DOI Heft:
March 21, 1874
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16938#0122
March 21, 1874.]
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
117
EXCHANGE!
Togswell (in the Washing Room at the Office, proceeding to dress for the De Browncy's
Dinner-Party). “Hullo! What the Dooce ” — (Pulling out, in dismay, from
Hack lag, a pair of blue flannel Tights, a pink striped Jersey, and a spiked canvas
Shoe.)—“ Confound it! Yes!—I must have taken that Fellow’s Bag who
SAID HE WAS GOING TO THE ATHLETIC SPORTS THIS AFTERNOON, AND HE’S GOT
MINE WITH MY DRESS CLOTHES ! ! ”
A TOE TO IRISH WALL-TRULL
That vigorous writer of strong common-sense, mingled witli headstrong
nonsense, old Cobbett, does not appear to have numbered entomology among his
knowledges. He certainly would not have hailed the discovery of a new insect
as astronomers welcome that of a new planet. There can he no doubt that he
had not any the least respect for a cockroach, or anything of the kind, and that
he would have rejoiced not at all in any addition to our catalogue of beetles.
Yet there is one beetle of which, on grounds other than scientific, it is conceiv-
able that he would have glorified the advent in the choicest of his plain English.
This new thing in Coleoptera is the Colorado Potato Beetle, which, spreading of
late from the Rocky Mountains, where it fed on wild potatoes, has now overrun
much of the adjoining territory, in which it devours the cultivated potato-crops.
It behaves itself to the potatoes as a locust; only that locusts are a passing
devastation, whereas Potato Beetles settle themselves and extend. Cobbett,
therefore, who was hostile to potatoes, and abused them as violently as he did
his political enemies, would now, no doubt, if still flourishing, be elated with
hope that the Potato Beetle would shortly come by some means to be imported
from the United States into the United Kingdom. Now, however, who is there
so odd and perverse as not to consider that such an arrival would be an immense
calamity ?
Mr. Gladstone, whilst yet in office, was memorialised by the Secretary of
the Central Chamber of Agriculture, on the 10th of February, with a suggestion
that the ports should he closed against American seed potatoes. The Times says
that:—
“ In reply, a letter was received last week from the office of the Privy Council for Trade,
to the effect that, according to the American official reports, it does not appear that the
eggs or larvae of the Colorado Beetle have been or are deposited or conveyed in the tuber
of the potato; and, therefore, there is considered to be no reason to prevent the importation
of seed potatoes from America into the United Kingdom, until the case is proved to be
otherwise.”
Until the case is proved to be otherwise ? But how then ? Is it impossible
that the case may be proved to be otherwise in the first instance, on some fine
morning, by the discovery of an English or Irish potato-
field in the occupation of the Colorado Beetle ? It may
not at present appear that eggs or larvse have been
deposited or conveyed in such wise as, for aught anyone
knows, it may very soon appear that they can. May not
earth containing eggs adhere to tubers ? What if the
case be thus proved otherwise by experience, making
Privy Councillors wise? Let us hope that the Privy
Council for Trade is not too confident that, if it does
not take care, it will not, by-and-by, have to stamp out
the Colorado Potato Beetle. In the meanwhile, may no
specimen of that unpleasant creature ever be seen on this
side of the Atlantic, except at a Conversazione of the
Entomological Society, or in the British Museum.
SLIGHT TO THE CITY-KING.
0 how shall tongue declare
What is more than ear can bear P
That irreverent Crew
Of the darker Blue !
They have slighted the Great Lord Mayor!
Aghast and amazed we stare
To think any men could dare
Disregard and decline
To attend and dine,
When required by the Great Lord Mayor !
Of culture were they so bare
As not to be fully aware
They should understand
Each request a command
That’s received from the Great Lord Mayor ?
What mortal who loves good fare,
And has proper regard and care
For his inward man,
Could be otherwise than
Glad to dine with the Great Lord Mayor ?
Where hope they to go, 0 where ?
Of their future we quite despair!
And how sad the truth
’Twas old Oxford’s youth
Who did snub the Great Lord Mayor !
Contempt of the Civic Chair !
High Treason beyond compare.
And neglect to write !
It was impolite,
Said the justly incensed Lord Mayor.
0, tell it not over there
In Paris, or France elsewhere,
Where our neighbours all
Are prepared to fall
At the feet of the Great Lord Mayor !
One fancies the rudest bear,
Or boar in his forest lair,
Would at once turn out,
With obsequious snout,
At the beck of the Great Lord Mayor.
Our clothes we are fit to tear,
We are almost ready our hair
To pluck and rend,
While it stands on end
At this slight to the Great Lord Mayor !
Ye reprobate youth, beware!
For an awful fright prepare :
Father Thames will rise,
And forbid your prize,
And avenge the Great Lord Mayor.
Further comment, 0 Muse, forbear,
At the taste our wonder share
Of that ill-timed note
From the Oxford Boat,
And their snub by the Great Lord Mayor.
Thought eor a Schoolboy’s Theme.—Beauty and
Bashfulness are often united; yet the loveliest Maiden
is admired for her Cheek.
Vol. 66.
4—2
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
117
EXCHANGE!
Togswell (in the Washing Room at the Office, proceeding to dress for the De Browncy's
Dinner-Party). “Hullo! What the Dooce ” — (Pulling out, in dismay, from
Hack lag, a pair of blue flannel Tights, a pink striped Jersey, and a spiked canvas
Shoe.)—“ Confound it! Yes!—I must have taken that Fellow’s Bag who
SAID HE WAS GOING TO THE ATHLETIC SPORTS THIS AFTERNOON, AND HE’S GOT
MINE WITH MY DRESS CLOTHES ! ! ”
A TOE TO IRISH WALL-TRULL
That vigorous writer of strong common-sense, mingled witli headstrong
nonsense, old Cobbett, does not appear to have numbered entomology among his
knowledges. He certainly would not have hailed the discovery of a new insect
as astronomers welcome that of a new planet. There can he no doubt that he
had not any the least respect for a cockroach, or anything of the kind, and that
he would have rejoiced not at all in any addition to our catalogue of beetles.
Yet there is one beetle of which, on grounds other than scientific, it is conceiv-
able that he would have glorified the advent in the choicest of his plain English.
This new thing in Coleoptera is the Colorado Potato Beetle, which, spreading of
late from the Rocky Mountains, where it fed on wild potatoes, has now overrun
much of the adjoining territory, in which it devours the cultivated potato-crops.
It behaves itself to the potatoes as a locust; only that locusts are a passing
devastation, whereas Potato Beetles settle themselves and extend. Cobbett,
therefore, who was hostile to potatoes, and abused them as violently as he did
his political enemies, would now, no doubt, if still flourishing, be elated with
hope that the Potato Beetle would shortly come by some means to be imported
from the United States into the United Kingdom. Now, however, who is there
so odd and perverse as not to consider that such an arrival would be an immense
calamity ?
Mr. Gladstone, whilst yet in office, was memorialised by the Secretary of
the Central Chamber of Agriculture, on the 10th of February, with a suggestion
that the ports should he closed against American seed potatoes. The Times says
that:—
“ In reply, a letter was received last week from the office of the Privy Council for Trade,
to the effect that, according to the American official reports, it does not appear that the
eggs or larvae of the Colorado Beetle have been or are deposited or conveyed in the tuber
of the potato; and, therefore, there is considered to be no reason to prevent the importation
of seed potatoes from America into the United Kingdom, until the case is proved to be
otherwise.”
Until the case is proved to be otherwise ? But how then ? Is it impossible
that the case may be proved to be otherwise in the first instance, on some fine
morning, by the discovery of an English or Irish potato-
field in the occupation of the Colorado Beetle ? It may
not at present appear that eggs or larvse have been
deposited or conveyed in such wise as, for aught anyone
knows, it may very soon appear that they can. May not
earth containing eggs adhere to tubers ? What if the
case be thus proved otherwise by experience, making
Privy Councillors wise? Let us hope that the Privy
Council for Trade is not too confident that, if it does
not take care, it will not, by-and-by, have to stamp out
the Colorado Potato Beetle. In the meanwhile, may no
specimen of that unpleasant creature ever be seen on this
side of the Atlantic, except at a Conversazione of the
Entomological Society, or in the British Museum.
SLIGHT TO THE CITY-KING.
0 how shall tongue declare
What is more than ear can bear P
That irreverent Crew
Of the darker Blue !
They have slighted the Great Lord Mayor!
Aghast and amazed we stare
To think any men could dare
Disregard and decline
To attend and dine,
When required by the Great Lord Mayor !
Of culture were they so bare
As not to be fully aware
They should understand
Each request a command
That’s received from the Great Lord Mayor ?
What mortal who loves good fare,
And has proper regard and care
For his inward man,
Could be otherwise than
Glad to dine with the Great Lord Mayor ?
Where hope they to go, 0 where ?
Of their future we quite despair!
And how sad the truth
’Twas old Oxford’s youth
Who did snub the Great Lord Mayor !
Contempt of the Civic Chair !
High Treason beyond compare.
And neglect to write !
It was impolite,
Said the justly incensed Lord Mayor.
0, tell it not over there
In Paris, or France elsewhere,
Where our neighbours all
Are prepared to fall
At the feet of the Great Lord Mayor !
One fancies the rudest bear,
Or boar in his forest lair,
Would at once turn out,
With obsequious snout,
At the beck of the Great Lord Mayor.
Our clothes we are fit to tear,
We are almost ready our hair
To pluck and rend,
While it stands on end
At this slight to the Great Lord Mayor !
Ye reprobate youth, beware!
For an awful fright prepare :
Father Thames will rise,
And forbid your prize,
And avenge the Great Lord Mayor.
Further comment, 0 Muse, forbear,
At the taste our wonder share
Of that ill-timed note
From the Oxford Boat,
And their snub by the Great Lord Mayor.
Thought eor a Schoolboy’s Theme.—Beauty and
Bashfulness are often united; yet the loveliest Maiden
is admired for her Cheek.
Vol. 66.
4—2