Punch: Punch (32.1857)

164

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[April 25, 1857.

FEAKFUL PRACTICAL JOKE, PLAYED WITH A CHILD'S BALLOON UPON A SWELL.

OUDE IN THE CITY.

The Princes of Oude have sat at the table of the Lord Mayor,
and been duly toasted. Major Bird—an Indian Bird—" on the
part of the Oude family,'-' returned thanks in a speech fragrant with
spices, and flowing with "all the drowsy syrups of the East." He

said—

" He believed that a new era was dawning on India, and that it was heralded by
the appearance of Indian Princes at the table of the Lord Mayor of London."

There can be no doubt that the appearance of the Princes of
Oude at the Lord Mayor's mahogany was somehow reflected like a
| dawning sun upon far-off Hindostan. The Lord Mayor himself must
have become an object of mysterious interest to Brahmin, and all the
aldermen have been suddenly dear to Vishnu. The "loving cup,"
of course, circled round: but wherefore was it not filled with the
water of the Ganges ? Major Bird, with a delicate double com-
pliment to Mr. Sheriff Mechi and the Stationers' Company, next
touched upon manure and paper. Why was England so great, asked
a pundit of the suite of Oude ? and another pundit made answer—

" The reason is plain, the people all work, and nothing goes to waste. The dry
bones which we throw out to the dogs is converted into manure, and produces
fresh food for man ; and the rags which have served the beggar are made into paper,
on which are written the laws with which this people govern the world."

We might add something touching the tons of gold, in the form of
manure, which we annually cast in the Thames, committing the two-
fold wickedness of waste and contamination : we might, too, speak of
1 he paper that carries a tax that does not cheapen knowledge; but no,
we will not pause on these things, but with Major Bird proceed in
company with King Solomon and Queen Sheba.—

" They had all read how the Queen of Sheba came to visit Kino Solomon, and
how she went away fully satisfied. He (Major Bird) trusted that the distinguished
guests of whom he was the unworthy spokesman would have the same story to tall
when they returned to their native country."

Of course, the parallel of King Solomon and the Lord Mayor is
perfect. We are, moreover, glad to know that the bill of fare, duly
translated by Major Bird, was received and will be treasured by the
Princes, as Solomon's Song. As for the Queen of Sheba, any com-

parison with that effulgent lady is evidently the rightful property of
the Queen of Oude herself; for though her Majesty may have
thought it superfluous and unnecessary to bring with her apes into
England, she has not forgotten the peacocks, a sample oi which was
shown in the Bird that did such a magnificent tale unfold in honour
of his mistress. And will the Queen of Oude depart " fully
satisfied ? " Well, we hope so ; but we rather doubt the result. We
fear that such a tale is only the faltering song of a Bird of Paradise ;
yea, of Pool's Paradise.

THE SPEAKER IN RHYME.

{Being the resolution to be submitted by Lord Palmerston at the
opening of Parliament?)

Resolved, Though for graceful conveyance of message or
Compliment, none beats the elegant Thesiger,
Though, if we made choice of a Tory, we'd all poll
Tor the dignified, well informed, highly bred Walfole,
Though business, and blandness, and boldness, and brains
Combine as the qualifications of Baines ;
Though, [malgre his pepper, a broth of a boy,)
We all like the cabman's reformer, Pitz-Roy,
We agree in a vote that this House has not any son
So fit for the Chair as John Evelyn Denison.

Sir John Bowring's Pillow.

When Sir John Bowring took leave of the King op Siam—(by
the way, we wish the King of Naples could be sent to be civilised by
the Siamese potentate)—his Majesty presented his visitor with a hand-
some pillow, saying, " when you are far away, and lay your head upon
this pillow, then think of me who gave it you." This pillow was
stuffed with softest down, but Sir John Bowring's "friends" in
the House of Commons—friends, as some of them pathetically con-
fessed, of twenty years standing—have done their best to mix the
down of the pillow pretty thickly with thorns.