Punch: Punch (76.1879)

234

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[June 28, 1879/"'

ON AN OLD SHOE.

how ungainly seems the sandal-shoe our grandmothers wore, compared with the hlgh-neeled, exquisitely-pointed
chaussure of our daughters ! but alas ! for the latter, that it should so spoil the beautiful llmb it is intended to
set off! For should Fashion suddenly appoint a Day of Judgment, and Bare Feet be the order of that day, such of
our Grandmothers as still survive would have to come forward and vindicate the honour of the British Tootsicum.
-Which dolorous reflection must bb Mr. Punch's Apology for the above frantic and not altogether pleasing Design.

OBSTRUCTION—AND ITS REMEDIES.

As it is in Paris.

Upon the President taking the Chair M. Achille de Fanfaron
rushed into the tribune, and proclaimed the Minister of the Interior
a liar, a coward, a fool, and a slave.

The President. The Assembly cannot permit this language—so
coarse, so degrading to those who use it. (Shouts of " No /" from
the Bight.) I call M. de Fanfaron to order.

M. de Fanfaron. What order ! The only order you have any right
to is the order of the Chevalier d1Industrie.

[Laughter from the Right, violent exclamations from the left.

The President. This is too much ! I shall have to proceed to the
censure.

M. de Fanfaron. Then censure yourself. If you do it properly, it
will take you a lifetime!

_ [ Violent excitement, and free fights in several quarters.

The President (solemnly). After this, there is but one thing to do.
I shall put on my hat. {Prolonged sensation.

M. de Fanfaron (after an interval of silence). You will put on a
very bad one!

[Howls of fury from the Left, and derision from the Right.
The President. I cannot permit my hat to be insulted. (Long
continued cheering fro?n the Left.) So long as you insulted me, M\
de Fanfaron, I treated your attacks with the contempt, the loath-
ing, the derision they deserved; but when you abuse so old and
valued an article of my wardrobe, I have a right to insist upon your
silence.

{Immense applause from the Left, and loud cries of " Tres-
bien /" and l: C'est vrai /" from the Ministerial Benches.
M. de Fanfaron. I shall not be silent. (Here the Deputy's voice
was drowned by the sound of the President's bell. When order had
been restored, he repeated—) I said I should not be silent. I repeat it!

The President. Nous verrons. I propose you be suspended.
[ The Motion tvas carried—by assis et leve, the Right rising to a
man, the Left abstaining.

M. de Fanfaron. M. le President, allow me to inform you that
you are a thief, a scoundrel, and an infamous wretch.

The President. You shall be prosecuted for this.

M. de Fanfaron. Pardon me ! I think not. I should be sorry to
be considered impolite, but I think you will find that I am protected
from prosecution by my position.

The President (after consulting with the Ministry). M. de Fanfa-
ron, you are quite right, and I apologise for my mistake.

M. de Fanfaron. Not at all.

The President. And now I must call upon you to leave the
Chamber.

Upon this a scene of indescribable excitement ensued, in the
midst of which were heard cries and expressions of a very painful
character.

Ultimately an officer of Gendarmerie was introduced who insisted
that M. de Fanfaron should leave the Chamber.

M. de Fanfaron having left the Chamber, the business of the
evening was quietly proceeded with.

As it ought to be in London.

The House went into Committee upon the Civil Service Estimates,
Class V.

Upon the item for £220 for pins, Mr. O'Rowdy moved that the
Vote be reduced by £200. He was not at all satisfied that pins were
necessary for the proper carrying on of the public business.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer assured Mr. O'Rowdy that
pins were constantly required for keeping together most important
documents. As something like six hours had already been lost in
trivial objections, he trusted that the remaining votes would be
passed without captious commentary.

Mr. O'Rowdy, in a long and excited speech, protested against the