Punch: Punch (97.1889)

POPPING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

Whatever Gtjs hah to say to Lucy, he had to say it under ihs circumstances depicted above.

[ They were both much moved.

A STRANGE PAIR OE PETS;

Or, Fondling and Feeding.

“ By the simplicity of Yenus’ doves,”

This is indeed a spectacle of the oddest!
Ours is a day of strange-assorted loves,

But that poor dove so soft, and mild, and
modest,

Paired off as pet with yon fierce bird of prey,
Is quite the strangest portent of the day.

The proud Imperial Fosco pouts his lips,

And to his peaceful petling chirps and
chirrups ;

He, the stark paladin, with belted hips,

Steel brand at side, and feet fresh fiom
the stirrups,

Armed Mars, petting the bird of Pax—and
Yenus!

’Tis strange as Psyche flirting with Silenus.

The twittering Teuton Titan loves the bird—
He says so, and his preference to question,
Watching his attitude, would seem absurd.

And yet it seems a sinister suggestion
That thus so near the war-fowl Fate should
find him, _ [him.

Fondling the dove—hut with one hand behind

What does he with that hand ? Ah ! what
but cram [fodder!

The ravenous creature’s craw with carrion
That act at least’s no sentimental sham ;

It makes the spectacle a trifle odder.
Himself with the sweet cushat he’d ingratiate,
Yet feeds the eagle’s appetite insatiate.

That bird athwart the European skies
Has long time spread his wings in threaten-
ing shadow;

Flies as he feeds, still feeding as he flies.

To gorge him might o’ertax an Eldorado.
Still proffering food! And i3 there more to
follow,

0 Teuton Chief, for that prodigious swallow ?

Protector of the Dove ? A pleasant plea!

The bird of Jove protect the bird of Yenus ?
Much as the wolf might a protector be
Of lambs and creatures of such gentle
genus.

Tf, free to strike, that eagle soared above
The cushat’s nest, what chance for the poor
dove ?

The snowy-pinioned bird, you say’s secure.

For,—you but vaguely indicate how long.
Yes, whilst you pet the flutterer timid, pure,
And stand beside it twittering, yet strong.
But which, young Kaiser, has your love
indeed.

The pet you fondle, or the pet you feed ?

The Coming Ninth. — Why does Sir
Henry Isaacs walk instead of ride in the
Show of November 9th ? Because he con-
scientiously follows in the footsteps of his
ancestors. “ Pickvick and Principle! ” But
why not “ go the whole ”—beg pardon!—why
not walk the entire way ? If it is against the
Sabbatical rule to take a horse out on that day,
why give the Mayor so much exercise ? We ’ve
often heard of “the Jewish Dispensation,” but
it appears that there is no such thing, and
Sir Henry can’t be “dispensed” from the
obligation of the Sabbath. That being so,
foot it with the best of them Sir Henry.
Lead them a pretty dance, and trust entirely
to “Shanks’s Mare.”

NORTHERLY.

On the 7th of November the Jubilee Din-
ner of the General Theatrical Fund will take
place with—who do we see is to be in the
Chair ? Irving ? Oh, no. Toole ? Wil-
lard ? Oh, no. Beerbohm Tree ? Henry
Neville ? 0 dear no. Sheridan Knowles
was the first Chairman of the Committee of
the R. G. T. F., but he was actor as well as
author, and we fancy that Dramatic Authors,
and some noble Un-dramatic Authors notun-
known to art and literature, have been in the
Chair before now. So, who takes it this time ?
Mr. Gladstone ? Lord Salisbury ? Mr.
Chamberlain, who presided at the Kendal
Dinner? No—no—no. You’ll never guess.
It is Colonel North. What has he written ?
Cheques to any amount. Good; and his
wealth, we trust, will benefit this and many
other charitable institutions. But why in the
Chair ? Why not simply in a chair at the
Dinner ? What next will he be offered ? The
Presidency of the Royal Academy ? The Arch-
bishopric of Canterbury, or of York as the
Northern Province ? By the way, of whatRegi-
mentishe Colonel? If not a Colonelof “Ours,”
he is certainly a Commander of “Mines.” Still,
why has he been asked to take the Chair at the
Royal General Theatrical Fund Dinner? Will
the title of the Association be altered, out of
compliment to the gallant Millionnaire, and be
known henceforth as the “Royal ‘Colonel’
Theatrical Fund ? ”

New “Blue Book.”—The Blue Fairy
Book, by Merry Andrew Lang. N.B.—The
most scrupulous London County Councillors
may read it aloud in their domestic circles.