Punch (93.1887)

174 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [October 15, 1887.

HARDLY FAIR.

Our Artist paints an interesting Study of a Furze Bush.

THE NEW NORTH-WEST PASSAGE.

A Colloquy on the Canadian Shore,

Canada. ""Westward the course of empire

takes its way."
Britannia. The Bishop's famous line, dear,
bears to-day
Modified meaning ; westward runs indeed
The route of empire,—ours I
Canada. If I succeed

In drawing hither Trade's unfaltering feet
And yours, my triumph then will he com-
plete.

Britannia. Across your continent from sea to
sea

All is our own, my child, and all is free.
No jealous rivals spy around our path
With watchfulness not far remote from
wrath.

The sea-ways are my own, free from of old
To keels adventurous and bosoms bold.
Now, from my western cliffs that front the
deep

To where the warm Pacific waters sweep
Around Cathay and old Zipangu's shore,
My course is clear. What can I wish for
more ?

To your young enterprise the praise is due.
Canada. The praise, and profit, I would share
With you.
Canadian energy has felt the spur
Of British capital; the flush and stir
Of British patriot blood is in our heart ;
Still I am glad you think I've done 'my
part.

Britannia. Bravely I Ton Arctic wastes no
more need slay

My gallant sons. Had Franklin seen this
day

He had not slept his last long lonely sleep
Where the chill ice-pack lades the frozen
deep.

"It can be done; England should do it! "

Yes,

That is the thought which urges to success
Our struggling sore-tried heroes. Wag-
horn knew
Such inspiration. Many a palsied crew
Painfully creeping through the Arctic
night

Have felt it fill their souls like fire and
light.

Well, it is done, by men of English strain,
Though in such shape as they who strove
in vain

With Boreal cold and darkness never
dreamed

When o'er the Pole the pale aurora gleamed

Perpetual challenge.
Canada. Here's your Empire route !

A right of way whose value to compute

Will tax the prophets.
Britannia. _ Links me closer still

With all my wandering sons who tame and
till

The world's wild wastes, and throng each
paradise

In tropic seas or under southern skies,
See, Halifax, Vancouver, Sydney, set
Fresh steps upon a path whose promise yet
Even ourselves have hardly measured. Lo I
Far China brought within a moon or so,
Of tea-devouring London! Here it lies,
The way for men and mails and merchan-
dise,

Striking athwart your sea-dividing sweep
Of land; one iron road from deep to
deep!

Well thought, well done I
Canada. No more need you depend

On furtive enemy or doubtful friend.
Your home is on the deep, and when" you
come,

To the Dominion's land you're still at
home.

Britannia. And woe to him the Statesman

cold or blind.
Of clutching spirit or of chilling mind,
Pedantic prig or purse-string tightening

fool,

Who 'd check such work and such a spirit
cool!

Yours is the praise and may the profit flow
In fullest stream, 'midst your Canadian
snow

A true Paotolus. Trade's prolific fruit,
Should freely flourish on our Empire Route.

Loaded with Presents.— In the account
given in the Times (Oct. 7) of the unveiling
of Mr. Boehm's statue of the Queen in the
presence of its donors, Her Majesty's ten-
ants and servants on the Balmoral Estates
assembled at Crathie, there is a funny mis-
print :—

" At this point (i.e. after Her. Majesty's reply
to the Prince of "Wales's address) the soldiers
saluted and fired a feu defoie."

As refreshments were supplied by the
Queen's command immediately afterwards,
perhaps the guns had been loaded with "foie
gras," tightly compressed into cartridges.