Punch (70.1876)

January 22, 1876.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

11

DISINTERESTED DRAMATISTS.

hong the letters from distin-
guished living dramatists (in-
cluding one in which the author
modestly veils himself under
the name of his creation) re-
ceived by Mr. Disraeli since
the publication of that written
by the accomplished Author of
The Shaughraun, we select the
following:—■

The Duke's Theatre, Holbom.
Sir,

DuitrNG the last nine
years, on and off (I have, per-
naps, been rather more "on"
than off), we have been repre-
senting before the English
people in London and the pro-
vinces a most pathetic play, entitled Black Eyed Susan, to which is
appended a secondary title, The Little Bill that tvas Taken Up*
To commence, let me disclaim for the author all idea that '' The
Little Bill" bears any resemblance to the great Liberal ex-Leader,
" The People's William." No, Sir, our William is indeed the most
popular Bill that has ever been introduced into the House under any
Ministrv.

As a literary effort, the work has a merit peculiarly its own. As
for its poetic clothing, I can only refer you to the songs of '' Pretty
See-usan, don't say no," " Susan make Room for your Uncle,'" and
" Captain Crosstree is my name." The encores that have invariably
followed these morceaux must not be taken as evidences of any
violent political excitement. It is the simple story of _ a young
English Sailor assaulting an inebriated Naval Officer, being tried,
convicted, and eventually restored to freedom by a pardon granted,
at my intercession, under the Lord Chamberlain's Licence, during-
your tenure of office as First Lord of the Treasury.

I call to witness twelve million of the English people who have
paid their money to witness this representation (and I shall be happy
to call as many more on the same terms),—and I call to witness the
enormous Free List entirely suspended—I call to witness the Public
Press, most justly excepted,—and I call the whole World to witness
this spectacle (it would be a big House if they all came on one night,
—and I may add that this " Spectacle," which I call upon the whole
World to witness, does not depend solely and only on spectacular
effects, though we do fire a gun from a man-of-war, and there am
/ \ "V. two " working figures " in a rowing-boat—a most moving sight),— I

S * ■ ' / ^Iw^V I say I call on The Whole'World, ay, and his wife (children under

/• / twelve half price to all parts except the gallery), to witness this

' l" ^ / ///; J spectacle—the Government of England, with a full and noble

' ■ ' reliance on the loyalty of the English people, authorising, and

approving, through its officer the Lord Chamberlain, the perform-
ance of this play, in which a gallant Naval Officer (myself) is repre-
sented as getting most unwarrantably intoxicated, and, while in that state, acting in a manner unworthy of a British Tar, by laying
hands on a female in distress, and being; thereupon, cut down by an A.B. Sailor, who is forthwith tried by an incompetent and muddle-
headed Court Martial, thus inviting, nightly, a Jury of the Entire Population of London to come, if they can, and pronounce their
feelings not only on a great social, but also on a great political, and vitally national question.

In all countries, from the time of Noah's Ark to the present day, the Theatre has been acknowledged a sensitive test of public opinion
on Naval affairs. It was, surely, not the cunning of the dramatist (it might have been his craft, as some of the action is on board ship),

vol. lxx. c