Punch (86.1884)

March 1, 1884.]

PUNCH, OP THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

99

HUNTING PUZZLE. No. 3.

Haying Dismounted, and Secured that Whip—to Remount !

BAR NONE.

Yesterday afternoon, Sir William Harcourt was again besieged
by the Deputation from the Vestry of St. Paneras on the subject of
the removal of the gates and bars which obstructed the traffic and
locomotion in the immediate neighbourhood of the great railway
termini in the neighbourhood. On the principal members being a
second time introduced to him by Mr. Caine, M.P., the worthy
Baronet expressed some astonishment at their reappearance, when
Mr. Westacott explained that a few vague hints thrown out at
their last interview by Sir William himself had so excited their
curiosity, that they found it impossible any longer officially to
restrain themselves. They referred to that portion of the worthy
Baronet’s reply in which he stated that he had “himself been
seriously inconvenienced on several occasions in getting from the
London and North-Western Terminus, and had found the obstruc-
tion an exceedingly difficult one to deal with.” They naturally
wanted further explanation of this highly suggestive statement. How
had Sir William got over the difficulty? or, had he failed to sur-
mount it ? They thought the Public would like to be informed on
this point. His experience of obstruction and its removal was most
valuable, and a few words from such an authority would possibly be
of the greatest use to the framers of any Private Bill destined to deal
with the subject.

Other members of the Deputation having spoken, Sir William
Harcourt, in reply, said he could fully sympathise with the inquisi-
tive feeling that seemed to inspire his visitors, and he would be
certainly most happy to enlighten them as far as his recollection
would enable him to do so. As well as he could remember, he had
been _ delayed in the immediate vicinity of the North-Western
terminus fifteen times. On nine occasions, however, he was proud
to say, he had caught his train. He had effected this as follows,
twice he had, when rather late, got out of his cab and, leaving his
luggage behind him, taken the palings at a smart run, and so
reached Euston Square just in time to get a seat. On three occa-
sions, however, he had tried this, and, possibly owing to a late lunch,
tailed to clear the ornamental spikes; but still, thanks to the
presence of a friendly and sympathising butcher’s cart on the other

side, he had by the help of a borrowed door-mat or twTo, and the
assistance of a local crossing-sweeper, got cautiously over the top
without any very great personal inconvenience, and eventually
started for the North, a little out of breath, without a ticket. Again,
he had accomplished three other successful passages by the simple
expedient of knocking at the door of one of the adjacent houses,
dashing up, followed by the cabman carrying his luggage, to the
drawing-room floor before the servant could catch him, and running
along three balconies and making his exit in the same fashion on the
further side of the gate. But he could not recommend this ruse to
the general public, as twice the cabman had been given into custody,
and, though he had escaped, all the houses on each side were now on
the look out for him, and he should think the experiment, though
justifiable, a little risky.

On the last occasion on which he caught his train, having twenty
minutes to spare, he sent the cabman to fetch the Duke of Bedford
himself, who, happening to be walking about in his own square close
by, came and very politely opened the gate with a large private key.
On that occasion he (Sir William) got his cab through as well.

So much for his successes. On the six occasions on which he missed
his train, on one he cleared the gate mounted on the horse of his
Hansom, an old hunter, which he made the cabman take out of the
shafts ; but the creature running away wfith him in the Euston Road,
and refusing to stop till it had got to Shepherd’s Bush, he was full
five-and-forty minutes late, and had to give it up. The remaining
five times the delay was always caused by the same contretemps—he
fell into one of the neighbouring areas.

“ That,” the worthy Baronet added, “ is the brief history of my
own experiences, Gentlemen, and I need scarcely repeat that if you
will get your Bill introduced, I, for one, as I said the other day, will
facilitate its full consideration.”

The Deputation, after expressing their thanks, and intimating
that they should certainly act on the admirable advice the worthy
Baronet had thrown out to them wfith so much spirited candour,
then quietly withdrew.

Help for Hibernia.—More (O’Connor) Power to her elbow.