Punch: Punch (57.1869)

August 14 lSb'yi]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

61

MORE HAPPY THOUGHTS.

ilbury takes me to see Eagles Attacked. By Sir Edwin
Landseer. We stand opposite the picture in front of
several people : we are silent. Dilbury says presently,
"Fine picture that ?" I agree with Dilbury. Wonder where Sir
Edwin was when he saw it. I don't see how he could have imagined
it, because, from what one knows of eagles and swans, it is about the
last thing I should have thought of. Perhaps it occurred to him as a
Happy Thought. But what suggested it ? 1 put it to Dilbury.

"The Serpentine, perhaps, Dilbury thinks, adding afterwards,
" and a walk in the Zoo."

Dilbury tells me that that is how subjects suggest themselves to
him. Erom which I gather that Dilbury is an artist. I don't like to

Balaam. Hope the little Sympersons have gone. As we are squeezing
through the door,_ we come upon Mrs. and Miss Millar again.
Meeting for the third time, I don't know what to do.

Happy Thought.—Safest thing to smile and take off my hat. Miss
Millar acknowledges it gravely. Pity people can't be hearty. She
might have twinkled up and nodded.

Dilbury points out a picture to me. A large one. " Yours ? " I ask.

Happy Thought.—To make sure of this before I say anything about
it. He nods yes, and looks about to see whether any one is listening.
I suppose he expects that if it got about that he was here he'd be
seized and carried in procession round the galleries on the shoulders of
exulting multitudes. _ However, there is no one near the picture
("which" he complains " is very badly hung") and consequently no
demonstration.

" Good subject, eh ? " he asks me. " Yes, very," I answer, wishing
I'd asked him first what it was, or had referred to the Catalogue. It
is classical, evidently ; that is, judging from the costume, what there is
of it. I try to find out quietly in the Catalogue.

Dilbury says, " You see what it is of course ?" Well—I—I—I in
fact, don't, that is, not quite.

" Well," he replies, in a tone implying that I am sure to recognise
it when 1 hear it, " it's Prometheus Instituting the Lampadephoria. To
which I say, " Ob, yes, of course. Prometheus vinctus" and look at the
number to see how he spells it. I compliment him. Very fine effect
of light and shade. In fact, it's all light and shade, representing a lot
of Corinthians (he says it's in Corintb) running about with red
torches. Dilbury points out to me the beauties of the picture. He
says it wants a week's study. He informs me that it was taken on the
spot, and that his models were " the genuine thing."

Happy Thought-—To say, "I could stop and look at this for an age,"
then take out my watch.

" You can come back again to it," observes Dilbury, seizing my
elbow again.

Meet Mrs. and Miss Millar again. Awkward. Don't know
whether to bow or smile, or nod, or what this time. I say, as we pass,
"Not gone yet ? " I don't think she likes it. I didn't say it as I should
like to have said it, or as I would have said it, if I had the opportunity
over again. 1 daresay it sounded rude.

Dilbury stops me suddenly with, " Pretty face that, eh ?" and
looks back at Miss Millar. Whereupon I rejoin, "Hush! I know
them." Dilbury immediately wishes to be introduced. I will, as an
Academician, and his picture, too. We go back after them. We
struggle towards them : we are all jammed up in a crowd together. I
hear something crack. I become aware of treading on somebody's
dress. It is Miss Millar's. I beg her pardon. " I hope I-"

Happy Thought.—" We met: 'twas in a crowd." Old song.
I say this so as to give a pleasant turn to the apology and the intro-
duction. I don't think Miss Millar is a good-tempered girl. Some-
body is nudging me in the back, and somebody else is wedging me in
ask him, "Do you paint?" as he may be some very well known on either side. As she is almost swept away from me by one current,

painter. : and I from her by another, I say, hurriedly, " Miss Millar, let me

He says, "I'll show you a little thing I think you'll like." He takes introduce my friend, Mr. Dilbury—an Academician." She tries to

me by the elbow, and evidently knowing the Academy by heart, bumps, | st0p : I turn, and lay hold of some one who ought to be Dilbury, in

shoves, and pushes me at a sharp pace through the crowd. Dilbury

has an awkward way of stopping one suddenly in a sharp walk to

draw one's attention to something or somebody, that has attracted

him—generally, a pretty face.
" I say," says he, after two bumps and a shove have brought us just

into the doorway of Gallery No. III., " There's a deuced pretty girl,

eh?"

order to bring him forward. It isn't Dilbury at all, but some one
else—a perfect stranger, who is very angry, and wants to kick or hit—
I don't know which (but can't, on account of the crowd), and I am
carried on, begging Miss Millar's pardon and his pardon, and remon-
strating with a stout, bald-headed man in front, who will get in the
way.

Happy Thought.—Get out of this as quickly as possible.
1 ,[iave h™ to note which girl he means he is off again with Gef^ outy in_ Lost my Catalogue. Meet Milburd. I ask
me by the elbow Bump to the right, shove to the left over some- him what°>s that ict alluding to one with a lot of people in scant
body s toes, and through a knot of People into Gallery IY. Stop sud- d in an orif£tal apartment. He replies, " Portraits of members

d<?nly-„ Pey what ? There s a rum old bird, says Diljury, winking 0f t,he Garrick Club taking a Turkish bath." It is No. 277. It simply
sidy, m Eastern dress he d make first-rate model for my new pic- canu be_ Besides there are ladies present. Milburd pretends to be

ture ; sacred subject, Methusaleh Coming of Age in the Pre-Adamite time
Wonder if he'd sit?"
Happy Thought—To say, jestingly, " I wish I could," meaning sit

annoyed, and says, I needn't believe it unless I like.

Must go to Willis's : see about sleeping to-night, luggage, dinner,
. and a lot of things.

down, now. R Thought.—Have my hair cut. Have an ice first. Leave the

Dilbury is rejoiced. Would I sit to him ? He is giving his mmd ^ca(ierny
to sacred subjects, and is going to bring out Balaam and Balak. \
Would I give him a sitting, say for Balak ? Milburd has promised him
one for Balaam, unless I'd like to take Balaam. (.Is he pronounces
this name Baa-lamb, I didn't at first catch his meaning.) I promise to
think of it. He gives me his address.

Charity and Criticism.

Brown {reads): "On Monday last the Princess Teck opened a
new drinking fountain in the Regent's Park, erected at the cost of
Happy Thought.—Have my portrait taken. Not as Balaam, as ! Cowasjee Jejangheer Readymoney, Esq., a distinguished Parsee

myself. Settle it with Dilbury. He '11 paint it this year, and exhibit
it next. Milburd, who happens to come upon us at this moment,
suggests showing it at a shilling a head in Bond Street, as a sensation
picture.

" I '11 be with him," says Milburd, " as Balaam (you've promised
me that), and he shall be the " ■-"

I know what he's going to say, and move off with Dilbury before
he's finished. Milburd will talk so loud. He 3s so vain, too : does it
all for applause from strangers. I saw some people laughing about

gentleman, who has lately given more thaa £100,000 to benevolent
institutions in India."

Jones. Ready money, eh ? And spent it wisely, eh, Brown ?
Brown. Parsee money, too. Better far than parsi-mony.

[Poke each other in the ribs, and pass to the next paragraph.

according to the sabbath-day league.
Receipt for Inventus Mundi.—Requies Sunday.