Punch: Punch (76.1879)

256

PUNCH, OK THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[June 7, 1879.

if need be, by George the Third, so as to reflect at once British
glory and British Philistinism in due proportions—if we cannot im-
provise a past of high traditions, forge a chain of proud associations,
or build up, in a day or a generation, a scheme to lift the theatre
above the whirligig whims of the moment, and set it on a foundation
more solid than the quicksand of popular taste—we may, at least,
watch the working of a system which does all this, till we learn to
wish for something better than what Laissez faire, and Supply and
Demand, the Tendencies of the Time and the Commercial Spirit,
have brought us by way of a theatrical art.

Per contra. While taking account of all the liaison de Moliere

has to show us, let us not forget that the English Theatre is the
House of Shakspeare ; that we can boast, in uninterrupted suc-
cession, from his time downwards, a drama as much greater and
richer than that of France, till recently, as the actors and art of their
Theatre Frangais are beyond anything our stage can show. And, in
lamenting over the results of scratch stage-packs and random
theatrical arrangements, let us pay due honour to the Managers
already at work among us, who have shown London that shifting
companies, and slap-dash rehearsals, slovenly stage management,
and reckless casts, are not inseparable from even our unorganised and
unsubsidised English Theatre.

INJYABLE INJIA;

or, notes and sketches of a specially-commissioned artist.

By FUZZELI PRINCEPS.

Chapter XL, and Last.
Beginning of the End—Sport—Jungle—Arree—Joke—Roar—Lairs
■—Quit—Tiger—Cab—Home—Homer— Time—Pleasure—De-
light—Sorroiv—Will he return ? — Departure—Adieux—Ques-
tions—Beply—Advertisement—Publishers—Marked—Hindoo—
Business—Injian Character—Ignorance—Perish—Gull—Mogul
■—Morality — Bayard — Enjoyment — European — Tartarean—
Tag—Tableau— Curtain—Blue Fire.

vmbda r.—Sheik
Arree called this
morning. Would
I go out for a walk
with him ? Yes,
certainly. As an
inducement, he
offered to show
me the lions. I
thought he meant
the "lions "of the
town. Not a bit.

10-30 a.m.—Quitted the jungle. Said farewell to Sheik Arree.
Should like to get a small Bengal tiger, and start the cabriolet
fashion again next season. They are cheap to feed, living chiefly
on Bengal lights. Begin to think of going home. I feel more like
Home every day. I don't mean the spiritualist, but the place.
No ; I'm more the antique Creek poet than the modern Medium.
And why ? Because I feel Homer-and-Homer every day.

The time has come for my return. Everybody seems delighted.

Say what you will about Injia not being a place of exile, there is
something very pleasant about the notion of " going home ! " I fancy
the notion is jollier'than the reality. When I return Home, who
will rush to meet me ?

"Who run to meet me on the shore ?

"Who crowd my steps, and guard my door P

Who long to see my face once more ?

My Tradesmen.

When I said I was " going home," I can hardly repeat the innu-
merable congratulations that were hourly showered upon me.

Farewell fetes would have been got up in my honour to bid me
good-bye, and hundreds came into the town from day to day in
order to catch a sight of me when I stepped on board the good ship.
The hoorahs still resound in my ears. The attentions I received
were really too much even for me.

One took my umbrella, another my bags, another my hat, and as
I let them take every- ^
thing for me on » I h "\X~""""'X

Sheik Arree is a j board, I was careful
sporting cuss, and j to observe that they

™sjtrYce •°_tit°"! migQt also take my

ticket for me.

This was done by
subscription. There
was a large surplus,
which amply satis-
fied my hotel bill.

"Was I ever
likely to return?"
was the question
perpetually asked
of me. "If so —
when ? "

I was importuned
to name the day of
my coming back, but
I couldn't. And
when I informed
them that in all
probability I should
never return, their
emotion knew no

wards the jungle

10 a.m.—In the
jungle. Jolly
place. No tigers
or lions. Don't
believe all these
travellers' tales.

"Youno fear?"
asked Sheik Ar-
ree.

"What, I! "'I
exclaimed. "I'd
like to see myself
afraid. No jolly
fears! "

" All right! " replied Sheik Ar_ree.

".Besides," I added, just to
flatter him, and give him a taste

of my fine sparkling compli- I S

mentary wit, not too dry, but wgj

with a fair amount of sugar— WL

''besides, how could I be afraid lllllIpB— bounds—or rather I vl^/ft' ) j^^^^^^s^^^^^^^^

when I came out armed ?" JSlliilillit? I should say it knew \^ ^^/^M ^^^^"^^^^sl^C^

"Armed! " he cried. "You! ^^^^^^^Lv H a ^ot °* Doun<ls, as ^"^^ j^^^ISy

armed!" M they jumped for joy, MjT

"Yes, certainly," I returned. L ^ *Hu^'ji A ill i being (as was ex- 0^°^ Ww2>r*^^

"Don't I come out with you? rfcJWfflfcLjp //// Jii plained to me after- ^_^^m^^^^^^1^

And aren't you a Great Gun ? " j|s|«§ll^2 fli I wards) under a mis- _ —^ujil 1

That joke nearly cost me my ^^^^^^^sJ// $ apprehension as to —^^^^^^ ^YTl 'yf\V

life. It set the Lions in a roar! ^^^^^^^^/^JIIL what I had really ^-^jjjfmll M

The whole jungle was up in ^^^^^^^^r % sa^' • ■ <'im!

anup-roar! I had roused the ^^^MwL W Their adieux were How do yotj like Injia ? Walk up!

sleeping lions. Fortunately, they it most hearty. Walk up !

only roared at the joke. But if I « ,|§||i§||i^ V\ .. * * * .

bad not had the presence of mind ffl';ifa'-h j^^^mMJ ll " Well, and how did you like Injia ? " The first reply that rises

to hold my tongue, I believe they Jl|[|][ltl(jjj iiift^^^iijjl^^^^^^^^^^ to one's ^Ps a^er t^as Question has been put to me about five hundred

would have been out of their ™ mmSt! v times by five hundred jolly stupid people, not one of whom will care

lairs, and would have torn me to .jL^^^^^HT /^^ffliMlllr ^e next mmtrte "whether I liked Injia, or not—I say, the first reply,

pieces, not out of anger—au con- iQm^^S^^S^^HiWI Ih very naturally, is

Iraire—but for the same reason If^p^m^l^^^WflPP " What's that to you ? "

ihat the boy killed the goose that Wfif^ ij But, on consideration, there are certain interests to be considered—

laid the golden eggs, just to see if "MtllilrMf " ! those of the author (myself), and of the too fortunate publisher of my

! here were any more where that H IImIIlJIMB 'f" ' ! immortal work ; so 1 frame my reply, as an advertisement, on the

sidesplitter came from. HUt'llj 1 old and invaluable model of "Do you want luxuriant hair and