Punch (74.1878)

July 6, 1878.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

301

BIPEDS IN THE BERLIN ZOO !

The readers of Punch, at any rate, were prepared for
the telegram from Berlin, the other day, informing them
that—

" Last night the fashionable world assembled at the Zoologi-
cal Gardens to see and welcome the members of the Congress,
who had promised to attend the ordinary Saturday concert."

With the representation of certain members of the
Congress in Mr. Punch's last Cartoon fresh in mind,
who conld he surprised to learn that some of them were
exhibited at the Berlin Zoological Gardens ? Of course,
they attracted away all the spectators usually grouped
before the denizens of the ordinary dens

" Some 12,000 persons were present, the ladies being dressed
in the height of fashion, and the whole presenting a very
interesting and animated spectacle."

The show appears to have been a splendid success,
notwithstanding the absence of three of the chief mem-
bers of the diplomatic menagerie.

" There was hearty cheering as the Plenipotentiaries —
excepting Lord Beaconsfield, Prince Gortschakoff, and
Prince Bismarck, who were prevented from attending—entered
the Gardens "

One of the biggest Lions, the biggest Bear, and the
biggest Eagle failed to show. Nevertheless, " all went
merry as a marriage-bell"—and merrier.

" The bands played the National hymns of the kingdoms re
presented at the Congress, the public bestowing on all the various
anthems an equal amount of sympathy and hurrahing. It was
the first time the Congress had come in contact with the public,
and the result appeared to give mutual satisfaction."

To all and sundry except, perhaps, the Carnivora in
the cages, whose very dinner-hour had for the time
lost its interest. It is easy to conceive how horribly
they howled and roared with rage and jealousy. But
their outcries were drowned in the music of the bands
and the cheers of an applauding public; cheers which
all Europe will re-echo should Congress, as there is good
hope, conclude in a happy issue out of the Eastern
Question, and an example of the way to settle inter
' E A R D ON 'AMPSTEAD 'EATH. national difficulties by less costly and bloody arbitrament

---"And Talk op our bein' be'ind the French in general edication, than that of GunP0W(ier'

why all I can say is as it 'g the commonest thing in PaREE, for instance

(over Ftjst-class Rbstorongs, too, mind ■ser), to see ' Dinner ' spelt with a Sea-Horse Punch would Like to see Running
only one ' N' !" Again.—The Double-ship Douvres et Calais.

IN ME MORI AM.

BORN, DECEMBER 26, 1803. DIED, JUNE 24, 1878.

But yesterday it scarce seemed he could die,
So blithe, so bright, so jubilant o'er time ;

At seventy-five still buoyant, frame and eye
As lithe and clear, almost, as in his prime,

'Twas hard to think that he could e'er be old,
Still more that he was old, till, looking back,

One noted all our century's records hold
Of pleasant memories crowded on his track.

An Actor's son, himself born Actor, too,

Though not with power to top his father's part—

Who, of all English mimes on record, threw
Round mimicry most light of Truth and Art;

Who trained his son not for, but from, a Stage,
Erom whose vulgarities he shrunk with pain ;

And finding germs of Art, from earliest age
Nursed in him seeds that grew to golden grain.

Artist, amuser, mimic,—dangerous powers !—
The boy grew, quick of wit, and fond of praise;

His mind a dial that marked sunlit hours,
But took no note of dark and cloudy days.

What wonder he was bright and blithe and gay,
Whom the world met so brightly, Tvith a face

That gave back smile for smile, while on his way
All lighter gifts and graces strove for place.

Some happy souls with scarce an effort reach
Ends for which thought and toil had vainly striven ;

Whate'er the will to learn, the pains to teach,
How few the favoured ones to whom is given

A mind so many-sided, bright, and keen,
So much accomplishment in various art—

To build the theatre, and paint the scene,
And write the play, and act the leading part.

His bark rode lightly o'er the shoals of life,
And braved the buffet of its stormiest swell;

'Twas something in this age of care and strife
To know one soul whose sun no cloud could quell.

And so he lived and acted, laughed and spread

An atmosphere of gaiety and grace;
Light as his artless art the life he led,

And Old and New World hailed his welcome face.

A pleasantness the less is left the earth
Now he is gone : a brightness with him dies ;

England could easier spare more solid worth
Than this gay soul's that breathed of sunnier skies.

A Hint from "Hieover."

Worshipful Punch,

As a Brother of the Brush—I don't mean a Painter, but
a Sportsman, who has never failed on occasion to be " in at the
death," and a distinguished performer in the hunting-field—you will
have observed, no doubt, with indignation, that the Criminal Code
Bill, now before Parliament, contains no clause providing any
penalty whatsoever for Vulpicide.

Would you, Sir, please point this omission out to the Attorney-
Gteneeal, and let him know how many years' penal servitude you
consider adequate punishment for that atrocious offence.

Ever yours, M. F. H.

vol. Lxsrv. D D