Punch (74.1878)

24

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[January 19, 1878.

RECOGNITION BY PROXY.

" On the 31st of March, 1876, John Chiddy, a quarryman,
employed on the Great Western Eailway, at Conham, between
Bath and Bristol, saw that a large stone had fallen upon the
metals along which the Flying Dutchman, then in sight, was
rushing at the rate of fifty miles an hour. Without a thought
of the risk he ran, Chiddy rushed to the spot and lifted the stone
off the line, and a terrible catastrophe was thus averted ; but the
poor man lost his life, for the buffer catching him, he was killed
in an instant. He left a widow and seven children, and his case
being a peculiarly shocking one, some Gentlemen in Bristol took
it up. The Company when applied to denied their liability. The
passengers whose lives were saved by Chiddy's heroic conduct
subscribed only a few pounds. A. public appeal was then made,
resulting in the raising of between £400 and £500. With part
of tbis a neat six-roomed cottage has been built near the scene of
the accident, and this, with half an acre of garden land, was yes
terday formally and publicly presented to the widow."

" All's well that ends well." Luckily for brave and
self-devoted John Chiddy's widow and seven children,
there was a Public behind the Company whose property,
and the passengers whose lives, he sacrificed his life to
save. May this tardy recognition of John Chiddy's self-
sacrifice by the subscribers who have secured a roof for
his widow and children, atone for the shameful over-
looking it by the Great Western Company and the passen-
gers in the train which he died to rescue from destruction.

NOT FAIR.

Pat (giving the Squire "Notice"). "What did we agree whin I tuk the
Place ?—That we should niver be Drunk at tite same toime !—But
Faix ye niver gi' me the channce ! ! "

A Nursery Rhyme.

(Shaped to the Time.)

Taffy is a "Welshman,

A toiler, and no thief ;
Shall Taffy starve at my door,

While I can spare beet ?

I will go to Taffy's house,
And cheer that hungry home,

With oatmeal-porridge, soup, and bread,
To fill out skin and bone.

comjion features

Between Lord Beaconsfield, Lord Lytton, and the Mild

Hindoo.

Taste for tinsel, and a faith in fireworks.

PEELING OE THE CITY.

(Amongst Bulls and Bears.)

Russian 1870. Rising market. " Let the two barbarians fight it
out. Sir ! What have we to do with it ? "

Hungarian 1871. Heavy fall. "We must take care that other
countries don't interfere. General war !—horrible I "

Italian 1861. Slight fall. "I should like to know what they
have to do with it ? Gross impudence ! "

French Threes. Steady. "Of course France will be neutral.
Hope there '11 be no more talk of annexing Egypt."

Portuguese Threes. Unsteady. " Too bad ! Lord Beaconsfield
is playing the very mischief with business! "

Turkish Fives. Slight rise. "Plucky fellows, Sir; and, if old
Pam were alive, we should have gone in for 'em long before this."

Austrian Silver Rentes. Heavy, with a downward tendency.
" Only want a spirited policy to pull us through. Always thought
the Triple Alliance bosh ! "

Spanish Actives. Very dead. " After all, if there is a general war,
what matter its horrors, if our honour demands it ? "

Argentine Sixes. Heavy, and going down. "Mere madness to
think of fighting! What is prestige compared with prices ? "

Russian Fives. Rising. "The Turks should be forced to con-
clude peace, Sir. Forced, Sir, forced I "

Turkish Fives. No demand. " It is simply suicidal to think of
a Turkish alliance. Russia is our best friend, and always has been."

Egyptian Preference. Falling. "We ought to declare war
against Russia immediately, and occupy Egypt. British interests
demand this step, Sir. The sooner the better! "

proof positive.

They say the Osmanli have been established on this side the
Bosphorus for more than four hundred years. Impossible. Turkey in
Europe was never heard of before the Discovery of America.

OBSTRUCTION AND WAR.

The utterances of " Public Opinion on the War," as reported in
the impers, tell, most of them, very strongly on behalf of non-
intervention. But audi alteram partem. Listen to what an Irish
patriot says on the other side of the question:—

" Mr. Biggar, M.P., speaking at a large Home-Bule meeting in Greenock
last night, in connection with the contest for Parliamentary representation of
the town, said that when Parliament met he would vote with his Party as to
whether England should go to war in defence of Turkey. It seemed to him
that the present prospect of England, was that she would entirely cease as a
Power in the world, unless she shortly proved what she could do by entering
into a contest with some strong Powers. Other nations would soon begin to
think she could not defend herself if she did not fight."

Of course, Mr. Biggar is a Member of Parliament, if you please,
but, first of all, a Home-Ruler. He consults the public good, but
in subordination to the policy of his Party. Therefore, he is pre-
pared to vote either for going, or not going, to war with Turkey, as
his Party may choose. Personally, however, he would, it seems,
wish to see England at war. He thinks that England had better go
to war for the maintenance of her position, and on this point, the
opinion of so sound a politician, so serviceable a legislator, and
withal, such a well-wisher to England as Mr. Biggar, should have
all the weight that is due to it.

No Surrender!

The Town Council of Faversham have lately been reminded, by
the Local Government Board, that they have not appointed a Public
Analyst for their Borough, in accordance with the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act. The Council held a meeting, at which it was proposed
and seconded, and carried by a majority of seven to two, that an
Analyst should not be appointed. This little anecdote would hardly
be complete without the additional circumstance that the proposer
and seconder of the resolution were both—grocers.