Punch (71.1876)

222

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI,

[November 18, 1876.

MECHANICS IN SPORT

No. 4.—Pneiimatic-Despatch-Fox-Hunting Company (Limited).

GRACEFUL ACT OF A LADY.

Persons with plenty of money,
and no poor relations to assist or
an aged mother to support, will
perhaps put their hands in their
pockets and pull out something:
for a laudable purpose when they
learn that the Byron Monument
Committee has not yet received
subscriptions to an amount nearly
large enough to defray the cost of
a statue at all worthy of Byron's
fame. The best of the designs
sent in to them for selection is
said to be the work of " a very
distinguished American sculptor,
who can use his pen as ably as his
chisel." It is remarkable that an
American artist and man of letters
should offer help to perpetuate
Byron's fame, whereas a country-
woman of his, a Lady of name
in literature, endeavoured a few
years ago, with all her ability, to
perpetuate just the reverse. She
acted, no doubt, from a righteous
indignation under a wrong idea,
and now, perhaps, having hap-
pily found out her mistake, will
be glad to repair it as much as
she can. "Would it surprise you,
then, to hear that Mes. Harriet
Beecher Stowe had sent in a
subscription towards making up
the sum of about twelve thou-
sand pounds, required to obtain
a proper monument in memory of
Lord Byron ?

" Angeo - Indian " complains
that though India has given the
Mother Country an Imperial
Crown, her poor return is a one-
and-fivepenny Tlupee!

THE FIGHT FOR PLUM STEAD COMMON.

From the following piece of last Monday week's news it appears
that the Home Secretary knows how to revise the judgments of
the Great Unpaid : —

" Yesterday morning an official communication was received at the Kent
County Gaol from the Home Secretary, stating that Heii Majesty had
been graciously pleased to remit the fine and remainder of the sentence passed
on Mr. John de Morgan, at the last Kent Quarter Sessions, for complicity
in the Plumstead Common riots. In the ordinary course of things he would
have been discharged this morning, but the letter was succeeded by a telegram
stating that De Morgan was to be liberated at once, it being the first instance
for fifteen years of a prisoner being discharged from the gaol on a Sunday."

The so-called riots on Plumstead Common were of quite a different
nature from the intimidation meetings held from time to time in
Hyde Park. They were merely forcible proceedings of resistance to
attempts at the enclosure of common land supposed illegal. The
Kent Justices decided them to be riots. Technically, perhaps, they
were. The more the pity. Everybody interested in the preserva-
tion of open spaces, that is, all people except a few grasping, greedy,
selfish, and sordid churls, would have been glad to learn that the
alleged riots were no riots, and that the repetition of them would
have been no rioting—if such were really the law. There are
few sights more calculated to delight a well constituted mind than
the view of a bonfire made of fences illegally set up on a Common
by a Lord of the Manor, and legally torn down by the aggrieved
neighbours. The greatest credit is due to anyone who has the
spirit to lead a multitude on to the lawful demolition of unlawful
enclosures. Provided always, of course, that the enclosures are
really unlawful, and the demolition of them indeed lawful and
right. Otherwise, dear friends, the concourse demolishing them is
a riotous assembly, and the head man thereof a ringleader, in the
eye of the law. It is therefore, good people, very desirable that,
before you proceed to destroy fences by which you believe your-
selves robbed of your rights, you should consult lawyers, so as to
make quite sure that you are not mistaken in the supposition that
those rights have been invaded. For if there is any doubt upon

this point it is not you who will get the benefit of the doubt at
Quarter Sessions, and, though a fine may be remitted altogether,
imprisonment, of which you will possibly be let in for more or less
before being let off the remainder, is a bore.

THE UTOPIAN CAB COMPANY.

Rules and Regulations.

1. Early birds—no larks—will have the pick of the Cabs.

2. Every Driver to find his backer, who will be answerable for
his returns.

3. Drivers out after one will catch it.

4. No liquoring up of foremen or washers will be winked at. The
Company will not stand drinks.

5. Should any Driver allow his horse to run away, his screw will
be stopped.

6. Each Driver will be supplied with a copy of Hints on Etiquette,
by a Man of Rank.

7. Drivers seen hanging about will be suspended.

8. Smoking in Cabs is prohibited. Drivers will be supplied with
Bryant and May's Matches, as they will light only on the box.

9. Drivers using bad language will be fined; and, for a second
offence, re-fined.

10. An exact account of each day's takings must be rendered.
Overcharges need not be returned.

11. Drivers, on returning at night, will assist to bed down their
horses, but are not to bring them in " tucked up."

12. Night Cabs will be provided with lamps before they go out. _

13. Civility, Caution, and Cleanliness are enjoined. C Rules in
the Yard.

Appropriate.—The next Spirit Flapping case will be tried before
Mr. Knox.

Clan Carty.—Dustmen!