DOI issue:
July 12, 1884
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17757#0023
July 12, 1884.]
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 15
BENEFITS FORGOT!”
Old Gentleman (he had been chased across the Field by the infuriated Animal, and only just scrambled over the Gate in time—gasping for
breath). “You in—fernal un—gra’ful Beast !—An’ me-’been Veg’tarian allm’life ! !”
Borough which now gave him his title, he had always essayed to
give some legislative shape to the pronounced feeling of the country.
It was tolerably ciaar to him what was the pronounced feeling of the
i noble House in which he now sat, and he should therefore endeavour
to give that pronounced feeling adequate legislative expression. In
i the House of Commons he had proposed the creation of a batch of
Liberal and Radical Peers, and as the immediate outcome of that
i proposition he had, to his amusement, if not to his surprise, found
that he had himself been created a Radical Duke. (Laughter.) Now
a Radical Duke was an anomaly. (“ Hear ! ”) That at least was
his conviction after a quarter-of-an-hour’s varied experience of the
position. (Loud cheers.) And he took it, from that expression of
feeling, that that was the view also taken by the rest of this peculiar
| but eminently representative assembly. (Cheers.) Two representative
assemblies could only clash. Under the circumstances, he should
bring in a Bill to abolish the House of Commons. (Roars of laughter.)
Lord Tennyson said he had not yet spoken in that assembly, but
he thought that perhaps now that it was so eminently intelligent and
artistic, he might be able to quote, with effect, a few appropriate
lines that seemed to him not entirely out of place in a debate of this
kind—that is, of course, if their Lordships would honour him with
their attention for a spare hour or so. (“ Oh, oh ! ”)
Lord Yokes said he might as well dance. (“ Hear, hear !
Lord Toole (with warmth) : And—why not ? (Cheers.)
The Earl of Savoy was here understood to offer to show their
Lordships “ something they had probably seen before,” if the Lord
Chancellor would lend him his wig and robe for a few moments,
and the noble Lords were about to effect the requisite exchange of
their habiliments, amidst a good deal of merriment, when the arrival
of the “New Life Peers’ Restriction and Reorganisation Bill,” that
had for the fifth time passed its Third Pteading of the Commons
“ Nemine Contradicente,” arrested the attention of the House.
The Duke of Crosse and Blackwell, on behalf of the Govern-
ment, said that their august assembly had only one plain duty before
them. Here was a measure that openly attempted to tamper with the
Constitution. They must unanimously throw it out. (Cheers.)
Lord Toole (with warmth) : Certainly—Out of window ! (Loud
cheers.) No hanging about over it. Excusing the presence of the
Lord Chancellor, I should say “ short’s the word.” (Laughter.)
The Duke of Crosse and Blackwell : The noble Lord is right.
It will not be a lengthy process. (Loud cheers.)
The Marquis of Charidos : Lengthy ? I trust not. But, how
long ? how long ? how long ? (Roars of laughter.)
The Bill then, on the motion of Lord Salisbury, who in a power-
ful but melancholy speech in defence of the action of the Commons
whom his Lordship described with much pathos, amidst a burst of
jeering, as “ the last great bulwark of the ancient privileges of this
unhappy country ” came on for its First Reading. There being, how-
ever, no reply, a division was speedily taken, when there appeared
against the measure—
Non-Contents . . . 107
For it—Content ... 1
Majority . . .706
On the result being known, there was a scene of indescribable
excitement and enthusiasm, several brand-new coronets being fiung
up into the air, and some even sticking in the ventilators. The
House then, amidst a good deal of boisterous but innocent horse-
play, adjourned till this afternoon.
All the Difference.
“ Well, he can pile it up hot, and chance it.”—Comment of a Working-
Man on one of Lord Salisbury’’s Speeches.
Exactly ! His diction is lofty and warm,
With voluble vigour and verjuice he uses it:
But is he “ the pilot who weathers the storm,”
Or but the “ pile-hot ” who produces it ?
In consequence of the Hot Weather, Old Father Thames has
suffered like the rest of us. He has been very dry lately, and being
unable to refresh himself, even in the neighbourhood of Richmond
and Twickenham, the poor old fellow has become very low.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 15
BENEFITS FORGOT!”
Old Gentleman (he had been chased across the Field by the infuriated Animal, and only just scrambled over the Gate in time—gasping for
breath). “You in—fernal un—gra’ful Beast !—An’ me-’been Veg’tarian allm’life ! !”
Borough which now gave him his title, he had always essayed to
give some legislative shape to the pronounced feeling of the country.
It was tolerably ciaar to him what was the pronounced feeling of the
i noble House in which he now sat, and he should therefore endeavour
to give that pronounced feeling adequate legislative expression. In
i the House of Commons he had proposed the creation of a batch of
Liberal and Radical Peers, and as the immediate outcome of that
i proposition he had, to his amusement, if not to his surprise, found
that he had himself been created a Radical Duke. (Laughter.) Now
a Radical Duke was an anomaly. (“ Hear ! ”) That at least was
his conviction after a quarter-of-an-hour’s varied experience of the
position. (Loud cheers.) And he took it, from that expression of
feeling, that that was the view also taken by the rest of this peculiar
| but eminently representative assembly. (Cheers.) Two representative
assemblies could only clash. Under the circumstances, he should
bring in a Bill to abolish the House of Commons. (Roars of laughter.)
Lord Tennyson said he had not yet spoken in that assembly, but
he thought that perhaps now that it was so eminently intelligent and
artistic, he might be able to quote, with effect, a few appropriate
lines that seemed to him not entirely out of place in a debate of this
kind—that is, of course, if their Lordships would honour him with
their attention for a spare hour or so. (“ Oh, oh ! ”)
Lord Yokes said he might as well dance. (“ Hear, hear !
Lord Toole (with warmth) : And—why not ? (Cheers.)
The Earl of Savoy was here understood to offer to show their
Lordships “ something they had probably seen before,” if the Lord
Chancellor would lend him his wig and robe for a few moments,
and the noble Lords were about to effect the requisite exchange of
their habiliments, amidst a good deal of merriment, when the arrival
of the “New Life Peers’ Restriction and Reorganisation Bill,” that
had for the fifth time passed its Third Pteading of the Commons
“ Nemine Contradicente,” arrested the attention of the House.
The Duke of Crosse and Blackwell, on behalf of the Govern-
ment, said that their august assembly had only one plain duty before
them. Here was a measure that openly attempted to tamper with the
Constitution. They must unanimously throw it out. (Cheers.)
Lord Toole (with warmth) : Certainly—Out of window ! (Loud
cheers.) No hanging about over it. Excusing the presence of the
Lord Chancellor, I should say “ short’s the word.” (Laughter.)
The Duke of Crosse and Blackwell : The noble Lord is right.
It will not be a lengthy process. (Loud cheers.)
The Marquis of Charidos : Lengthy ? I trust not. But, how
long ? how long ? how long ? (Roars of laughter.)
The Bill then, on the motion of Lord Salisbury, who in a power-
ful but melancholy speech in defence of the action of the Commons
whom his Lordship described with much pathos, amidst a burst of
jeering, as “ the last great bulwark of the ancient privileges of this
unhappy country ” came on for its First Reading. There being, how-
ever, no reply, a division was speedily taken, when there appeared
against the measure—
Non-Contents . . . 107
For it—Content ... 1
Majority . . .706
On the result being known, there was a scene of indescribable
excitement and enthusiasm, several brand-new coronets being fiung
up into the air, and some even sticking in the ventilators. The
House then, amidst a good deal of boisterous but innocent horse-
play, adjourned till this afternoon.
All the Difference.
“ Well, he can pile it up hot, and chance it.”—Comment of a Working-
Man on one of Lord Salisbury’’s Speeches.
Exactly ! His diction is lofty and warm,
With voluble vigour and verjuice he uses it:
But is he “ the pilot who weathers the storm,”
Or but the “ pile-hot ” who produces it ?
In consequence of the Hot Weather, Old Father Thames has
suffered like the rest of us. He has been very dry lately, and being
unable to refresh himself, even in the neighbourhood of Richmond
and Twickenham, the poor old fellow has become very low.