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قراءة كتاب Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, December 3, 1892
تنويه: تعرض هنا نبذة من اول ١٠ صفحات فقط من الكتاب الالكتروني، لقراءة الكتاب كاملا اضغط على الزر “اشتر الآن"
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, December 3, 1892
exercising her gift of drawing character. Mona Maclean is, apparently, a first effort at novel-writing. The workmanship improves up to the end of the third volume; and Miss Travers' next book will be better still.
Affection's Offering—from Alfred the Second to Dear George the first.To Mr. J. Fisher Unwin comes the happy thought of issuing, in a neatly-packed box, the whole twenty volumes of the Pseudonym Library—and a very acceptable Christmas-Box it will make. The volumes, with their odd, oblong shape, are delightful to hold; the type is good, and the excellence of the literary matter is remarkably well kept up over the already long series. Mr. Unwin promises fresh volumes, introducing to the British public Finnish and Danish authors, or Danish first, and the others to Finnish.
See how these Poets love one another! How touching is the dedication of Alfred Austin's latest volume to George Meredith! May both live long and prosper, is the hearty wish of their friend,
THE ROYAL ROAD TO COMFORT.—A Dream.
The rival Steamboats were on the alert. It was a misty night, and it was a difficult matter to make out the lights of Calais Harbour.
"We shall catch him yet," said the Captain of the Blue Vessel.
"He will not escape us," observed the C.O. of the Red.
Suddenly the Blue started at full steam ahead, and was lost to sight in Calais harbour. She was quickly followed by the Red, moving with equal expedition.
The vessels reached the quay nearly at the same time. Then there was confusion and sounds of military music. Evidently the Illustrious Personage had embarked. Then the mist cleared away.
"He is safe on board," said the Captain of the Blue Vessel, and his Mate indulged in a short laugh of triumph.
"It does not matter," observed the Commanding Officer of the Red; "the Blue may have his person, but we have his luggage!"
And then the cheers were renewed again and again, and the Illustrious Personage came to the conclusion that English enterprise was not without its disadvantages!
WHAT OUR ARTIST HAS TO PUT UP WITH.
He travels all over England in search of a Background for his "Vivian beguiling Merlin in the Forest of Broceliande,"—a hopeless Quest!
BOGEY OR BENEFACTOR?
O lor! O dear! What have we here? What a nondescript, huge Nid-Noddy!
None know, I'm sure, what I have to endure. It's enough to frighten a body!
They are always up to some queer new game, and a giving me some fresh master;
But this one is a crux from the sole of his foot to the crown of his comical castor.
He looks as big as all out-of-doors, and e'en Bumble was hardly as bumptious.
He'd make my London a Paradise, which is a prospect that's perfectly scrumptious.
But oh! he is big, with the funniest rig; a Titan who, if he should tumble,
Might squelch me as flat as an opera-hat, and make me regret old Bumble.
Noodledom ruled me for many long years; this means, I am told, a new Era;
But bad as a Booby may be as a Boss, what about a colossal Chimæra?
I don't say he's that, but with body of goat, dragon's tail, and the head of a lion,
A creature were hardly more "mixed" than this monster, whose rule for the time I must try on.
A complex, conglomerate, Jack-of-all-Trades! Well, I trust he'll be master of some of them!
Largo al factotum! He's game for all tasks, and—I wish I was sure what would come of them.
Most representative? Palpable that! And his plans most sublime (so he says) are;
But he looks just as motley a nondescript as the image of Nebuchadnezzar.
The elephant who can root up a huge oak, or handle a needle or pin, is
Less marvellous much, and it may be, of course, that the folks who distrust him are ninnies.
I hope so, I'm sure. There are evils to cure, and of room for improvement there's plenty;
And all must admit that, whatever his faults, he cannot be called far niente.
He does look a bit of a Bogey, but then he may prove just a big Benefactor,
And if he should work on the cheap, kill Corruption, and kick out the knavish Contractor,
Without piling Pelion on Ossa (of rates) on my back, till my legs with the "tottle" limp,
I shall "learn to love him" as Giant Beneficent, not a big, blundering Bottle-Imp!
Opera-goer's Diary.—Otello (the Grand Otello Company, Limited) was the feature last week. Gianini a stout Otello, much and Moor. Melba a charming Desdemona, but not a great part for her. Dufriche as Iago, good, but not good enough for him. Sir Druriolanus gives Carmen at Windsor Castle, before the Queen! Aha! Where now is Lago Factotum and His Special Patronaged Royal Box at the Olympic? Druriolanus Victor, with all the honours.
AT A RINK.
Round and round, and to and fro
At a rink,
Pretty girls, with cheeks that glow
Rosy pink;
Graceful, gleeful, gliding, go,
Whilst they link
Arms together, like the flow
Past its brink
Of a river's eddy—so
Duffers think
They can glide. See one start slow,
Shyly shrink,
Fearful lest his end be woe,
Sheepish slink,
Skates on unaccustomed toe
Strangely clink,
Hot and thirsty he will grow,
Long for drink;
All around amusement show,
Laugh and wink,
But they look as black as crow,
Or as ink,
If he fall against them. Oh,
In a twink
On the floor, not soft but low,
See him sink!
Whilst he murmurs gently, "Blow
This old rink!"
Logical and Engine-ious.—Why object (though we do) to Advertisements of all sorts along our Railway lines? Surely, wherever the Locomotive goes, there is the very place for puffing.
BOGEY OR BENEFACTOR?
L.C.C. "HA, HA! YOU MUST LEARN TO LOVE ME!"