Punch (76.1879)

April 26, 1879.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 181

BLACKLEGS OR BLACKGUARDS?

H^Hty*^l /1 ange of the Miners'Strike.—
^sg^" ^^J// Durham, Sunday Night.—The
^\ ranks of the strike hands will be

a swelled in the morning by the
— / ' \^B3^\'^I i^^^S^ ^ *^\\\ 8§ stoppage of upwards of a score of
^V^Tip^V £a\ L rSil VBbpv' ^ wakp collieries. It seems that Messrs.

''g;] (lg/ a jmv' / ' Joic ey & Co., who have thirteen

T il^S luflPV fj pits in the western coalfields, have

-^^^i^v. ^v.''<). Msjul ItpfcA iy kept their hands employed since

"==*==i:^ ^^^vJ^- the strike began, it being under-

~ <^ ^_ stood between them and their men

— —^> wuatever reduction might be

agreed upon by the county should
be adopted as a final settlement. During the week, however, a combination of men, known
as the ' Eebecca' gang, has been formed at the village of West Stanley, and the men at
work have become so alarmed, that they decided to cease work, and throw in their lot
with the unionists in other parts of the county.

" A Seaham correspondent telegraphs, visiting to-day several large collieries in North
Durham where 8,000 miners are on strike:—'I find that more than one-third would gladly
resume work on the masters' terms, but are afraid to do so, under the threats of violence
freely and fiercely uttered against the 'blacklegs,' as non-unionist workmen are called.
There are thousands of men, women, and children at these collieries quite destitute, and
many tradesmen have closed their doors against credit.' "—Birmingham Daily Post.

Non- Unionist Miner loquitur.

I'lia free-born British, blackleg,

And I'd sooner be that same,
Than I would a British blackguard,

Though in the Union's name.
" A blackleg ! "—well, I know it—

And a blackleg still I '11 be :
Tyrant man or tyrant Union,—

Neither makes a slave of me.

This ain't the time for striking.

Market's bad, so wage is low.
Because I can't get pastry,

Shall I let the bread-loaf go ?
Shall I watch my children pining—

Read starvation in their cry ?
See my Missis slowly clemming,

And with folded bands sit by ?

They tell me Britain's business

Is forsaking the old shore,
That Yankees, now, and Germans

Do the work we did before,
All acos they do it cheaper.

What have strikes cost boss and men ?
Though prices run up quickly,

They come slowly down agen.

More we '11 pay for food and clothing ;

More for baccy, rent, and fire ;
More for furniture and fixings;

More for all things we require.
Strike I won't! and there's an end on't!

Day's work shall earn day's pay:
Blackleg versus Blackguard be it!

Let's see which shall have their way!

Russia's Choice.—Aut Ccesar aut—Nihil.

BELLS AND THEIR BAPTISM.

The Author of Flemish Interiors, in a note on the
performance, in certain Protestant Churches of a cere-
mony called the "Blessing of Bells," informs us, re-
specting those sonorous summoners, that "in Catholic
countries they are still baptised." In what way bells
can be any the better, or made capable of bettering
anybody, by their baptism, is a question perhaps not
to be asked in a country where it is customary to christen
the Queen's ships.

There are a few other inquiries, however, in refer-
ence to the baptismal rite as applied to either kind of
vessel, sonorific, or sailing or steaming, which we have
no reason to refrain from asking. What conditions
are needful to the validity of their baptism ? Will lay
baptism, masculine or feminine, suffice for either in point
of orthodoxy, or is it absolutely necessary that the
christening of a ship should be performed by a lady f
With what matter are bells to be baptised ? Could wine
be used in the baptism of church bells; and would water
do to christen a man-of-war with ? Is intention on the
part of the officiating minister requisite for baptising
them effectually ? Is there any controversy about their
baptismal regeneration ? Of course, neither bells nor
ships have souls to be saved, and. as the former may
crack or topple down and get broken, whilst the latter
are not too apt to go to the bottom, baptism can scarcely
be supposed to contribute much to their temporal salva-
tion.

Whatever may be the good of baptising church bells,
would not as much good be done by baptising muffin-
bells, or dinner-bells, and other house bells? Might
not a town-crier as well get his bell baptkel ? Would
it be reasonable to baptise dumb-bells ?

If there is any use at all in baptising ships and bells,
why not also baptise great guns ? The Woolwich In-
fants, we fear, remain unbaptised, though not, perhaj^s,
in consequence of any peculiar views entertained at the
War Office touching Infant Baptism. Are Godfathers
and Godmothers usually required for the bells or the
ships to which baptism is administered, and are they
expected to stand any silver forks and spoons ?

Mr. Spurg-eon is a Baptist. Ask him to baptise a
bell. Get somebody to bear him that message on some
First of April.

PUT THE SADDLE ON THE RIGHT HORSE.

"A Centurion" writes to complain of a brief article in
Punch's last Number referring to a statement, which
appeared in the Times under the signature of "A Sol-
dier," that all Chinese Gordon's distinguished service
would not have procured him the opportunities of com-
mand which his abilities ought to have secured, because
he was "only" an Engineer Officer.

Now Punch merely quoted the letter, and expressed his
incredulity that such a survival of prejudice could be
possible. "Centurion's" quarrel should be with the
writer of that letter, not with Punch.

At the same time, Punch is bound to say that he has
often heard the same complaint of injustice to the
Engineer in the selection for military. honours and
commands. He would be too glad to be as satisfied as
" Centurion " seems to be, that it is unfounded. He is
aware of the fact that Lord Napier of Magdala was an
Engineer, and that his case is usually quoted in dis-
proof of the charge of unfair treatment of that distin-
guished Corps.

"Centurion" trusts that Punch will refute "A
Soldier" 's statement. He had better do this himself,
through the same channel by which that statement was
given to the world.

upside down.

Le Monde talks of " Sir Frere Bartle. " Perhaps
it is only a neat way of expressing Le 3fonde's opinion
that the distinguished High Commissioner's name should
be turned topsy-turvey, the better to correspond to his
policy.__

british missions to the heathen.

Old Style—Henry Martyn.
New Style—Martini-Henry.

vol. lxxvt. r