Punch (61.1871)

September 30, 1871.]

133

of the cabin. The fact is, there is a sort of motion. Isn't there ? I
ask Reynolds. Reynolds replies that there is a slightish lop.

" Lop ! " That was the word the Atalanta man used this morning
onshore. I never experienced a lop before. It's not a roll, and
it'snot a pitch; it's concentrated essence of every unpleasant
motion on board ship. " If I could only have lunched an hour ago,"
I say to Lady Wetherby as I commence descending. She smiles.
Accustomed to the sea, and perpetually yachting, as she is, I am sure
she is affected by this infernal lop.

In the Cabin. — Still lopping. Lopping peculiarly noticeable
here.

They are at luncheon in the saloon. Wetherby is saying, as I
enter, that when in the teeth of the wind, and there's a little East
in it, there's always a lop out trawling. In fact, it's not a good
day for trawling. Ah! thought so. Miss Straithmere is not at
table, she is in the ladies' cabin, re-stacking her hair, probably. I
feel that her absence, and the absence of the ladies (Mrs. Dawson
has not come in y«t), is a relief. I shall get helped at once, and
not have to wait. I remember suddenly the expression "lack-
lustre eyes." Mine- now.

Note.—Trawling is the test of good sailorship. Dawson asks
me, " What will I have ? " Now I see it, I don't want anything.
"If I could only have lunched an hour ago!" I recommence
plaintively. The table, being scientifically poised, does not move,
but we do on either side of it. We are, as it were, arranged on a
see-saw with our dinner between us in the centre of gravity. Some-
times Captain Dawson rises gently a little way above his plate,
then he is lowered gradually, and it's my turn to go up.

I give it six turns more for both of us, alternate!]/, to settle my

doubts—and unsettle.....No : one great point is not to think

of it.

Roast mutton, boiled chicken (I feel my nose instinctively turning
up at the white sauce), Bacon . . . and Peas. The bright green
look of the peas is revolting. It recalls fresh paint on country
palings. And the smell. I remark that all the windows are not
open. It turns out that they are. My head ! " Mutton! " I gasp,
shortly, meaning that I '11 take some.
I think I am wrong.

" Have some champagne," says Wetherby, heartily.
I press my lips together. I don't want to be talked to for a
minute. / am going gently up, on my side. "Champagne"—says
Captain Dawson, enjoying himself, and going gently down, on his
side—" is a first-rate thing if you feel qualmish."

Is it ? Give me—only give me quickly—champagne. I should
like a draught. I can only sip it. Now I am going down. I try a
bit of mutton. My jaws seem to have become suddenly stiff. My
throat closes at the top. At least that's the sensation. The Captain
is floating upwards. I feel just the slightest bit better—just the
slightest bit (as it were) of mutton, better.

The Ladies! Miss Straithmere dives at my sofa, I am going up
again slowly. This is part of the Lop. I can't rise to make room
for anyone. " Will I give her some,"—I canH, whatever it is. And
I can't explain. Please don't talk to me. . . . Better soon. " 0 do
take some champagne ? Worit you ? " she goes on archly, and firing
glances at this poor enfeebled wreck (myself). [Flash, mental.
Idea for Cartoon. Dying Mariner tickled by Mermaids.] I reply
in a voice intended to touch her heart, " I don't feel well."

She returns briskly "No? No more do I! I am so ill. 0 you
don't pity me—poor little me." Ill! she's well—very well—and
heartless, selfish; she's helping herself to peas. "May I have your
bread ? " she asks. Again to me (why on earth can't she bother
somebody else ? ) " You won't mind my taking it ? "

I shake my head—I mind nothing. No one, now. I am past
hope. I am going down, with the Lop, for the last time, i" think.
Still if I can hold out. ... I might. Enter Robert from kitchen
. . . with

A sweet Omelette ! ! Bright yellow, and red jam, all hot ! ! I '11
go . . . I '11 . . . Don't move—any . . . body . . . for . . .
To the Captain's cabin . . . Alas! poor Captain! . . .
Alone. Lopped effectually. Lopped. Lopped.

~~—

A Sea-Horse Aground.

Departing from her course aside,

Caught by a current hidden,
The Racer ran aground at Ryde,
Some fool said, to be ridden.

The Chace.

Cub-hunting is about to commence in the country. In London
it has been going on for some time—among the School Beadles in
pursuit of street-urchins. We wish them good sport.

NEAT THING IN COLLARS,

designed for tue gent of the period.

COMING EVENTS.

" "Women's Rights.—The New York Tribune of the 2nd inst. publishes
the following items of University and Ecclesiastical intelligence :—' Miss
Amenia Watt, of Cincinnati, has recently accepted a Professorship in Mon-
mouth (Illinois) College. Mks. Celia. Burleigh has accepted a call to the
Pastorate of the Unitarian Church, Brooklyn, Connecticut, of which the late
Rev. Samuel j. May was once the minister.' "

This is what is now taking place in America. At present we are
sadly behindhand, and cannot match such a happy state of things in
England; but give the sturdy ringleaders of the Woman's party a
few more years, and we shall have ceased to be astonished at such
announcements as the following :—

" Miss Rosalind Chaucer-Gower, M.A., was this day elected
Professoress of Poetry at Oxford. The Professoress is on a visit to
the Mistress of Baliol.

"Mrs. Jeremy Waterland Horsley, D.D., is to be the new
Canon of St. Paul's.

" The polling for the Lady Rectorship of the University of Glas-
gow terminated yesterday. That eminent political economist, Miss
Martha M'Ctjlloch Bentham, LL.D., was the successful candi-
date by an immense majority. The new Lady Rector will deliver
her inaugural oration in October.

" We hear that the Address, on the opening of the Winter Session
at St. Thomas's Hospital, will be delivered by the Demonstrator of
Anatomy, Miss Jean Hdnter Brodieson, F.R.C.S.

"Mrs. Angela Raphael Reynolds, R.A., has been elected
President of the Royal Academy.

" Yesterday the tenders for the new British Museum were opened.
That of Mesdames Sprycute, Sisters, being the lowest, was accepted.

"The .77th Middlesex Yolunteers (Milliners and Dressmakers)
had a brilliant field-day, in Hyde Park, on Saturday afternoon,
under the command of Lieut.-Col. Amelia Cotton Wooll.

" At the Weekly Meeting of the Statistical Society, a paper was
read, ' On the Average Duration of Life among the Troglodytes, by
Mrs. Colenso Cocker, Y. P.

"All the arrangements for the new daily farthing paper, The
Morning Leviathan, are now complete. Miss Masxelyne Boldero
Strong, Ph. D., assumes the Editorial Chair.

" The foundation-stone of the Freemasons' Hospital was laid on
Thursday last, with fuU Masonic honours, by Mrs. Manchester
Fellowes, P.G.M."

New Member.

The rejoicings at the result of the Limerick election were not
confined to Ireland. Mr. Whalley was delighted to hear that the
House would have another Butt.