Punch (93.1887)

October 15, 1887.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHAKIVAPJ.

171

THE OCTOPUS OF ROMANCE AND REALITY.

(As much Fact as Fancy.)

I had one curried, and found it most excellent—something; like tender tripe."—Extract from Mr. Titer's Letter.

" DEviL-fish " of Victor Hugo,
■Uread Pieuvre of caves where few go

But are made your palsied prey,
Where are now your gruesome glories,
welt upon in shocking stories ?
Realism a big bore is

Octopus is cheap to-day! "
You who, worst of ocean's gluttons,
"wallowed man, his boots, and buttons,

looked in this familiar way ?
* °a who, in the tales of dreamers,
sucked down ships and swallowed steamers,

Made the prey of kitchen schemers ? I Just like tenderest tripe, thev sav'
" Octopus m cheap to-day! " Only wait a little longer

Turtle soup-as from the Conger-
lhey will make from you, but stronger.
Octopus is cheap to- day!"

Swallowed, you colossal cuttle ?
Nemesis is really subtle 1

Carted on the Coster's tray,
Dressed in fashions culinary,
"Which the cunning chef will vary
After every vain vagary ?

" Octopus is cheap to-day! "

Your huge arms, so strong, so many,
Like tarantula's antennce,

Octopus—or is't Octopus ?—
a?}?>that should outshine Canopus,
AH too swiftly fleets away,
i et our feelings it must harrow,
inat your demon-fame should narrow
-Co cook-bench and coster barrow.
" Devil-fish is cheap to-day I"