Punch (60.1871)

I

April 15, 1871.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 147

And "Cambridge!" "Cambridge!" was the cry, as

their oars with even flash
Under Gordon's ready yoke-line gave the Oxford boat
their wash:

But Oxford sheers off to the right, out of the Cambridge
spray,

And Hall has lost his water, and holds the outside way.

Upon the shore of Middlesex the stream runs slack and
slow,

And Oxford's oars dip raggedly, and Oxford's heart is low.
Goldie's two lengths at Hammersmith at Chiswick have
g-rown three,

And the race looks like a run-away, with Oxford all at
sea!

But when did Leslie yet say die ? He has called upon
his men,

They have pulled themselves together, and are creeping
up again:

'Tis forty strokes a minute—forty-two ! forty-three !
At Barnes Bridge two lengths to the bad, scarce one
at the Brewerie.

By Jove ! the race is still to win, if Oxford can but stay,
And by the Ship a half-length of the lead is pulled
aAvay ;—

But let Oxford try her fastest, still Cambridge is as fast:
With Leslie's bow at Goldie's stern the winning flag
they 've past!

Never a pluckier race was run since first old Father
Thames

Saw the Dark Blue and the Light Blue dare trial of their
fames;

Ne'er winner won by harder fight the honours of the day,
Ne'er loser, of all honours but these, bore more away.

They may sneer their sneer at athletes—at athletes and
athletics;

May preach how youngsters should be all saps, sages, and
asc tics;

But muscle goes to manhood still, and muscular Christi-
anity,

Saving Wilkie Collins' presence, is not altogether

CASE OF CENSUS-CONSCIENCE. vanity-

Cunscientimcs Mead of Family (an old Lady, giving the paper, on Monday, to the There. are ^orf schools than an eight-oar, with its dis-
Enumerator). "Here is the Paper, Mr. Accumulator, but i want particu- ciplme and training,

larto Say Something for ihe Information of her Majesty, bless heii ! A,nd lts practical instruction m obeying and abstaining.
Heart, likewise her Family! Which you see it says 'Slept or Abode'—! There are worse lessons than this race suggests to the

and I wouldn't deceive her majesty and her government on no account, ' ^ reflecting,

and the Fact is, that I didn't Sleep a Wink all the blessed Night by j To make our victors modest, and our vanquished sell

reason of a tooth, which I hope you'll explain to the QuEEN, and say

I colldn't have it Took out on Saturday, as my Dentist is of the Jewish
Persuasion, which I don't Blame him for, quite the reverse, but I am
Going to him to-day to haye it Extricated, and so please to say that
I only 'Abided,'" &c, &c, &c, &c.

respecting.

A BLANK TO THE BETTING RING.

THE BATTLE OF THE BLUES.

My two blues, you 're true blues, to that I '11 take my oath of you :

I don't know which to praise the most, and so say, " Bravo, both of you ! "

If the " blue riband of the Thames" should be the dark or light blue

Is hard to choose, but, 'tween your blues, 'tis clear you make a bright blue.

'Tis well with John Bull, in his need while the old boy can find him
Gameness and pluck like Leslie's and the seven that sat behind him
Hang your " Decisive battles of the world," Professor Creasy !—
Better, I say, one race so lost, than half a score won easy.

Our friend "Argus," on Monday last week, an-
nounced in the Post that:—

" As this is Passion week there will be no racing."

The owners of studs and members of the Jockey Club,
belonging for the most part to the Nobility and Gentry,
are of course more or less conversant with the higher
Clergy. You, who know what Passion week means, can
therefore understand how it is that no racing takes
place therein. But that must be a mystery to the
generality of Sporting-men.

Splitting the Difference.

Speaking of the attendance of the company of Divines
and Scholars, now engaged on a very important work of

That school is a good public school where such pluck is inculcate,
Its long bills and long vacations though Pater Familias sulk at:

It was no fool who told us Waterloo was won at Eton: Revision, at the meetings they have lately been holding,

They are the sole invincibles who won't know when they 're beaten. jthe newspapers inform us that the number of those

Eight even backs that rise and faU with a steam-engine swing,
Eight flashing blades that sweep and turn, swift as an eagle's wing,
Twice eight arms tough as oaken boughs, eight broad and brawny chests,
Eight bulks of seasoned muscle, filling out eight Guernsey vests—

present \-aried between 20 and 21." There is but one
inference to be drawn from this statement, namely, that
the exact number of those present must have been 204.

candlish economy.

'Twas with these, along the towing path, exultant Cambridge saw
His good ship clear of Oxford, foot by foot, brave Goldle draw.

And still light grew between the boats—length, length and a half, and more— ' the Honourable Gentleman's friends over the Border
Till when Cambridge passed the Crab Tree two lengths ahead they bore. ! would say, this Candlish 'bodie is just a Saveall.

The Member for Sunderland, Mr. Candlish, declares
that the Naval Estimates are excessive. Hech, Sirs, as