Punch: Punch (100.1891)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHAEIVARI.

299

A COY COLOSSUS.

Paris, June 15.—It is stated
here, on no authority what-
ever, that when the Czar was
recently visiting the French
Exhibition at Moscow, his
Imperial Majesty was heard to
remark, "This makes me de-
sire to see the Boulevards
again." A visit of the ruler of
Russia to Paris during the
Summer is therefore considered
to he certain. An offensive
and defensive Alliance between
the two countries is said to he
on the point of signature.

A few evenings ago, in a
low cafe in Belleville, M.
Nokashikoef, who left St.
Petersburg lately to escape his
creditors, and who conceived
the happy idea of raising a
little money by walking to
Paris in a sack composed of
the French and Russian
national flags stitched to-
gether, was entertained to
supper by his Gallic admirers.
The proceedings, especially
towards midnight, were very
enthusiastic. Throughout the
festivities, constant cries of
'' Vive VAlliance Franco-
Husse/" were raised. This
incident is said to have placed
tbe immediate signature of the
Treaty between the Czar and
President Caknot beyond a
doubt.

Last evening a foreigner,
who by appearance would
have been taken for a Mus-
covite, was walking along
the asphalte, when he was
surrounded by a crowd of
persons crying " Vive la
Rus&ie! " The foreigner
seemed both surprised and

FANCY PORTRAIT.

(Dedicated to Lord Chief Justice Coleridge,)

The Lord Aechbishop of Nova Scctia, Prilate of the Order of
the Sun," caught Cheating at Cards (hypothetically) by the
Lord Chief Justice, add taken, instantaneously, by Our Artist.

annoyed by these attentions,
and at length began to use his
fists and his boots liberally on
the ringleaders of the mob.
This treatment, however,
seemed only to increase their
Russophil ardour, and the
stranger was soon hoisted on
to the shoulders of some of his
foremost admirers, struggling
violently. On the arrival of a
gendarme, he explained that
he was an English book-maker,
and that '' this bloomin' mob
of boot-lickers had taken him
for a bloomin' Russian ! " The
crowd shortly afterwards dis-
persed. The completion of the
formal alliance between France
andRussia is eonsideredless cer-
tain than it was a few days ago.

The Frenchman, M. Tete-
BOis, who recently attempted
to walk on his head from Paris
to Moecow, in order to show
the sympathy felt in France
for the Muscovite Empire, did
not succeed in carrying out
his design. He was stopped
shortly after crossing the
Russian frontier, imprisoned,
and heavily ironed. After
suffering in this way for a
week, he was told that he
must leave Russian territory
within twenty-four hours, or
else continue his journey to
Siberia. On being appealed
to, the Czar graciously ex-
tended the time given for
quitting Russia to forty-
eight hours. This Imperial
clemency has caused the widest
feeling of gratitude and satis-
faction in France, and the
signature of the definitive Al-
liance between the two coun-
tries is confidently expected
at an exceedingly early date.

ESSENCE OE PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

House of Commons, Monday Night, June 8.—I knew Dyke first
when fgood many years ago now) as Dizzy's whip he hunted in couple
with Rowland Winn ; then always called Hart Dyke. Like many
other young men he has in interval lost his Hast, and now known
as Sir William Dyke. Canons thing, as Sark reminds me, how
absoibent is the name of William. Quite probable that before
Black-Eyed'Susan's friend came prominently on the stage he had
some other Christian name, sunk when he was promoted to shadow of
yard-arm. Certainly there is an equally eminent man sitting oppo-
site Dyke in House to-night, who like him is "Sir William" to
the present generation, and was Vernon Harcourt to an elder one.

Dyke, under whatever name, done excellently well to-night.
Holding comparatively minor appointment in Ministry, suddenly
finds himself in charge of principal measure of Session. Handicapped,
moreover, with recollections of time when he has uncompromisingly
declared himself against the very principle he now embodies in Bill,
and invites Houce to add to Statute Book.

That was first hedge for Dyke to take, and he went over in plucky
style that threw the seorner off his trail. Didn't live in close com-
munication with Dizzy through six long years for nothing. Not
likely to forget what happened in very earliest days of Parliament
of 1874, when Dizzy for first time found himself not only in office but
in power. During election campaign Dizzy, speaking in the safety of
Buckinghamshire, had made some wild statement about easing the
chains of Ireland. Simply designed to gain Irish vote ; forgotten as
soon as spoken. But Robert Montagu—where, by the way, is
Robert Montagu ?—trpasured these things up in his heart, and when
Dizzy appeared in the House, Leader of triumphant majority, asked
him what he was going to do about it ?

"It is sometime since the observations referred to were made,"
eaid Dizzy, " and—er—a good deal has happened in the interval."

Dyke, recalling and admitting his former statements on Free
Education, did not attempt to minimise their import. "But," he
said, button-holing House as it were, and treating it quite confiden-
tially, " the fact is we all change our minds." House laughed at
this as it had laughed at Dizzy seventeen years ago, and Dyke,
absolved and encouraged, went forward with his speech.

Not a brilliant oration in any way; neither exordium nor per-
oration, and the middle occasionally a little mixed. But a good
sensible straightforward speech, and if Dyke had done no more than
show that an; important Ministerial measure could be explained
within limit of an hour, he would not have lived in vain.

Business done.—Education Bill introduced.

Tuesday.—Nothing at first sight in personal appearance of Herbert
Thomas Knatchbull-Hugissen_that suggests a swan. Fancy I have
heard something of these birds being addicted to the habit of breaking
forth into song when convinced of approaching dissolution. That, I
suppose, is how the swan was suggested to the mind when just now,
Knatchbull-Hugessen rose from behind Ministers, and began to
chant his threnody. Resolution on which Education Bill grafted
brought up for report stage; agreed to, and Hart Dyke about to
bring in his Bill. Then from the back seat rose a sturdy yeoman
figure, and a powerful voice was uplifted in denunciation of the Bill
and of a Ministry that had betrayed the trust of the Conservative
Party. It was, so the swan sang, a step on the road to Socialism. He
feared it had come to pass that dangerous measures are more likely
to emanate from the Treasury Bench than from the Front Bench
opposite.

Liberals roared with delighted laughter and cheers; the Con-
servatives sat glum and ill-at-ease. Old Mobality's white teeth
gleamed with a spasmodic smile. As for Jokim he folded his arms,
and bit his lips and frowned.

" What antiquated nonsense this is!" he muttered, "of course
Free Education is not a Conservative principle. They all protested
against it at the General Election. A vear earlier I, who happened
at the time to be numbered in the Liberal ranks, put my back