Punch (82.1882)

Mahch 18, 1882.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVAKI. 123

JUMBO 1N CHANCERY.

to mind matters ! This is certainly infamous ! The provinces and
their artistic aspirations be hanged.! Here, if the Harleian MSS.
are ilying about all over the hedgerows of England, they can’t so
■easily move the stuffed animals. You wanted to see the Hippo-
potamus Africanus rnajor. I can at least show you that.

[ Tkey once more dash off to South Kensington, and make for
the National History Department, get a catalogue, and
enter the Pachydermatous-room.

Educational Enthusiast (stopping in amazement opposite a mis-
shapen specimen). Why, what has happened to this creature ! It
is no more like a hippopotamus than I am. Here—what’s the
meaning of this ?

Local Official. That bend in his legs, and the lump on the top of
his back? Well, it does spoil the look of him ; but you see, Sir,
ihe went all the way to Cornwall, came back in an accident, was
telescoped by the tender, and lost a good bit of his stuffing, to say
nothing _of the shape of his head. So we ’ve made the best job we
can of him, by fUling him out with a couple of kitchen chairs and a
bolster. Moving him about costs so much, that ’s all the department

can do for him out of the grant this year. But, bless you, Sir, it
isn’t everybody that’s so particular as you; for there’s many likes
him best with the lump and his legs curled ; and I dare say when
he goes to Weston-Super-Mare next spring they’ll want to keep
him there altogether, and run him on the end of the pier through
the season along with the Grerman Band.

[Is continuing, when Educational Enthusiast dashes off with his
Friend once more, this time to the Toiver, to see the “ Crown
Jewels,” and the “ Bloch,” hut finding the former at Jersey
and the latter at PosherviUe, finishes the day in despair in
Baher Street, invoking maledictions on tlie Provinces, in the
midst of the only priceless ancl complete collection noio left
ihe Nation.

A G-entleman asked Mrs. Ramsbotham if her friend the Professor
hadn’t “ written a great deal ? ” “ Ah! he has ! ” yeplied Mrs. R.

“ There ’s only one word to describe him, and that is Voluminious!
He ’s a voluminious writer ! ”