Punch (62.1872)

40

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[January 27, 1872.

A QUESTION FOR THE SHIRES.

"Now, Deaf., which do you Prefer for the ' Tops'?—the Deeper Shade, or very Palest Pink?1

which, my dear Tommy, as you are as yet unacquainted with the
works of Shakspeare, I will repeat to you. " Masters," says
Bottom, " You ought to consider with yourselves, to bring in a lion
among ladies is a most dreadful thing, for there is not a more fearful
wildfowl than your lion, living"

VINDICTIVE TEUTONS.

There is a good deal of talk in France ahout revenge to "be taken
one of these days upon the Germans for having repelled and beaten
their invaders. In the meanwhile, according to the Post, those

Tommy was so forcibly struck by this adroit application of a famous barbarous Germans are trying to revenge themselves, in their' heavy
passage from the plays of Shakspeare, that he determined, on the on the enemies wh£ have been twitting them with stealing

first opportunity to read all these dramas through from beginning to 0]npUa ar.A wnfr>v,PtJ w nT1_
end. And having already set himself to the study of astronomy and
mechanics, solely in order to make himself as proficient in the
art of applicable illustrations as was his friend Harry Merton,
Tommy now found that he had at least one hour of the day fully
occupied.

On their return from the theatre Mr. Barlow, ever anxious for
the improvement of both his young friends, commenced reading
to them the story of The Magistrate and the Elephant; but, seeing
that both his young friends were fast asleep in their chairs, he lit
his chamber-candle and retired for the night

On entering his room somewhat suddenly, a pair of boots,
artfully placed so as to rest on the door, which had been stand- panson between those who make restitution of even lawful plunder

ing ajar, descended on his head; and the next instant, on his m har?j™8*1' ^ th°f fSf™ wh° gT 6 °a nZ

taking one step forward, he came in contact with a stout string, so i compelled to replace Art-treasures actually stolen and that m some
skilfully fastened, as not only to throw him sharply on the floor, but, i cases from friends This is clumsy German satire to be sure, but it
being cunningly connected with the fire-irons and the washing- I tumbles down pretty heavily for all that on the heads of them that
stand, it brought down these articles also with a great crash and , snoutecl A Berlin .

much confusion. Before he could arise from his painful position, --

Tommy and Harry had rushedup-stairs to render to their revered S^ortine News

preceptor what assistance was in their power. Being questioned as

to the hand they had had in this strange affair, Master Tommy, The lovers of manly British sports will be glad to know that
with becoming modesty, acknowledged that it was he who had there is a chance of seeing another good fight, or so, before the law
devised the scheme. "And," said he, "I protest I think it is no is altered. A rattling mill is to come off in the north of the West
inadequate representation of what must have been the consequence Riding. Powell, the well-known Cambridge Slogger, is matched
in several houses during the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the against Holden, of the above parts, who has not fought in public,
Last Days of Pompeii." but is known in the Chapel districts as a determined cove. As this

So saying, both the boys withdrew themselves rapidly from their will be nearly the last of the real old English fights, much interest is
beloved tutor's apartment, and locked themselves into their own excited. The white chokers are with Powell, and Holden is
rooms. Soon after this, they were all in a sound slumber, which backed by the humbler humboxes. Both men will do all they know,
lasted until a late hour on the following morning. and a clinking good contest may be expected.

" Important Restoration of Specie. — The Courrier de Meurthe et
Moselle announces that the six millions of francs which had fallen into the
hands of the German troops after the capitulation of Strasburg, and belonging
to the Bank of France, are about to be restored to that establishment through
its branch bank at Nancy."

This, of course, is a practical sarcasm at the expense of a nation
represented by some of its orators and statesmen as having been
aggrieved by being forced to restore pictures and works of Art which
the First Napoleon and his gangs in uniform had pillaged from
their neighbours. It is obviously meant to suggest an odious com-