Punch (59.1870)

September 10, 1870.] PUlNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARJVARI. 105

"VELUT /EGRI SOMNIA."

This Remarkable Picture Illustrates the State of Mind of the
Artist, who has been so intolerably Bewildered by War Telegrams

that he can depict nothing except incoherently bellicose FlGHKES. He

is, howeveb, we are Happy to say, Recovering his habitually Brilliant
Faculties.

ANOTHER VERSION.

" Arndt this good, ?"

What is the Briton's Father-Land ?
Is't where unfinished Paul's doth stand,
Is't where Boyne William, stern, dotti frown,
Or where Sir Walter, calm, sits down?

O no ! 0 no ! Because, you see,

His Father-Land must greater be.

What is the Briton's Father-Land ?
Is't little Wales's mountains grand,
Is't where Australia's cattle grazes,
Or where Maoris fight like blazes ?

O no ! O no ! Because, you see,

His Father-Land must greater be.

What is the Briton's Father-Land ?
No fellah seems to understand :
Is't where Victoria's gentle sway
Makes Indian millions, pleased, obey?

O no ! O no ! Because, you see,

His Father-Land must greater be.

What is the Briton's Father-Land ?
Is it the grim Heligoland*
Whereof Tom Campbell took and wrote
A ghastly song about a Boat ?

Ono! 0 no ! Because, you see,

His Father-Land must greater be.

What is the Briton's Father-Land ?
Is it the brave Canadian strand
Whereof Tom Moore he took and wrote
A pleasing song about a Boat ?

Ono! Ono! Because, you see,

His Father-Land must greater be.

What is the Briton's Father-Land?
(My patience drops its final sand)—
'Tis known by baton and by hunch—
'Tis where all good folk read their Punch—
Where Punch is seen in every hand,
There ! there's the Briton's Father-Land !

* Bad rhyme, Mr. Poet.—Ed. Same as in original, Sir.—Poet,

THE ADVANTAGE OF A STATE OF SIEGE.

We have no decided wish to be in Paris just at present; indeed, we
thank our stars decidedly that we are here in London. Still, in some
respects we own that Paris is just now in an enviable state, although a
state of siege at first thought may seem anything but enviable. But
only fancy this as one of its advantages :—

" A decree of General Teochu orders the expulsion from Paris of every
individual having no honest means of subsistence, and whose presence is a
danger to public order, and to the safety of persons and property."

If this be a result of living in a state of siege, one really can't help
wishing that London were forthwith declared in that condition. Whai.
a. blessing it would be to all its peaceable iuhabitants to get rid of all
the burglars, and the beggars, and the blackguards, who endanger now
the safety of our persons and our property ! We often pride ourselves
upon our insular security, and delight to think that we are therefore safe
against invasion, and that no one from abroad can venture to assail us.
But we forget the many enemies who are daily in our midst, and nightly
ready to attack us. We should be glad to declare London in a state
of siege to-morrow, if Mr. Bill Sikes and his brethren could for ever
so be banished; but we sadly fear those gentlemen would return to
their old haunts directly that same state were announced as being
ended.

MUNIFICENCE OF A MAYOR EXTRAORDINARY.

In a summary of memorable affairs at Winchester, the Hampshire
Independent records a manifestation of benevolence on the part, of a
municipal dignitary, which, to most municipalities, will probably appear
very eccentric. Worshipful Mayors and Aldermen at large are in-
formed, no doubt to their astonishment, that:—

The Mayor's Munificence—of which we have already had evidence on
several occasions, is again shown by the fact that on Tuesday, after the meet-
ing of the Town Council, a meeting of the Committee in aid of the Sick and
Wounded in War was held, and his Worship then said that instead of giving.

as usual, a banquet to the Corporation, he should give a hundred guineas to
the Sick and Wounded Fund. May his example spur on others to go and do,
in some measure, likewise!

A Mayor giving a hundred guineas for the relief of sick and wounded
foreigners, instead of giviug a dinner to his own Corporation and country-
men, is likely to be regarded by the majority of his compeers, as a
person who, so far from being imitated, ought to be taken care of by
his friends. Mankind in general may saj that a sum of money,
devoted to a sick and wounded fund, is better employed than it would
be if spent upon what some of them possibly denominate a gorge. Nor
can this view be reasonably denied ; although, no doubt, if Mr. Under-
wood, the Mayor, in preference to relieving the sufferers under wounds
aud sickness, were to feast the Corporation, City Officers, Dean and
Chapter, College Warden, and Fellows of Winchester, he would do an
act of charity, at least inasmuch as be would feed the hungry, though
not the starving. ____

Prelates carefully Preserved.

Publicity ought to be given to the fact, not perhaps_ generally
known, that the British Museum possesses a most interesting collec-
tion of stuffed archbishops, several cases in one of the Natural History
Saloons being devoted to " The Primates."

The Force of Habit.
We know a City gentleman who is so extremely methodical in
business, that when he pays a compliment even to his wife, he alwajs
will insist on taking a receipt.

not very ear wrong.

Mrs. Malaprop says that every one ought to contribute as hand-
somely as possible to the fund for the relief of the wounded, because
that will be aeting like a good Sanitarian.