Punch: Punch (75.1878)

210 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [November 9, 1878.

WHAT WE MAY COME TO IN TIME.

Mrs. Brabasour Vavazon {reading extract from Journal of Anthropological Institute, May, 1878, j^?. 480-1). "'The bodies of the
Motu Giels in New Guinea are covered with Tattoo Marks resembling fine Lace Garments. ... It has the appearance
of a tight-fitting Suit of Clothes.'"

Ethel and Clara. " How quite too lovely ! " Sir George and tlie Colonel. " Aw—yes ! Awf'lly jolly ! "

A "PAS DE TEOIS!"

" At present, however, France gets on well with the Eepublic, and discerns
no change to her advantage. One Prince alone enjoys a sufficient popularity
among all parties to form one of those attractive personages from whom a
Republic might apprehend competition for popular favour. He is young, and
has a look of vigour, is muscular, has ready wit, is able to listen seriously and
reply affably, on the sea like a sailor, and in the forest like an Arkansas
hunter, pursuing with equal ardour work and pleasure, and surpassing in
both those who follow him. The Prince to whom I refer is at the present
moment one of the most popular figures in this country. He is affable with
his equals and smiling with those below him ; he is peremptory in his orders
after having been docile as regards the advice he asked. He expresses him-
self with equal ease in the languages of most who come in contact with him;
he loves the arts, hunting, arms, beauty under all its forms; he is neither
unbending nor compliant; he will endure no stain in those who surround
him, nor does he enforce any hypocrisy on those who serve him. He has a
communicative gaiety, a vigour enhanced by elegance; he is natural in his
princely bearing ; he amuses himself when he wishes to do so ; he can be
sumptuous without being prodigal; he remembers men and thinks; he is
firm and liberal; he detests all that is exclusive, likes a straightforward
policy, is a staunch friend and frank adversary. He is cast, in short, in the
mould whence great popular figures in Prance have issued—the Henry the
Fourths, the Francis the Firsts—a seductive mixture of excellences and
foibles, against whose candidatures Republicans and Royalties collapse, and
who are borne on the wave of popular movements. Happily for the Republic,
and also I hope for England, this Prince is not a Frenchman, and is not a
candidate."—Times Paris Correspondent.

La Pepublique loquitur.
Ah yes, this is better. Quelle journee ! Ma foi !

Such partners are pleasant; my step they have caught.
This is really a very superb pas de trots,

And should furnish my enemies matter for thought.
They think—quelle idee .'—that the fierce Carmagnole

Or low can-can are all I am fitted to dance.
But a Prince and a Marshal for partners ! Quel role !

They '11 allow that this figure is worthy of France.

Houp, Marechal! Bravo! A leetle bit stiff—

Minuet de la cour might be more in bis line.
But be goes, and, consid'ring our late little tiff,

Has fairly adjusted his footing to mine.
He cries " Tout va Men ! " and steps briskly—though this

Is not quite the pas he expected, perchance.
Mon vieux ! you've behaved, I '11 admit, not amiss,

And fall in, faute de mieux, with the fashion of France.

Mon Prince ! No, not mine, though I almost could say—

Halte-ld ! La Republique must not take that tone,
But a partner more pleasant, more active, and gay

No Lady could wish. His step 's light asmy own,
At not even pas-risque nor can-can he '11 wince,

Chassez, croisez,—how gaily he follows the dance !
Ma foi ! if one could be epris of a Prince,

This brave Prince de Oalles were the fancy of France.

Our Own Correspondent! Could flunkeyisb soul

Up-pile panegyric in style more profuse ?
To such sugar as that, I should think, on the whole,

The frank Prince would prefer the most acid abuse.
Henri Ouatre ! Le vert galant! Faith—he had need,

With ces dames pulling caps for bis hand in the dance ;
Brisk in work as in play. He 's the man to succeed

In winning, though Prince, the affection of France.

May this gay pas de trois prove an augury fair

Of union at home, as of peace with his land,
Who, Prince though he be, with such grace debonair

So frankly could give the Republic his band.
And, Marshal, my dear, you may cast aside fear,

Now Royalty shares the Republican dance,
We may foot it together for many a year,

If you '11 just leave the choice of the figure to France.