Punch (67.1874)

October 17, 1874.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 157

A PATHETIC APPEAL.

“Mamma, shall you let me go to the "Wilkinsons’ Ball, if they give one, this Winter?” “No, Darling !”

(A pause.)

“ You ’VE BEEN TO A ORE IV MANY BALLS, HAVEN’T YOU, MAMMA?”

“Yes, Darling,—and I’ve seen the folly of them all.”

(Another pause.)

“Mightn’t I just see the folly of onb, Mamma?” [A very long pause.

THE VERY SAME STUEE.

“The new House of Commons is composed of very much the same stuff as
the old. * * * However you may shuffle the political cards, that is about the
result.”—Mr. Walter at Maidenhead.

True is the saying, vet only partly true:

England is one, but England’s times are new,

And each successive age must find its men
To lead the world, to wield the sword and pen.

How wide the change ’tis needless to declare
From Walpole to the Author of Lothair;

Sir Robert, prompt to bully or to bribe,

Would wonder at Disraeli’s diatribe,

And, as he heard the brilliant terse reply,

Own there was something that he could not buy.

See classic Canning, Gladstone classic too:

How wide the difference when we track them through
Their marvellous career; the one alert—

The other with three courses-and desert.

See burly Fox, a giant in the fight—

Greater or less was he than stout Friend Bright P
Greater or less ? ’Tis vain to make a fuss :

Bright fishes: Fox liked dice and JEschylus.

Such Titans seldom rule the world: and why ?

They have to rule themselves, and will not try.

So, while the glorious giant plays the fool,

Men of slow brain and narrow shoulder rule.

’Tis pretty clear that oft the aspect changes ;

The course of things a Sheridan deranges:

This we omit from all our modern plans,

And don’t expect the casual Sheridans—

’Tis well to recognise the distance that
Stands ’twixt aristocrat and plutocrat:

Granite can never be reduced to mud,

And gold is seldom worth its weight in blood.

Still, Mr. Walter, you speak partial truth:
This Realm in age is what it was in youth.
These Parliaments but little more can know
Than Alfred’s, called a thousand years ago.
Edwards and Nelsons, Harrys, Wellingtons,
Chaucers, and Shakspeares, of this nation sons,
Will yet maintain the unconquerable breed,

The happy humour and the Christian creed.
Whoever guides the realm, and guards its fame,
Stubborn John Bull is very much the same.

MYSTERY AND MUSIC.

Certainly advertisements grow daily more and more mysterious.
For instance, what is one to gather from the following ?—

WANTED, by a Young Lady, domesticated, a good Needlewoman,
and musical, a SITUATION ; can be highly recommended.

What sort of situation, pray, does this “ Young Lady” want ? It
can be hardly that of governess, for she in no way even hints at her
capacity to teach. She may be musical, no doubt, and so may be a
snuff-box ; but that epithet can scarcely be accepted as a proof of
her proficiency, or even bare ability to do more than hum a tune.
As she calls herself domesticated, and also a good needlewoman,
perhaps the place which she desires is that of a domestic servant,
hired to do plain sewing, for which she, being musical, would pro-
bably prefer to use a Singer’s patented machine.