Punch (93.1887)

154

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[October 1, 1887.

A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH.

" The King of the Belgians is understood to be acting as his own Ambassador in the matter of the North Sea Fishery disputes. His visit to this
country is stated to hare for its object the prevention of future conflicts between British and Belgian fishermen in the North Sea.''—Times.

Mr. Punch. Ah! happy to see you, man Chef! Here's a
mess!

You '11 soon put it all straight, Sir ; you couldn't do less.

Tour people you '11 find are entirely to blame

For the kettle o'erboiling, the steam and the flame.

What is there in fish that in every quarter

a j a v3-in non-Ilatul'al sense—to hot water ?

And why should a Billingsgate dame, or a trawler,

Or Belgian or British, so oft he a brawler P

A Saint once held forth, Sir, the fishes to teach.

"What a sermon to us, Sir, the fishes might preach!

The sea's lavish harvest was certainly sent

Man's palate to please, and his hunger content;

Not, not, my dear Chef, as mere strife-stirring spoil
His kitchen to slop, and his cooks to embroil.
Verb. sap.—you are sapient, I know, like your Sire—
And—you '11 take this strange " kettle of fish " off the fire!

"Mighty Polite."—Last week Mr. Haeeington, Barrister-at-
Law (in Ireland), was called to account by Mr. Eaton, and threatened
with removal from the Court over which that Magistrate presided,
for conduct unworthy of a Counsel. Had "the learned gentleman"
had the advantage of the influence of another Eton earlier in his
career, his manners would doubtless have been less deficient in polish.

A Plank of the Weong Platfoem.—The Plank-bed.