Punch: Punch (57.1869)

November 27, 1869.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

209

A YOUNG REBEL.

Mamma (in despair). " Papa, dear, you r-eally must try and Exert a little Authority over Evangeline ! She will

Spread her Jam on the Palm of her Hand instead of her Bread ! "

A CHEER EOR KING VICTOR.

Victor-Emmanuel (whom we beg leave to congratulate heartily on
the birth, of his grandson, Prince of Naples, child of the amiable and
admirable Princess Margherita) is a brave man and an honest man.
His other virtues he has been content to keep hidden under a bushel,
on which the Italians, who like scribbling, have written uncomplimen-
tary words. But His Majesty King Gallantman has rehabilitated
himself, in a great degree, by the felicitous snubbing he has administered
unto the priests. They sought, cold-bloodedly, to make a bargain with
him, on what was thought to be his last bed, and they hoped to work
upon the nerves of a dying man, by refusing him the rites of his—or
their—Church, unless he would give a written and witnessed promise
that he would abrogate all laws distasteful to Rome. If he died, this
was to be a sort of will. Anyhow, it was worth getting. Only, the
brave king utterly refused to give it. He had done what he believed
to be his duty, and if he were to be deprived of a sacrament for so
doing, he would take his chance. Eor very shame, the subordinate
priest who attended him was obliged to discharge his office. His
superior sent him back, to make another attempt on the King. Victor-
Emmanuel told him that if he wished to talk about religion, he might
go on, but if about politics, the Premier was in the next room. So the
priest had to skulk off. Then, happily, the King got well. That he is
particularly well may be seen in his message to the Italian Parliament
at its opening. He has not prevented the bishops from going to the
" (Ecumenical," " but the King hopes that a word may go forth from
that assembly to reconcile faith and science, religion and civilisation."
Well put, O King ! but it will need all Mother Church's soothing-syrup
to do that—until to the words " faith " and " religion " is restored
their real meaning in exchange for their superstitious one. Well
said, nevertheless.

Prevost-Paradol in Edinburgh.

^ The eloquent French political lecturer has created such a furore in
the Modern Athens that a new word of worship has had to be coined
for it—Paradolatry.

BOARDS OF A FEATHER.

The Holborn Guardians, who were wont to hold their meetings in
Clerkenwell Workhouse, have run away, from terror of scarlatina—
now enjoying full swing in the neighbourhood, and having already
established a lodgment in the House—to pleasanter and healthier
quarters.

The Pall Mall Gazette, that standing slanderer of Guardians, and
bete noire of sacred Bumbledom, has been accusing the Holborn Board
of cowardice, by insinuation, as is its wont, and expressing a hope
that perhaps as they have gone they won't come back again.

It'sail very well; but has the Pall Mall considered the state of
Clerkenwell Workhouse—in the Board-room of which, alone, Dr.
Stallard says, from 1200 to 1400 paupers sometimes crowd, filthy,
frowsy, ragged, and wretched—animated fever-nests, walking centres
of contagion ?

Is this a place for Guardians to meet in? Evidently not. It is a
place for paupers to live and die in. And the more of the nasty,
ragged, ill-smelling creatures who fulfil the second purpose there,
the better lor the rates.

St. Pancras pats Holborn on the back, points proudly to its Work-
house Infirmary, with all the beds full, and paupers sleeping on the
floors of wards, corridors, and bath-rooms, defies Punch and the Pall
Mall Gazette, the Poor-Law Board, and the Doctors, Statute Law, and
Common Humanity, all together, and bids its brother Board " go and
do likewise."

An Error of the Press.

" Father Hyacinthe ate a beefsteak last Friday. The Catholics are
much insensed."

This must be wrong, for a very long time has yet to elapse before the
Catholics will be sufficiently " in.sensed " to eat beefsteaks on Friday.

where the st. pancras guardians expect dr. ellis to go to.

Not the Elysian fields—quite the reverse.