed I was charged, by your betters, with being too lazy; But rivals have found, when outwitted or drubbed, That a calm waiting game is not always so crazy. In Indian jungles, American plains, And far Eastern wilds, they have fancied me "bested," Because, when hot rivals were hungry for gains, I kept my eyes open, and patiently rested. A stolid and sleepy expression _will_ steal At times, I'm aware, o'er my leonine features; But, when the time's ripe, my opponents may feel I'm _not_ the most easily humbugged of creatures. In North as in South, in the East as the West, Opponents _have_ planted their paws down before me. But where are they now, boys? _J'y suis, j'y reste!_ Staying power is the thing; so don't bully and bore me. I hear you, my STANLEY, I hear you and mark; To snub you for patriot zeal were ungracious; But--well, after all, on your Continent Dark My footprints are plain, and my realm's pretty spacious. I don't mean to say that a purblind content My power should palsy, my policy dominate, And Congos and Khartoums that pay cent. per cent. Are tempting, but arrogant haste I abominate. My "prancing proconsuls" not _always_ are right, Whose first and last word for old Leo is "collar!" I'm not going to flare up like fury and fight Every time someone else wins an acre or dollar. But if you imagine I'm out of the hunt Every time I take breath, you are vastly mistaken: I know you're a brick, and like language that's blunt; Well, Lions sleep lightly, and readily waken! For you, friend CAPRIVI, your manners are nice, Your style of caressing is verily charming; How soothingly sweet is your placid advice, Your mild deprecation is almost disarming; Almost, but not quite, for 'tis true Teuton law That unfailing defence is the root of the matter; And Leo is fully aware tooth and claw Must not be _talked off_ e'en by friendlies who flatter. Your prod, my good STANLEY, CAPRIVI, your pat, Are politic both; I've an eye upon each of you. The lids may look lazy, but don't trust to that; I watch, and I wait, and I weigh the 'cute speech of you. I do not mind learning from both of your books, But though you may think Leo given to slumber, He may not be quite such a slug as he looks, As rivals have found, dear boys, times out of number! * * * * * AMONGST Cambridge cricketers Mr. GOSLING and Mr. HENFREY may be trusted to avoid duck's eggs. Mr. ROWELL prefers to bat well; and Mr. LEESE wishes he had a freehold when he is at the wickets. With WOODS, a HILL, a (STREAT)FIELD, a (BERES)FORD and a (COTTE)RILL, there's plenty of variety about FENNER'S ground at present. * * * * * [Illustration: "NOT SUCH A FOOL AS HE LOOKS!" H. M. STANLEY. "NOW THEN, STOOPID! KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!!"] * * * * * MODERN TYPES. (_By Mr. Punch's own Type Writer._) No. XII.--THE POOR LADY BOUNTIFUL. [Illustration] POVERTY is commonly supposed to be a bar to all generosity and enjoyment of life. Perhaps this may be true of a certain class. But there is a kind of genteel and not unfashionable poverty with regard to which it is mainly false. A poor lady, for instance, who is afflicted with an overmastering charitable impulse, and is blessed with energy, will use this bar of poverty as a lever with which to move the bounty of her friends, in order that she herself may appear bountiful, and, as a rule, her efforts in this direction will be crowned with a success that would be phenomenal, if it were not so common. The history of her earlier years is easily written. Whilst still a child, she begins a collecting career, by being entrusted, on behalf of a church building fund, with a card divided into "bricks," each brick being valued at the price of half-a-crown. Her triumphs in inducing her relations and their friends to become purchasers of these minute and valueless squares of cardboard are great, and the consideration she acquires on all hands as a precocious charitable agent is very acceptable even to her childish mind. Her profession having thus been determined, she devotes herself with an unflagging ardour to the task of diminishing the available assets of those with whom she may be brought in contact. Her parents, who are not overburdened with riches, look on at first with amusement, and afterwards with the dismay which any excess of zeal always arouses in the British breast. Their protests, however, fall upon deaf ears, and they adopt an attitude of severe neutrality, in the hope that years and a husband may bring wisdom to their daughter. This does not save them from being made involuntary sharers in her charitable iniquities. Her father wakes one morning to find himself famous to the amount of one pound ten, contributed under the name of "A Cruel Parent," to the Amalgamated Society for the Reform of Rag-pickers, and his wife at the same time is made indignant by the discovery that she figures for twelve-and-sixpence, as "A Mother who ought to be Proud," in the balance-sheet of the United Charwomen's Home Reading Association. Further inquiry reveals the fact that the former sum resulted from the sale by the daughter to an advertising Old Clothes' Merchant of two of her father's suits, which, although they had seen service, he had not yet resolved to discard; and the result is the dismissal of the family butler, who had connived in the transaction. The twelve-and-sixpence had been formed gradually by the accumulation of stray coppers and postage-stamps, which her mother was accustomed to leave about on her writing-table, without the least intention that they should be devoted to charity. The parents expostulate in vain. The consciousness that she has diverted to objects, which she believes to be admirable, money that might have been unworthily spent, steels the heart of their daughter against their remonstrances, nor can she be induced to believe that, in thus taking upon herself to interpret or to correct the intentions of her parents, she has done wrong. Matters, however, are thus brought to a crisis. Her home becomes unendurable to her, and she accepts the offer of marriage made by a subordinate, and not very highly paid official, in one of the Departments of the Civil Service. Her parents pronounce their blessing, and rejoice in an event which promises them an immunity from many annoyances. The marriage duly takes place, but it is soon evident that the poor Lady Bountiful will not allow her change of condition to make any difference to the vigour and persistency of her charitable appeals. She continues the old firm and the old business under a new name, and takes advantage of her independence to enlarge immensely the field of her operations. No bazaar can be organised without her and as a stall-holder she is absolutely unrivalled. Missions, teas, treats, penny dinners, sea-side excursions, the building of halls, the endowment of a bishopric, the foundation of a flannel club, all depend upon her inexhaustible energy in begging. Nor is she satisfied with public institutions. Private applicants of all kinds gather about her. Destitute but undeserving widows, orphans who have brought the grey hairs of their parents to the grave, old soldiers and stranded foreigners batten upon her capacity for taking advantage of her friends. For it must be well understood that the restricted limits of her husband's means and his parsimony prevent her from contributing anything herself to her innumerable schemes except a lavish expenditure of pens and ink and paper with which to set forth her appeals. Yet in this she is a true altruist. For she knows and tells everybody how delightful and blessed it is to give, and accordingly in the purest spirit of self-denial she permits her friends to dispense the cash, whilst she herself is satisfied with the credit. Like a mighty river, she receives the offerings of innumerable tributary streams, which lose their identity in hers, and are swept away under her name, to be finally merged in the great ocean of charitable effort. Who does not know, that it was mainly owing to her indefatigable efforts, that the new wing was added to the Disabled District Visitors' Refuge, and who has not seen at least one of the many subscription lists to which "per Mrs. So-and-So" invariably contributed the largest amount? Is it not also on record that at the reception which followed the public opening of this wing, when the collecting ladies advanced to deposit their collections at the feet of presiding Royalty, it was the Poor Lady Bountiful who brought the largest, the most beautifully embroidered and the fullest purse? It was felt on all hands, that "the dear Princess" had only done what an English Princess might properly be expected to do, when she afterwards, under the inspiration of the cunning Vicar, showered a few words of golden public praise into the palpitating bosom of the champion purse-bearer. And thus her time is spent. When she is not organising a refuge she is setting on its legs a dinner fund, when she has exhausted the patience of her friends on behalf of her particular tame widow, she can always begin afresh with a poverty-stricken refugee, and if the delights of the ordinary subscription-card should ever pall, she can fly for relaxation to the seductive method of the snowball, which conceals under a cloak of geometrical progression and accuracy, the most comprehensive uncertainty in its results. One painful incident in her career must be chronicled. Fired by her example, but without her knowledge, a friend of hers from whom she is accustomed to solicit subscriptions, steps down to do battle on her own account in the charitable arena. And thus, when next the Poor Lady Bountiful makes an appeal in this quarter on behalf of a Siberian Count, whom she declares to be quite a gentleman in his own country, she is met by the declaration, that further relief is impossible, as her friend has a Bulgarian of her own to attend to. Thus there is an end of friendship, and both parties scatter dreadful insinuations as to the necessity for an audit of accounts. Eventually it happens that a rich and distant relation of her husband dies, and leaves him unexpectedly an income of several thousands a-year. Having thus lost all her poverty, she retires from the fitful fever of charitable life to the serene enjoyment of a substantial income, and awaits, with a fortitude that no collector is suffered to disturb, the approach of a non-subscribing and peaceful old age. * * * * * OUR BOOKING-OFFICE. _Hard Luck_, by ARTHUR Ą BECKETT, begins a trifle slow, but works up to an exciting climax, of which the secret is so profoundly kept, up till the very last moment, that not the most experienced in sensational plots would discover it. Capitally managed. It is one of the Arrowsmith Series, and a genuinely artistic shilling shocker. _A Black Business._ By HAWLEY SMART. Uncommonly smart of him bringing it out just at this time, when the talk everywhere is about the Slave Trade, the struggle for Colonial life, STANLEY, and the Very Darkest Africa. There's Black Business enough about. Smart chap HAWLEY. The only thing I've to say against the _Remarks of Bill Nye_, in one volume, says the Baron, is the size of the book, which is as big as a family Bible. Nowadays, when busy men can only snatch a few seconds _en route_, the handy volume is the only really practicable form of literature. I'd rather have three small pocketable volumes of BILL NYE'S essays and stories than this one cumbersome work, which, once on the shelf, runs a pretty good chance of being left there. The majority of BILL NYE'S sayings are very amusing, and one of his short papers shows that the humorist can be pathetic on occasion without falling into mock sentiment. It is published by NEELY, of New York, and, if reduced in bulk, the _Remarks of Bill Nye_ ought to do very well here, even among those who, for want of familiarity with American slang, do not keenly appreciate American humour. The Baron does appreciate it when it is genuine American humour, but when the peculiar style is only copied by a journalistic 'ARRY, with whom the stupidest and most vulgar Yankeeisms pass for the highest wit, simply because they are Yankeeisms, then for this sort of imitation the Baron has no criticism sufficiently severe. BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. * * * * * THE PICK OF THE PICTURES.--ROYAL ACADEMY. [Illustration: No. 551. Two Tales of a Tiger. Advertisement for new Romance by Rider Laggard and Andrew Hang.] [Illustration: No. 216. "Walk up! Walk up! Just a goin' to begin'!" [Probably from a contemporary wood engraving of Whitehall, 1649, which settles the question as to whether there was a "block" or not.]] [Illustration: "HANSOM!" No. 1,962 hailing the Cab of the Desert (No. 1,958).] [Illustration: No. 24. "You naughty boy! You've been making a snowball, and then tumbled down and hurt yourself!"] [Illustration: No. 779. The Timid Hare and the Terrible Tortoise.] * * * * * OUT AND ABOUT. SIR,--I have been about, according to your instructions, and I have come back with a mixed notion that somewhere in the dawn of history the Queen of SHEBA, scantily dressed, and attended by her black Chamberlain, drove out on a four-horse parcel-post van to see an exhibition of paintings on china at Messrs. HOWELL AND JAMES'S. It is perfectly true that in the course of my wanderings I had some champagne, but _not a drop of chicken_. Consequently, I have brought my critical faculty home with me entirely unimpaired. But to business. Mr. E. J. POYNTER has painted a noble picture of the meeting of SOLOMON and the Queen of SHEBA, and Mr. T. MCLEAN exhibits it at 7, Haymarket. I once saw a picture of this Queen on an ancient corner-cupboard; that was in early childhood, and the Queen of those days was a very Dutch Lady. Mr. POYNTER'S is quite unlike that one; in fact, she is extremely beautiful. But why is she overcome? SOLOMON might have been pardoned for blushing when he saw her, but he takes it quite as a matter of course. The black Chamberlain is evidently not a lord, otherwise he would have been more careful about his Queen's dress. There are harps, peacocks, golden lions, luscious fruits, monkeys, marble steps, and gorgeous pillars, to complete the picture. Curiously enough, the other ladies do not seem to care for the newly-arrived Queen. Bravo, POYNTER! A great picture! After this I hurried to the painted China Exhibition at HOWELL AND JAMES'S; very delicate, very graceful, and very refined. "_A Wild Corner_" by G. LEONCE, "_Blue Tits_" by Miss SALISBURY--sure to make her Mark(is),--two landscapes by A. FISHER (who needs no rod) struck me particularly, but did not hurt me much. And so to the wilds of Finsbury (14, Castle Street) where Messrs. McNAMARA were exhibiting the Postal Vehicles to be used at the Penny Postage Jubilee Celebration. I've already ordered two four-horse parcel vans, three two-horse, and two one-horse mail-carts for my private use, _and have told Messrs. M. to put them down to you, Sir_. I couldn't resist it. They said it would be all right. Please make it so. I am told, that no _females_ are employed in these vehicles. Another injustice. I should like to ride in a lovely red carriage for ever. Yours, LE PETIT SHOWS. * * * * * IN THE KNOW. (_By Mr. Punch's Own Prophet._) THERE has been lately some racing at Kempton and various other places, as to which, I ought perhaps to say a few words. Not that I acknowledge a right in anyone to dictate to me how and when I shall notice matters connected with the turf. The Bedlamites who mouth and gibber about horses and their owners, as if they were in the constant habit of living on terms of familiar intimacy with the aristocracy, instead of being, as they probably are, the dumpling-headed parasites of touts and stable-boys, are entitled only to the contempt of every decent man who knows anything about what he professes to understand. At any rate, they have mine. My knowledge of the Kempton Course dates back at least fifty years. To be sure, it was not at that time a racecourse, but was mostly ploughed fields and thickets. But if the anserous and asinine mooncalves, whose high priest is Mr. JEREMY, suppose that that fact in any way weakens the authority with which I may claim to speak on the subject, I can only assure them, that they prove themselves fit inmates for the various asylums from which they ought never to have been withdrawn. I never thought much of _Philomel_. Ten years ago, I observed, with regard to this animal, "_Philomel_ must be watched. There is no knowing what a course of podophyllin and ginger might not do. Failing that, I should feel inclined to say, buncombe." Mr. J. says, this was a different mare. What of that? In turf matters the name is everything, and I am therefore justified in citing this as one of the most extraordinary instances of prescience known to the turf world. _Megatherium_, I notice, has many admirers. As a horizontal bar, or possibly as a clothes-line, he might have merits, but as a horse, I must confess, he has little to recommend him. When _Loblolly Boy_ cantered home for the East End Weight-for-age Welter Handicap, I said that the son of _Rattlesnake_ could make mince-meat of all his rivals. Since then he has made for his owner £5,000,000 in added money, at an initial expense of twopence halfpenny for saveloys and onions, a combination of which this splendid animal is particularly fond. _Loblolly Boy_ was by _Rowdy_ out of _Hoyden_, and his pedigree mounts up to _Sallycomeup_, _Kissmequick_, and _Curate on Toast_, whilst in the collateral line he can claim kinship with _Artaxerxes_ and _Devil's Dustpan_. In the Margate Open Sweepstakes, he ran second to _Daddy_, when the sea was as smooth as an old halfcrown. If there had been wind enough to blow out a wooden match, he must have won in a common hand-gallop. * * * * * [Illustration: FELICITOUS QUOTATIONS. _Maud (on crossing the boundary between Hertfordshire and the neighbouring county, in which the Muzzling Order does not prevail)._ "THAT'S RIGHT! OFF WITH HIS MUZZLE! SO MUCH FOR _BUCKINGHAM!_"] * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P. _House of Commons, Monday, May 12._--"If a shutter be closed in the daytime," said OLD MORALITY, a little abruptly, as we walked down to House to-day, "the stream of light piercing through the crevice seems to be in constant agitation. Why is this?" Hadn't slightest idea. Suggested Right Hon. Gentleman had better give notice of question. [Illustration: "Can't a-bear verbosity."] "I can tell you why," he proceeded, with unwonted perturbation. "Because little motes and particles of dust, thrown into agitation by the convective currents of the air, are made visible by the strong beam of light thrown into the room through the crevice of the shutter. That's just the way with us, dear TOBY; _a_ is the hatred of Government by the Opposition, the strong desire to take our places; _b_ is the convective currents of air which agitate the political atmosphere; _c_ is the Compensation Bill, the strong beam of light which, thrown into House through crevice opened by JOKIM, makes the whole thing clear. Don't know whether _I_ am; but if you reflect on the situation, you'll find there is much in what I say. We were going along moderately well. Irish Land Bill, of course, a rock ahead; everyone takes that into account. Suddenly JOKIM, spoiling for a fight, goes and invents this Compensation Bill, quietly hands it over to RITCHIE to work through, and all the greasy compound is in the devouring element. Seems a pity we could not leave the tolerably satisfactory undisturbed. Now we're in for it. Meetings out-of-doors; opposition in-doors; prospect of getting on with ordinary work of Session receding into distance." Good deal of truth in what OLD MORALITY says. House crowded to-night; full of seething excitement. RITCHIE moved Second Reading of Compensation Bill; CAINE moved Amendment, eliminating principle of compensation. Capital speech; would have been better if it had been half an hour shorter. Between them, RITCHIE and CAINE occupied nearly three hours of sitting, leaving five hours for the remaining 668 Members. "This is not debate," protested SHAW-LEFEVRE, sternly! "it is preaching; why cannot a man be concise? Concision, if I may coin a word, is the soul of argument. My old friend DIZZY used to say to me, 'SHAW, what I admire about LEFEVRE is his terseness. If you want a man to say in twenty minutes everything that, from his point of view, is to be spoken on a given subject, SHAW-LEFEVRE is the man.' That was, perhaps, a too flattering view to take; but there's something in it, and it makes me, perhaps naturally, impatient of a man who wanders round his subject for an hour and a half." _Business done._--Debate on Compensation opened. _Tuesday._--"Heard something about good man struggling with adversity," said Member for Sark, looking at RATHBONE. "Nothing to goody goody man struggling with manuscript of his speech." RATHBONE certainly a melancholy spectacle. Evidently had spent his nights and days in preparation of speech on Compensation Bill; brought it down in large quarto notes. OLD MORALITY glanced across House with sudden access of interest; thought it was a copy-book; Speech evidently highly prized at rehearsals in family circle. "I think," said RATHBONE, complacently, "before I sit down I shall show you that the view I take is correct." This remark interjected early in speech; proved rather a favourite. Whenever RATHBONE got more than usually muddled, looked round nervously at empty Benches, nodded confidentially to Mace, and remarked, "Before I sit down I think I shall show you----" What it was he meant to show, no one quite certain. ELLIOT LEES, who followed, assumed with reckless light-heartedness of youth, that he meant to show before he sat down, that the more public-houses licensed, the less drunkenness. "That," said RATHBONE, with unaccustomed flash of intelligent speech, "was exactly the reverse of what I undertook to show the House." Would have gone on pretty well only for (1) the Accountant, and (2) SINCLAIR. Whatever it was RATHBONE was going to show before he sat down, he had fortified himself in his position by opinion of a sworn Accountant. Conversations with this Accountant set forth at length. RATHBONE appears to have been kept by the Accountant in state of constant surprise. "Let's take two places in the country," he said, in one of the more lucid passages. "Well, there are only 360 public-houses in Leeds. Sheffield has 400 public-houses in proportion to population, whereas Bradford hasn't 160. Well, I was so much struck with this, that I wanted to know whether there were any reasons for it. So I applied to the Accountant--_without telling him my object_--which really was," he added, nodding quite briskly at the Mace, "to know whether there was more drunkenness in Leeds or Sheffield. He said at once, that Leeds was the most. Then I said to the Accountant 'I don't care about your individual cases, let's take the average. Let's take Birmingham.'" [Illustration: "----but not clear."] Afterwards Blackburn and Stockport were "taken"--"As if they were goes of gin," said the Member for Sark; RATHBONE turning over papers, which appeared to have got upside down, recited heaps of figures. These struck him the more he studied them. Anonymous Accountant seemed to have brought him completely under a spell. His highly respectable appearance, his evident earnestness, his accumulated mass of figures, his engagement of the Accountant, the tone of his voice, his general attitude, all conveyed impression that he was really saying something intelligible and useful. The few Members present honestly endeavoured to follow him; might have got a clue only for SINCLAIR. At end of first half-hour RATHBONE began to show signs of distress. SINCLAIR thought he was signalling for water; prepared to go for glass; something wrong; RATHBONE violently agitated; nodding and winking and pointing to recess under bench before him. House now really excited. Began to think that perhaps the Accountant was hidden down there. If he could be only got up, might explain matters. SINCLAIR sharing general agitation, dived under seat; reappeared attempting to secrete small medicine bottle, apparently containing milk-punch; drew cork with difficulty; poured out dose, handed it to RATHBONE. RATHBONE gulped it down; smacked his lips; much refreshed; evidently good for another hour. "I said to the Accountant," he continued, "if the Magistrates of Sheffield had indiced these lorcences--I mean endorsed those licences----." Off again, wading with the Accountant knee-deep in figures from Leeds to Sheffield, back to Birmingham, across to Liverpool, on to York, with occasional sips of milk-punch. A wonderful performance that held in breathless attention few Members present to hear it. "It is magnificent," said the Member for Sark; "but it isn't clear." _Business done._--RATHBONE'S great speech on the Licensing Question. _Wednesday._--Quite lively for Wednesday afternoon. At outset, apparently nothing particular in wind. Irish Members had first three places on Agenda, but that nothing unusual. Prospect was, that Debate on their first Bill, appropriating Irish Church Fund to provide Dwellings for Agricultural Labourers, would occupy whole of Sitting; be divided on just before half-past five. To make sure, AKERS-DOUGLAS issued Whip to Ministerialists, urging them to be in their places as early as four. "Never know what the Bhoys will do," he said, sagely. "Like to be on the safe side. Division at five, so be here at four." The Bhoys came down in great force at one o'clock; only a score or so of Ministerialists visible. Fox rose to move Second Reading of Bill. Good for an hour if necessary. Long JOHN O'CONNOR, that Eiffel Tower of patriotism, ready to Second Motion, in a discourse of ninety minutes. "May as well make an afternoon of it," he says, gazing round the expectant but empty Benches opposite. FOX just started, when happy thought struck Irish Members. If they divided at once, before Ministerial majority arrived, could carry Second Reading; so Brer FOX doubled, and in ten minutes got back home. Long JOHN folded himself up, till casual passer-by might have mistaken him for PICTON. Conservatives, not ready for this manoeuvre, dumfounded. Division imminent; only thing to be done was to make speeches till four o'clock and majority arrived. Everybody available pressed into service. CHARLES LEWIS, coming up breathless, declared that "promoters of Bill, wished by a side-stab in the wind of the Government"--he meant by a side-wind--"to stab the Measure on the same subject the Government had brought forward." That was better; though how you stab by a side-wind not explained. Prince ARTHUR threw himself languidly into fray. Talked up to quarter past three; majority beginning to trickle in, T. W. RUSSELL moved Adjournment of Debate. Defeated by 94 votes against 68. Irish Members evidently in majority of 26. Prince ARTHUR, with eye nervously watching door, wished that night or BLUCHER would come. Neither arriving, stepped aside, letting Irish Members carry their Bill; which they did, amid tumultuous cheering. "It's of no consequence, I assure you," Prince ARTHUR said, quoting _Mr. Toots_ when he inadvertently sat down on _Florence Dombey's_ best bonnet. "They may carry their Bill, but we'll take the money." _Business done._--Irish Members out-manoeuvre Government. _Friday._--Second Reading of Compensation Bill carried at early hour this morning, after dull debate. Morning Sitting to-day for Supply. Duller than ever. Dullest of all, JOKIM on Treasury Bench in charge of Estimates. [Illustration: Sympathy.] "Yes, TOBY," he said, in reply to sympathetic greeting, "I _am_ a little hipped; situation growing too heavy for me. Patriotism all very well; public spirit desirable; self-abnegation, as OLD MORALITY says, is the seed of virtue. But you may carry spirit of self-sacrifice too far. Read my speech at dinner to HARTINGTON, of course? Put it in the right light, don't you think? We Dissentient Liberals, as they call us, are the Paschal Lambs of politics; except that, instead of being offered up as sacrifice, we offer up ourselves. Still there are degrees. HARTINGTON given up something; CHAMBERLAIN chucked himself away; JAMES might have been on the Woolsack. But think of me, dear TOBY, and all I've sacrificed. Four years ago a private Member, adrift from my Party; no chance of reinstatement; not even sure of a seat. Now Chancellor of the Exchequer, with £5000 a-year, and a pick of safe seats. Too much to expect of me, TOBY; sometimes more than I can bear;" and JOKIM hid his face in his copy of the Orders of the Day, whilst THEODORE FRY looking on, was dissolved in tears. _Business done._--Supply. * * * * * COMPLAINTS are often made as to the non-appreciation of jokes by those to whom they are addressed. A Correspondent sends us on this subject the following interesting remarks:--"I have made on an average ten jokes a day for the last six years. Being in possession of a large independent income, I could have afforded to make more, but I think ten a day a reasonable number. I find that, as a rule, the wealthy and highly-placed have absolutely no appreciation of humour. The necessitous, however, show a keen taste for it. The other day a gentleman, whom I had only seen once, asked me for the loan of a sovereign. I immediately made six jokes running, and was rewarded by six successive peals of laughter. I then informed him I had no money with me, and left him chuckling to himself something about an Eastern coin of small value, called, I believe, a dam." * * * * * NARROW ESCAPE OF AN R.A.!--Everyone knows that a Critic is one, who would, professionally, roast and cut up his own father; but that some Critics go beyond this, may be gathered from the fact of the Art-Critic of the _Observer_, in one of his recent reviews of the Academy, having thus expressed himself:-- "Mr. POYNTER'S flesh is never quite to our liking,"---- Heavens! What a dainty cannibal is this Critic! But how lucky for Mr. POYNTER. * * * * * [Illustration] NOTICE.--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception. * * * * * End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 98, May 24, 1890, by Various *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PUNCH *** ***** This file should be named 31039-8.txt or 31039-8.zip ***** This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/0/3/31039/ Produced by Neville Allen, Malcolm Farmer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at http://gutenberg.org/license). Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United States. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed: This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg-tm License. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided that - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. 1.F. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at http://pglaf.org For additional contact information: Dr. Gregory B. Newby Chief Executive and Director gbnewby@pglaf.org Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit http://pglaf.org While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: http://www.gutenberg.org This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.