Punch: Punch (69.1875)

214

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[November 20, 1875.

REMINISCENCES OF HEDGE-FIRING.

Itinerant Photographer (from under the Cloth). "Will you keep Quiet? How do you suppose
Subject (who is evading the Focus). " Be Jabers, Man ! will I sit still to be shot at ? I !"

CIVIC HONOURS AT SHREWSBURY AND
SOUTHAMPTON.

A remarkable case of mendicity has occurred at Shrewsbury.
The Mayoralty of that Borough was, up to the 10th instant, going
a-begging. Out of the candidates for the office of Mayor proposed
to the Town Council, one was rejected, and the other two declined
their election, and paid £50 each rather than serve. A Correspondent
suggests that this is a scandalous state of things. Yes ; but scan-
dalous to the municipality of Shrewsbury or to its population ?

Some light on this question may be thrown by accounts received
from another borough—Southampton. Thereat, indeed, a Mayor
was elected on the 9th of November ; but after proceedings of which
some idea may be brieffy presented thus from the local papers :—
Scene—The Council Chamber at the Audit House. Present— The
Town Council, with a Privileged outer Few, and a dense body
of the General Southampton Public.
Enter the Mayor and Corporation, and take their seats. As they
severally appear in succession, they are saluted by the South-
ampton Public as follows :—

Mayor (Mr. Passenger) arrives.
Southampton Public. Make room for a First-Class Passenger.
You've not long to sit there : your time 's nearly up. Don't cry !
What's the price of coal ? Any coal-tickets knocking about ? Have
you had the chain polished up ?—because Mr. Putty did. (This toas
a reference to a gentleman in an extensive business including that
of a Plumber and Glazier.)

Mr. Phippard arrives.
Southampton Public. What's the price of meat and paper ?

Mr. Dartnall arrives.
Southampton Public. What's the ticket for soup ?

Mr. Rogers arrives.
Southampton Public. Well done, Evergreen! Come at last.
Where's poor Billy Camden ? Look at his trousers !

(An allusion, like most of the preceding and subsequent questions,
to the gentleman''s vocation—that of a Clothier.)

Mr. Lamb arrives.
Southampton Public. Make room ;for Haurdraw Limb. Why
don't you use your pocket handkerchief ?

Alderman Payne arrives.
Southampton Public. Take off your hat, old man. No, he's afraid
of showing his bald head. Your friends the Templars are here.
Alderman Jones, J.P. arrives.
Southampton Public. Hurrah! Hurrah ! Hip, hip, hip, hurrah!
One cheer more, Hurrah! (Could Mr. Alderman Jones, a most
respectable man, have felt himself flattered?)

Mr. Sheriff Pearce arrives.
Southampton Public. Yah! 'Ss ! Hurrah! Oh, oh! Coals, coals !
What is the price of coals ? Meldrum will wait on you. _Why did
you shut up poor Harry Abraham ? (A considerable testimonial to
Mr. Pearce.)

Mr. Gr. P. Perkins arrives, struggling toivards his seat.
Southampton Public. Now for the King of the Cannibal Islands !

Mr. Chipperfield arrives.
Southampton Public. Hollo, here's Chipper ! Now you'11 have
some physic.

Mr. Weston and Alderman Tucker, J. P., arrive.
Southampton Public. Knock 'em down, Jimmy ! Knock 'em down,
John !

Mr. Ellyett arrives.

Southampton Public. What have you done with your white pony ?

After a succession of speeches interrupted by amenities of which
the foregoing are mild specimens, a Mayor was elected. Mr. Jones,
a previous Mayor, who had declined re-election last year, now
having consented to undertake the office. But is it not a wonder
how any decent man can be prevailed upon to become Mayor of
Southampton ? and—if Shrewsbury is like Southampton—is it any
wonder that nobody could be got to be Mayor of Shrewsbury ?

How to Back Out.—On dit that Mr. Disraeli, with his rare
genius for apt nomenclature, has designated the Cabinet Council-
Chamber the " Withdrawing Room" !

Printed by JoBeph Smith, of No. 30. loralie Road, Hollo-way, In the Parish of St. Mary, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, at the Printing Offices of Messrs. Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., Ixrmbaad
Street, in the Precinct of Whitefriars.in the City of London, and published by him at No, 85, Fleet Street, in the Parish of St. Bride, City of London.—dATUROAT, November 20,1876.