Punch (79.1880)

January 1, 1881.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

iii


“ TTTELL,” said the Great Philosopher, Poet, and Politician of the Age, addressing his Visitors, as the fire shot up on the
V V Christmas hearth into a cheery blaze, “ I’m delighted to see you—delighted. And how well you are all looking !
Positively flourishing! ”

“ Not more flourishing than yourself,” rejoined the three, in the same breath, with a most gracious bow.

The Sage smiled benignly. Then he turned his eye on the Griffin, who was warming himself on the rug.

“ And who brought in this ?” he asked, surveying the peculiar creature with puzzled interest.

The three Visitors looked inquiringly at each other.

“ I took it,” said the Earl, after a short pause, “ for a new species of domestic cat, introduced, so I had imagined, by
my enterprising and enthusiastic friend here, as the latest surprise for us from Eastern Europe.” He gave a courteous
inclination of his head in the direction of the Premier as he spoke.

“No, no! ” rejoined the Premier, holding out his hand deprecatingly, “I cannot claim the honour. Though,” he
continued, “ had I the leisure, I have no doubt hut that I should find a study of the extinct fauna of the Slavonic, or even
of the Semitic principalities, a highly interesting and remunerative labour.”

“ Quite so,” rejoined the Sage, with tact, nodding approvingly. “ Yet extinction presupposes existence. Now, here
we have, I fancy, the product of grotesque fiction. A regular jumble of head and tail; eh, my Lord ? ”

The Earl smiled subacidly, and shook his head. “ Your philosophic novelist, Mr. Punch,” he rejoined, “ deals only
with fact. Fiction is the heritage of the Poet. I disclaim the brute ; but why shouldn’t he belong to the Laureate ? ”

There was a laugh, in which the Griffin seemed inclined to join; but Toby kept his eye on him in a business-like
manner, and he looked serious.

“ He has been a good deal out in the cold lately,” whispered the Discreet Dog.

‘ Very well then,” replied the August Master of the House. “Let him stay there. We ’ll warm him ! And now,
My Lord and Gentlemen,” he continued, courteously handing round a box of his own Magnanimos, “ Let’s have a look at the
presents.”

There was a pleasant rustling of silver paper, and the Christmas gifts were disclosed.

“ Place aux Pairs / ” cried the Sage. “ We ’ll take you, My Lord, first. What has my Indefatigable Earl provided
for me ? ”

“ An extremely readable novel in three volumes,” was the complacent reply; “ and allow me, Mr. Punch, to enjoy
the notable privilege of presenting you with them all.”

The Distinguished Author handed over his work. “You must regard the spirit of the giver, not the value of the gift,”
he said with prudent politeness. “ Indeed, I am informed that, at the present moment, the whole thing is to be purchased
throughout the length and breadth of the United States of America, for as small a sum as fifteen cents.”