Punch (88.1885)

174

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[April 11, 1885.

THE CHILD OF THE PERIOD.

Grandmamma. “Hark, Dorothy ! Do you hear the Puff-Puff? ”
Dorothy. “ The Locomotive, I suppose you mean, Grandmamma ! ”

" CEAD MILE EAILTIII! ”

A hundred thousand welcomes ! Yes, Hibernia would not shame
The traditions of her Island, which, through all its storied past,

Has earned for hospitality an honourable name,

She would cherish to the last.

They come in cheery confidence and genuine goodwill,

The pair of Royal Visitors. The Green Isle of the West,

Like the Desert, ever holdeth all its courtesy and skill
At the service of a Guest.

She comes, our sweet Princess, like the Lady in the song
That Erin’s favourite singer shaped from Erin’s legends hoar,*

In the faith that in all Ireland none would work her scathe or wrong,
Though she paced from shore to shore.

Like the bright gold ring that Lady bore aloft upon her wand
Our Princess bears a jewel—’tis the flawless gem of Trust;

And if she find a foeman in the chivalrous old land,

Sure his soul must be of dust!

No ! On Erin’s pride and honour, like that maidtn of the smile,

She relies, and so relying shall be lighted safe and sound,

Like the Lady of the legend, o’er each foot of the Green Isle
Where an Irish heart is found.

So Hibernia says, be sure, and hath nought but chiding stern
Eor such churlish errant children as her honour would disgrace

By parade of ancient enmities, which all too lone mav burn
In the bosom of a race.

They are fools who lend them fuel, whosoever they may be,

“ Cold-hearted Saxons ” here, or hot-headed Pats out there ;

Let the firebrands stand aside, and soon blue-eyed Hope shall see
The last breath of black Despair.

* See Moore’s song, “ Rich and Rare icere the Gems she Wore.”

“OPEN SESAME!”

People have long been arguing—and with their arguments
Mr. Punch sympathises—in favour of opening the National Gallery
on Sundays, in order that those who get few other holidays may
a?c-n looking at the Pictures on that day. The week in
which Good Friday fell was, however, a week in which many of the
class whom Sunday opening is intended to benefit did get holidays.
Well, X. writes to the Times this month to say that, on the
Thursday and Saturday in that particular week, the National
Gallery was—open rather earlier, and closed rather later than usual ?
Not at all! It was “ closed for cleaning.” So that any laborious, but
Art-loving artisan or poor clerk who might fancy a peep at the new
Raphael or Vandyke that the Nation has paid so much money for on
either of those days wouldn’t be able to get it, the Galleries in which
they are displayed being in a state of “mops and brooms.” If, in
disgust, he should have got into a similar condition—figuratively
speaking that would be advanced as a reason, not for opening Gal-
leries, but for closing Public-houses. If “ X. ” is right, it seems to
Mr. P. that somebody else must be wrong here. Unless—which
seems hardly likely—there is some very conclusive reason for closing
the Gallery on those particular days, having them closed in the face
of those who then might seek entrance, appears to be a “ superfluity
of naughtiness.” 3

Suggestions foe New Arrangements at the Philharmonic.
—In order to make the St. James’s Music-Hall thoroughly enjoyable,
and a formidable rival to the Pavilion and other similar establish-
ments, we are pleased to hear, though we repeat the information
with the greatest caution and without expressing the least confidence
in our informant, that the Directors contemplate setting apart the
centre portion of the Gallery for Smokers, and refreshments may be
served here only during the intervals. Any Waiter uncorking a
bottle of effervescing drink during the performance of Music, will be
instantly dismissed, as it is not intended to mix the Philharmonic up
with the “Pops.”