Punch (59.1870)

102 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [September 3, 1870.

" IN FORMA PAUPERIS."

Young Hopeful (to Papa, who is sending off his Beloved Belongings to the Sea-tide). " Look here, 'Pa. (Holding up Fourpenny Piece.)
Paterfamilias. " What now ?"

Young Hopeful. "What Cobbler's Implement does this Represent, 'Pa?"

Paterfamilias (impatiently). "Asking Riddles now V (Perceiving, and forking out.) ''Oh, that's your All, is it? There !
Ivow will you please to be Off!"

IDEAL INTELLIGENCE.

In the present dearth of all news but war-news, the subjoined par-
ticulars of diversified intelligence may not be without; interest corre-
sponding to that which Romance would possess if substituted, under
the stress of circumstances, for History.

A Live Antediluvian.—Some workmen on Monday last, engaged
in the excavations going on at Great Gulston in the oolite, disinterred
a Pterodadylus longirostris,\n a state of suspended animation. This
hitherto supposed to be extinct saurian measured six feet in length.
On being placed in the sun it revived in a few minutes, and expanded
its wings, of which the extent from tip to tip must have been at least
ten feet, and immediately flew away over the ocean, whither nobody
knows.

Origin op Species —A sow in the possession of Mr. Mangold,
farmer, of Snorton Suis, produced, an the 24th inst., a farrow of nine
piglings, one of which has a snout terminating in a proboscis similar to
that of the elephant, only of smaller size. This aberrant little pachy-
derm presents an illustration of the Theory of Development which, may
be acceptable to Mr. Darwin.

A Narrow Escape.—The earth in the garden of Mr. Fibbs, of
Fudgely, suddenly, on the afternoon of Wednesday last, opened and
swallowed a summer-house. Only an instant before Mr. F. and a
party of friends had vacated the spot, where they had been smoking
cigars and imbibing brandy-and-water; so that their escape may be
regarded as remarkable, if not miraculous.

A Credit to its Species.—Professor Podger has a goose which,
having reared it from the shell, he has succeeded, in teaching to tali*
better than any parrot. The Professor has refused the offer of enor-
mous sums, by persons desirous of purchasing this uncommon bird for
purposes of exhibition.

An Unusual Meteor was witnessed by a correspondent of the
Walkerstovm Observer. He says that it presented the appearance of

illuminated letters, which traversed the sky from the Pleiades in the
direction of the Great Bear, and ultimately formed themselves into «,he
word Ozokerit.

A Black Rain.—The sequestered village of Quagbrook was yester-
day visited by a shower of leeches, many of which attached themselves
to the horses and cattle in the neighbourhood, exerting their powers of
sanguisuction, it is feared, not without some injury to the poor animals.

Novel Effect of Lightning.—Bishop's Hokey, this morning,
suffered a severe storm of thunder and lightning. The electric fluid
struck the house of our talented townsman, Mr. Sparkes, surveyor
and auctioneer, and, passing down the chimney on to the meat-jack,
glanced off to the dresser, peeling, in its course, a number of pota-
toes, which the cook had just removed from the saucepan. Cookey,
though she experienced some little alarm, was gratified on discovering
that the levin brand had saved her trouble.

A Very Rare Visitor.—The Hon. Felix Popper, of Cramstead,
a few days since, shooting wildfowl, brought down, among a flock of
puffins, what he took to be some strange bird, but which proved to be
a flying-fish. It has been deposited in the County Museum.

Song of the Cockney Sportsman.

How happy could I be in heather,
At the grouse gaily blazing away !

But then, somehow, I can't touch a feather,
So 'tis better at Brighton to stay.

a coincidence a la dundreary.

Dundreary writes to ask whether the Prussians being at Bar-le-
Duc, means that they have barred "le Due de Magenta'' Irom a
junction with Marshal Bazaine ?