Punch (62.1872)

February 24, 1872.]

punch, or the london charivari

83

All men spoke well of him, as most men thought,
Here as in India, and his friends were proud :

It seemed as if no enmity he wrought,
But moved, love-girt, at home or in the crowd.

What, then, our woe and wonderment to hear
Death had found way to this well-guarded_ life !

Love, Honour, State were there, hut Hate, hid near,
Struck through their triple shield with felon knife,

If true regret and true respect have halm

For hearts that more than public loss must mourn,

They join to crown this forehead, cold and calm,
With laurel, well-won as was ever worn.

Only the greener that 'twas late to grow,

And that by sudden blight its leaves are shed ■

Then, with thy honoured freight, sail, sad and slow,
0 ship, that bears him to his kindred dead !

EVENINGS FROM HOME.

beloved tutor for some information respecting these outlandish
persons.

Mr. Barlow. They are a people totally unlike all you have been
accustomed to in London, and, indeed, I cannot consider without a
certain degree of admiration, the savage grandeur of man in his
most simple state.

Harry. I perceive, Sir, that these honest folks are accustomed to
very little clothing.

Mr. Barlow. They are, my dear Harry, unacquainted with what
we call the conveniences of life, and are utterly ignorant of running
accounts, bill-stamps, and the new procedure under the Bankruptcy
Act. But they dwell on the boundless prairies, wnere the finest
horses run about wild.

" Dear ! " said Tommy, " that must be a fine country, indeed. I
would have a horse for nothing."

Mr. Barlow now explained that, in order to do so, the art of
catching, and then of riding the horse when caught, were, in the
first place, absolutely necessary to be acquired.

Tommy made no answer to this rebuke, but at once determined
that he would seize the first opportunity of cultivating these arts.
Harry. I think, Sir, that Tommy is hungry.
Tommy. Indeed, I have fasted so long that I think I could eat
tt c i anything.

asters Marry Sandford j Barlow now summoned the waiter, who, with much civility,

a h m°UMY Merton, (Jesire(i the two little boys to seat themselves at one of the numerous
with Mr. Barlow, visit. smau tables near a screen representing the figures of all the Queens
the Crystal Palace. j an(1 Rings 0f England. Their revered tutor now bade the honest
Tommy. Why, Sir, is it! fellow to bring for himself and his two young friends a supply of
called a Palace F {the most nourishing food. Mr. Barlow contented himself with the

Harry. Did you not leg and wing of a cold fowl, accompanied by half a bottle of the
say. Sir, the other day, best Bordeaux, while Tommy, who had hitherto enjoyed all the good
that a Palace was a resi- things of this life, entertained himself and Harry with a variety of
dence for Royal Person- cakes and agreeable liquors.

ages ? When they had thus finished one of the heartiest meals they had

Mr. Barlow. Indeed, ever made, they proceeded to inspect the amusements provided for
my young friends, I did ; them.

and I confess myself un- They were, however, only in time to witness the last scene of the
able to account, with any Pantomime when the organ commenced playing, and Mr. Barlow
degree of precision, for informed them that, if they wished to see the Aquarium by gaslight,
this building having been they could not in the whole evening find a more favourable oppor-
so styled, unless indeed tunity.

it were intended to convey Tommy. Sir, are there any whales in this Aquarium ?
to the vulgar mind some no- Mr. Barlow. Your question reminds me of the story of Alfonso
tion of itsvast proportions, and the Volatile New Zealander, which, as Harry is acquainted
Harry. I have heard, with it, I will tell you another time when we are alone. The whale,
Sir, that it was opened by however, will not be found in the Aquarium, it being somewhat too
the Queen. large and cumbersome a creature for so restricted a space.

Mr. Barlow. You are Tommy. If he cannot be exhibited (and I notice, Sir, that we are
right, Harry ; and the charged Sixpence for our visit, and Sixpence more for the programme
worthy Archbishop in- which you requested me to purchase), of what use is the Whale ?
voked the blessing of Mr. Barlow. He is eaten by the Greenlanders as a vegetable.
Heaven on this under- Tommy. But surely, Sir, a Greenlander is one who resides in a
v^te^P5^" j'( - ■ taking, which was in- land of greens ?

<-"5"^#j7^-______tended to promote the Harry. You will observe, Sir, that Master Tommy wishes us to

\N*w noblest purposes of recrea- remark his diverting use of the word green.

tion, to be combined with Mr. Barlow. I am indeed gratified with this new proof of Tommy's
instruction. progress, and I do not doubt but that if he attends to the silent

Harry. The Shareholders, Sir, must have indeed experienced vast workings of his mind, and adheres closely to the study of his gram-
gratification on that occasion ; and I protest, Sir, both for myself mar and his dictionary, we shall, from time to time, remark, with
and Master Tommy, that we shall be vastly pleased at being now sincerest pleasure the improvement in his general conversation,
able, under such especially exalted patronage, to witness a Panto- ! As the evening began to advance, the lights were turned on to the
mime, and a Ballet, which I perceive, Sir, form the chief attraction full.

at the Palace during this season of the year. Tommy now expressed the greatest admiration for the Codfish.

Tommy now evinced considerable surprise and astonishment at all And indeed when their silvery scales were illuminated by a gaslight
he saw and heard. It seemed to him that ravishing strains of music from above, no spectacle could have been witnessed more gratifying
were proceeding from pianos in various parts of the building, craftily to the numerous spectators who had by this time assembled in the
concealed from view by various evergreen shrubs and artificial rock- Aquarium.

work. He could not overcome a certain impression of awe, which | Tommy. Ah, Sir, the impressions I now feel are such as I shall
at first prevented him from giving vent to his feelings in adequate | never forget. See, Sir, how happy these beautiful creatures appear,
expressions of delight, and it was some space before he perceived \ and how admirably fitted they are both by their habits and dis-

that there were any other persons in the Palace besides themselves.

Tommy, who was of a bold and courageous disposition, now took
the lead, and had scarcely preceded his companions by a few steps,
when the attention of Mr. Barlow and Harry was attracted to
their young friend, who uttered so loud an exclamation of terror as
to occasion considerable dismay to the occupants of a neighbouring
refreshment-stall.

On coming up with Master Tommy, they found him standing
almost paralysed with affright in front of a group of the most hideous
savages, entirely naked, and armed with formidable weapons.

When they approached nearer, Mr. Barlow, who, though an
intrepid man, had been somewhat disconcerted by this unexpected
exhibition, discovered that the savages were, after all, only models
skilfully formed of wood.

Commy, who had never before seen anything like these creatures,
was now much surprised and entertained, and commenced to ask his

positions for their present residence.

Mr. Barlow. Remember, then, my little friend, that, since chance,
not merit, too frequently allots the situation in which men are to
act, you should at least aim at appearing to all mankind as worthy
of the advantages you enjoy as do these members of the finny tribes
to the spectators whose moderate subscriptions go towards their
support. From the spectacle presented by this Aquarium, those
who have been placed in exalted positions may learn a valuable
lesson.

Harry. Indeed, Sir, that is very true; and what you have just
said reminds me of the story of Arsaces and the Oblivious Athenian,
which, as Tommy has not yet heard, I will proceed to tell him.
You must know, then. Master Tommy —-

At this instant the Octopus issuing suddenly from its concealment,
displayed its form after so startling a manner that the crowd, who
had been up to this time vehemently pressing against the iron rail