DOI issue:
August 30, 1873
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16937#0096
84 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. (August 30, 1873.
OUR BRAVE TRUNCHEONIERS.
Whilst reclining on the sand, in view of what, with a slight con-
fusion of poetical ideas, may be described as the innumerable smile
of the sad sea waves, we beguile our holiday leisure by reading our
bluebook, or the official report or return last out, our minds often
wander from the in-
teresting pages be-
fore us back to our
, metropolitan or sub-
urban home. We
trust it has not been
burnt down. It was
left in the charge of
an old woman, or a
young one. We hope
it may not have been
broken into, and will
not be. Our confi-
dence in that respect,
humanly speaking,
rests on the Police-
man, of whom we
are reminded, in the
course of our vaca-
tion light reading,
; by the Report on the
Metropolitan Police,
recently presented to
the Home Secretary
by their Chief Com-
missioner. This at-
tractive and enter-
taining production
contains one piece of
particularly welcome
information
“Bobbery and at-
tempts to rob have
decreased from 97 in
1871 to I'l in 1872,
whilst in the latter
year arrests were made
and convictions obtain-
ed in 60 cases out of 72
which occurred. This
is the smallest number
of cases of this grave
description on record
during the last ten
years.”
Deeply as we must
ever sympathise with
our flesh and blood
when the former is
scored and the latter
elicited or extrava-
sated by the Cat;
painful to our own
finer feelings as is
the infliction of the
Lash on the sensitive
hide of our Brother
Man, we cannot but
recognise in the fore-
going figures a grati-
fying illustration of
the beneficial effects
of that agonising,
but, when merited
by a brutal rascal,
that salutary process.
Ho doubt the cheer-
ing results above
enumerated have
been obtained chiefly
by flogging garot-
ters; and they en-
courage steady per-
severance in that stern but satisfactory practice. Some argument for
the extension of a degrading though preventive if not reformatory
punishment may appear to be furnished by the statement that:—
“ The assaults on the police steadily increase ; they were—1869, 2858 ;
1871, 3325 ; 1872, 3692. So that every policeman is assaulted about once in
every two years.”
This implies an average of bodily harm perhaps exceeding that of
the Warrior whose beat is on the battle field, and who takes his
wounds in combat with foreign foes. But, besides : —
“ In addition to these assaults, which were all more or less severe, there
were 342 cases of attempts to rescue, and 71 of obstructing; the constables in
their duty, making a total of 4105 cases, out of which 3900 were summarily
convicted, and 32 sent for trial.”
Would not the
scars received by the
brave Blues of Scot-
land Yard in grapple
with domestic ene-
mies be probably
rendered less nume-
rous by subjecting
the offenders also, by
whom they have been
occasioned, to the
operation of the be-
neficent whip ? The
experiment would
cost nothing except
the tears of unthink-
ing tenderness, and
might well be tried
by an economical
Cfovernment.
There is much error
in the view common-
ly taken of the rela-
tions often subsisting
between Policemen
and the gentler sex,
with whom they are
wont to communicate
at the area. Colonel
Henderson doubt-
less could have point-
ed out that the
relations which con-
stables are accus-
tomed to contract
with cooks, are gene-
rally cultivated by
those truly gallant
fellows purely to
acquire knowledge
with a view to the
prevention of burg-
lary, so of ten effected
through the compli-
city of domestic ser-
vants with thieves,
and are seldom de-
signed to procure
bread-and-cheese or
bread - and - butter,
and slices of beef
and mutton. The ju-
dicious housekeeper
will regard with
wise vigilance, but
not undue suspicion,
or fear for his larder,
the expedient inti-
macy of Mary with
Robert.
Before moving on,
it may be remarked
that the Police are
not too numerous,
and are by no means
overpaid; and that
it would be erring
at small cost on the
safe side to increase
their number con-
siderably, and raise
their pay.
Ardent Spiritualism.
People affect to deride Spiritualism, many of whom themselves
have dealings with a familiar Spirit. This is the Spirit known in
many circles as “ Old Tom,” who usually under that name commu-
nicates by taps.
WE SOON DISCOVER THERE ARE WORSE EVILS THAN
PHYSICAL PAIN.
“ O, Auntie, Darling! If the Ache would only Come on again now! It seems
to have Gone away completely ! ”
OUR BRAVE TRUNCHEONIERS.
Whilst reclining on the sand, in view of what, with a slight con-
fusion of poetical ideas, may be described as the innumerable smile
of the sad sea waves, we beguile our holiday leisure by reading our
bluebook, or the official report or return last out, our minds often
wander from the in-
teresting pages be-
fore us back to our
, metropolitan or sub-
urban home. We
trust it has not been
burnt down. It was
left in the charge of
an old woman, or a
young one. We hope
it may not have been
broken into, and will
not be. Our confi-
dence in that respect,
humanly speaking,
rests on the Police-
man, of whom we
are reminded, in the
course of our vaca-
tion light reading,
; by the Report on the
Metropolitan Police,
recently presented to
the Home Secretary
by their Chief Com-
missioner. This at-
tractive and enter-
taining production
contains one piece of
particularly welcome
information
“Bobbery and at-
tempts to rob have
decreased from 97 in
1871 to I'l in 1872,
whilst in the latter
year arrests were made
and convictions obtain-
ed in 60 cases out of 72
which occurred. This
is the smallest number
of cases of this grave
description on record
during the last ten
years.”
Deeply as we must
ever sympathise with
our flesh and blood
when the former is
scored and the latter
elicited or extrava-
sated by the Cat;
painful to our own
finer feelings as is
the infliction of the
Lash on the sensitive
hide of our Brother
Man, we cannot but
recognise in the fore-
going figures a grati-
fying illustration of
the beneficial effects
of that agonising,
but, when merited
by a brutal rascal,
that salutary process.
Ho doubt the cheer-
ing results above
enumerated have
been obtained chiefly
by flogging garot-
ters; and they en-
courage steady per-
severance in that stern but satisfactory practice. Some argument for
the extension of a degrading though preventive if not reformatory
punishment may appear to be furnished by the statement that:—
“ The assaults on the police steadily increase ; they were—1869, 2858 ;
1871, 3325 ; 1872, 3692. So that every policeman is assaulted about once in
every two years.”
This implies an average of bodily harm perhaps exceeding that of
the Warrior whose beat is on the battle field, and who takes his
wounds in combat with foreign foes. But, besides : —
“ In addition to these assaults, which were all more or less severe, there
were 342 cases of attempts to rescue, and 71 of obstructing; the constables in
their duty, making a total of 4105 cases, out of which 3900 were summarily
convicted, and 32 sent for trial.”
Would not the
scars received by the
brave Blues of Scot-
land Yard in grapple
with domestic ene-
mies be probably
rendered less nume-
rous by subjecting
the offenders also, by
whom they have been
occasioned, to the
operation of the be-
neficent whip ? The
experiment would
cost nothing except
the tears of unthink-
ing tenderness, and
might well be tried
by an economical
Cfovernment.
There is much error
in the view common-
ly taken of the rela-
tions often subsisting
between Policemen
and the gentler sex,
with whom they are
wont to communicate
at the area. Colonel
Henderson doubt-
less could have point-
ed out that the
relations which con-
stables are accus-
tomed to contract
with cooks, are gene-
rally cultivated by
those truly gallant
fellows purely to
acquire knowledge
with a view to the
prevention of burg-
lary, so of ten effected
through the compli-
city of domestic ser-
vants with thieves,
and are seldom de-
signed to procure
bread-and-cheese or
bread - and - butter,
and slices of beef
and mutton. The ju-
dicious housekeeper
will regard with
wise vigilance, but
not undue suspicion,
or fear for his larder,
the expedient inti-
macy of Mary with
Robert.
Before moving on,
it may be remarked
that the Police are
not too numerous,
and are by no means
overpaid; and that
it would be erring
at small cost on the
safe side to increase
their number con-
siderably, and raise
their pay.
Ardent Spiritualism.
People affect to deride Spiritualism, many of whom themselves
have dealings with a familiar Spirit. This is the Spirit known in
many circles as “ Old Tom,” who usually under that name commu-
nicates by taps.
WE SOON DISCOVER THERE ARE WORSE EVILS THAN
PHYSICAL PAIN.
“ O, Auntie, Darling! If the Ache would only Come on again now! It seems
to have Gone away completely ! ”