Punch (74.1878)

March 30, 1873.]

PUNCH, OK, THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

133

HYMEff, 0 HYMEN-EE! HYMEN ADES, 0 HYMEN JE 2!

eellng no doubt that the
British public has nothing
better to think about at the
present moment than "mar-
riages in high life,"the daily
papers are devoting their
columns to long accounts of
the "nuptial ceremonies "of
noble lords and fair ladies,
with "lists of presents."
This is evidently considered
very interesting reading for
the commoner classes. Why
should not the converse
hold, and the high feel an
interest in the marriage
events, ceremonies and gifts
of the humble ?

Mr. Punch, always ready
to follow the fashion at the
respectful distance which
alone is possible for a ple-
beian entertainer, is glad
to publish his own special
description of a late hy-
meneal event in humble
sphere :—

GRAND MARRIAGE IN LOW LIFE.

The marriage of Charles Bates, Esq., to Miss Anne Dodger, was
solemnised yesterday morning at the parish church of St. Giles's.
The church was well filled, and amongst those present were, Mr.
Fagin, Mr. William Sikes, gun. (the bridegroom's cousin and
best man), Corporal Jones of the Tower Hamlets Militia, Mr. and
Mrs. Dodger (parents of the bride), Jeremiah Didler and Noah
Claypole, Esqs. (of the Detective Police), with their good ladies,
and many others of the elite of the Mint and the purlieus of Drury
Lane.

On the arrival of the Bride she was received by Mr. Bumble
(Beadleof the Parish), who, at the request of her parents, gave her
away. The fair fiancee wore a princess dress of the richest white
calico, trimmed with pink and yellow bows, but she wore no jewels,
with the exception of a large necklace of imitation gold and coralline
—the gift of the bridegroom. The three bridesmaids (the youthful
Misses Dodger (2), and Miss Bates," sisters of the bride, and sister
of the bridegroom), wore pea-green alpaca costumes. Each brides-
maid wore a Britannia-metal brooch, with imitation Scotch pebbles,
of chaste design, the present of the bridegroom. During the cere-
mony Signor Bellowsini presided at the barrel-organ outside the
church, and played a short selection of appropriate music, a barrel
with " Pop Goes the Weasel" and "Haste to the Wedding" having
been introduced for the occasion.

After the Bride, Bridegroom, Mr. and Mrs. Dodger, and others
of the company had signed their marks in the Register, the wedding
party adjourned to the " Pig and Whistle" for refreshments.

Late in the afternoon Mr. Eagin (whose remarks were incoherent
from emotion) proposed the health of the Bride and Bridegroom,
to which the latter was understood to respond, "Eor self and
pardner."

The wedding presents were very numerous. The following is a
list of some of the principal gifts :—

Mr. Fagin. A collection of silk handkerchiefs of the time of
Queen Victoria, and two electro-plated spoons, marks erased.

Mr. de Catnach. A complete set of street-songs of the day, original
editions (from the wall).

Jeremiah Didler, Esq. Twenty-seven pawn-tickets for various
useful articles, with equity of redemption.

Corporal Jones {of the Militia). A very curious pint pot of
pewter, with the inscription, "The Butcher's Arms," partly
erased.

Mr. William Sikes, Junior. An antique Cutty-pipe, beautifully
coloured.

Signor Dodgerini. An assortment of Relief Tickets, redeemable at
the offices of the Mendicity Society.

Mr. Bumble and Lady. A "Harlequin dinner-set," consisting of
two soup-plates of imitation willow-pattern, an egg-cup, two odd
tea-cups and three saucers.

The Misses Dodger (2). A papier-mache tea-tray, beautifully
painted with a red man in a blue boat sailing in a puce sea to a
scarlet and yellow island.

William Sikes, Esq., Senior {per the Governor of the House of
Correction). A jemmy, a lantern, and a beautiful set of cracksman's
implements by the first makers.

vol lxxiv. n

• Melter Moss, Esq. A collection of imitation British coins, including
sixpences, shillings, florins, and half-crowns, in a fancy device on
a fond of Brummagem fivers of admirably perfect design.

Master Dodger. A set of chimney ornaments, representing a Parrot
and a Highlander, in Pldtre de Paris, gorgeously coloured au
naturel.

Mr. A. Sneaker. A table-cloth marked " Mrs. Smith, 22, Ara-
minta Villas, East, kitchen, 2."

Mr. A. L. L. Prigge. An antique effigy of a North American
Indian taking snuff and smoking a cigar, from the collection of a
well-known tobacconist.

Mrs. Dodger {the mother of the Bride). A mangle, slightly out of
repair.

The Bridegroom. A brass ring, a bead bracelet, a brooch, ear-
rings, and necklace of rich lacquer and foil, with diamonds of cut
glass {en suite), a sample case of spirits (one bottle of brandy, one
bottle of rum, and one of gin), and his ticket for the annual goose-
club at the " Goat and Compasses," Liquorpond Street.

And Mr. Artful Dodger {father of the Bride). The Family Um-
brella—an heirloom.

The happy pair will spend the honeymoon at the residence of Mr.
William Sikes, Senior, who has kindly put his lodgings at their
disposal during his official visit to the House of Correction.

TO LESBIA.

" In England the varieties of the humming-bird, 'which amount to about
four hundred, are only known from the fact that their stuffed plumage is
largely used as an ornament for ladies' hats. The demand thus created for
stuffed humming-birds has led to a sort of war of extermination, and in the
more frequented parts of our West Indian colonies the humming-bird has
practically become as extinct as in England are the raven, the great bustard,
the hoopoe, the golden eagle, the ring ouzel, and the kite. This being so, it
is gratifying to be assured that some of our West Indian colonies are taking
steps to follow the example set by English legislation in the recent Wild
Birds' Protection Act, and to put a stop to the indiscriminate slaughter of
humming-birds which has of late years been ruthlessly and unsparingly
carried on. . . . Ten years ago a lady appeared at a ball in Paris with a dress
which was ornamented with the stuffed skins of twelve hundred humming-
birds. Thus more than a thousand of these exquisite little living things had
been sacrificed to deck out a handsome woman for a ball."—Daily Telegraph.

Fair Lesbia, as you read these lines,

Are not your cheeks aglow ?
To sympathy your heart inclines

With all things here below.
Let thought of brightest birds that fly
Slain d la mode, stir to a sigh

That breast as white as snow,
Where Fashion, despot though she prove,
Should leave a little room for Love.

The sapphire flash, the ruby glow,

The glint of emerald sheen,
Show glorious, darting to and fro
Through depths of tropic green.
But, stuffed and still, in Lesbia's dress,
The charm is spoilt, the splendour less—

(Nay, drop that moue mutine !)—
How foolish, then, and vainly cruel,
The slaughter of the winged jewel!

Yes, Beauty has imperial claim

To tribute, homage, aid ;
But your sweet face should blush with shame

To help a heartless trade.
Bright humming-birds, by thousands slain,
For hunters', hucksters' bloody gain,

That you may be arrayed
In borrowed plumes ! Ah, cruel thought
Of splendour by such ravage bought.

Abjure such aid to Nature's dowers—

You lack excuse of need—
And leave the birds among the flowers,

To flit and flash, not bleed.
If bright bird-beauty may not move
Your heart to pity born of love,

That heart is hard indeed.
Come, prove yourself Eve's truer daughter,
And set your face against bird-slaughter !

cockney con.

'Arry {loquitur). Wy does Mr. Dela'unty object to one-pound
notes P 'Cause 'e loves 'is specie.

Motto for Holt Russia.—" Let us prey!"