Punch (98.1890)

April 19, 1890.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

181

IN THE LANE.

Monday. — Carmen exceptionally excellent. Miss Zelie be
Lttssan,, gifted with a light, pleasant voice, sang admirahly. Can't
have Trap de Zehe." Mr. Barton

the mark. Military band of soldiers returned from the wars had
apparently conquered the drum of a British regiment, bignor Abba-
moef (good as Mephistopheles) showed his generous disposition by
sharing his red light with Martha when he was talking to her.

Wednesday—Borneo and Juliet,

McGtokin, as Don Jim-along-Jose, I _ M Wli^wvi repetition of last week when the

did aR that^can he done with this A \f^L ..il* s.rkK £33* . fellMl season commenced with Gonoto's

^^^S^S^^ A J^*l 3f\^%^^H> marte"rpiecl "Scenery tested the re.
though there was a portion of his wfe J9|sJw^<'' 'v'\^"' MimS V'JUsJk ^SEflMW 3 sources of some of the greatest Drury
costume that would have been the FlkiiH^- €S^§52s^^^^BBi V Lane successes. The pantomime in
better for the attention of Si^nnr ^'@Sm</V&W&^Jl&s ' MEk&£*j^Mml&BBl ■ -. the ball-room was particularly exeel-
Soanso, the Spanish tailor. PerW «1b$J^BW« f^.^WTif^WiS' lent and noticeable,
he is one of the "Renters " of Drarv VaUpl'^^K^^1 jlMffl' ' ! ' N> l'^; Thursday. —Mignon, represented
Lane. The strongest and most novel ^&BK^<^Mm&^m:jSSBi L-^S =m> by charming Miss Moody. Sup-
ination was the entrance oflk^^^^ lllin^NHHfflHHHr M«^^^J^ P°rted h? the dullest of Lotharios,
which like the old woman who 'S 111 illlJH^SP* T^fr^^^^T^ F. H. Celli. Wilhelm played
on nothing but victuals and drink " ^SilWWWR JA WSf^R~~T- ■ b? a y6r? sma11 tenor-in fact one
"wouldn't be quiet," and neariv -2%!? J#i^M~7-~W who looked like a Child. The cast
gave poor Carmen fits If it had -=^- IS / /?Br ~"TlllPff° '- «%if#h.' good all round, and a crowded house
given Mr. Barton McGcckik fits—a HEr iMwwv aii^S^il ^' enthusiastic. One of the best re-
pair of them-my previous allusion , J&®feJw Ws^^^^^^^^t '* wab of the season.

to the tailor would have lacked a lh- J** feSs*' xaP5 ___r~ . Saturday. — Wallace's Lurhne

tangible basis of fact. Fancv Car- i? tne evening. after Carmen in

men frightened by an ordinary The Garden Scene from the Lane. the morning. " Troubador" just as

horse, not even a dray-horse, of which no Carmen would have been | ago. « The silver river," too,^'fltsl^a^wLTly^sTve^ S

afraid

Tuesday and Friday.—Faust. Signor Rttncio, as JVasf, up to

house testifies to the love we all have for home-made music. On the
whole a satisfactory week from every point of view. So far—all's well.

"A SOCIETY FOB, THE STUDY OF INEBRIETY."

[Notes by Mr. Punch's Own Meporter.)

On the last occasion of the Meeting of the above Society a most
interesting paper was read by Professor James Jambes, i .!<,./!.».,
describing a series of experiments to which, m the cause of Science,
he had recently submitted himself. Commencing by comparatively
small quantities of alcoholic stimulant, he gradually increased the
doses until he reached a maximum of three bottles of Brandy and
one of Green Chartreuse per diem, abandoning all other work during
the period embraced by the experiments. After a fortnight of
patient research he was rewarded by the discovery in his immediate
neighbourhood of an abundance of blackbeetles, which he was un-
able to refer to any known species of Orthoptera. These were
succeeded by reptiles.and beasts of various kinds and colours, speci-
mens of which, owing to their evasiveness, he much regretted to
have been unsuccessful in securing. After increasing the dose to
two bottles daily, he was able to detect the presence of rodents in
large quantities. Subsequently these creatures assumed the most
surprising shapes, while their colouring was frequently gorgeous in
the extreme. He had made some brandy-and-water sketches of the
most remarkable—though he had to apologise for the drawing being
less accurate and clear than he could have wished, as the conditions
were generally unfavourable for scientific observation. Still, they
afforded a very fair idea of the principal phenomena which he had
met. {Cheers.) The Professor, in concluding, remarked that he
himself had never been a Materialist, and that, after the experiences
that attended the addition of the third bottle of brandy and the
Green Chartreuse to his diurnal allowance, he could only confess
that, m the words of the Poet, there were more—many more—things

in heaven and earth than,
had been dreamed of in his
philosophy. Some of the
imps, for instance, that he
had noticed on the foot of
his bed, he should never
forget. He must ask indul-

fence for any short-comings
oth in the manner and
matter of his contribution,
on the ground that he was
still suffering from severe

'.--T7t f^"^^45* indisposition, in consequence

2 u 5? aT(itmr Wltn which his researches had been pursued. He
felt that he was still only on the threshold, but he was fascinated by
the glimpses he had already obtained of the strange and wonderful
things with which the study of Advanced Inebriety would make the
humblest of us increasingly familiar. [Great cheering.)

The reading of the paper was followed by a discussion, in which
Dr. Loschen said, that he was in a position from his own experience
to corroborate most of the statements in the very interesting account
to which they had just listened. He thought the learned Professor
had, if anything, rather underrated the dimensions of some of the
snakes. He could see a particularly fine specimen at that moment
under the Chairman's table, and would postpone any further remarks
he was about to make.

Professor Sotikfie said he had not as yet brought his experiments
so far as the last speakers. He was not a Naturalist himself. His
line was Optics. He described some interesting cases of Double
Refraction, Mock Suns, and Lunar Rainbows, that had come under
his notice, before sitting down with some suddenness on the floor.

Mr. Staggers, F.H.S., R.C.V.S., said that most of his time had
been devoted to the study of Seismatics. It was a fact not generally
known that "earth tremors" were of almosc nightly occurrence
after eleven p.m. Some persons refused to believe that the world
went round the sun, but he had seen it do so several times in the
course of a single minute.

Mr. Orrebs wished to know whether any member present had
formed any theory respecting the fantastic attire, particularly in
the matter of head-dresses, affected by the fauna encountered in
tho more advanced stages of Inebriety. Why, for example, should
kangaroos, especially in Piccadilly, present themselves in the bonnets
usually worn by Salvation lasses ? And again, what natural affinity
was there between the common rabbit and a fez cap ? He asked the
question because it had been upon his mind a good deal of late.

Mr. D. T. Jumper said he merely desired to make one remark
with regard to the pink rhinoceros, which Professor James—or, if
he might take the liberty of so describing him, "dear old Jem
Jambes"—had mentioned as having found in his bath. Speaking
personally, he had never come across the pink variety of these
interesting pachyderms. He had seen them green, or striped,—but not
pink. Was it not just possible that his distinguished and excellent
friend had been misled by some deficiency in his eyesight or the
light on this occasion ? With regard to imps, both blue and spotted,

he could only say-but he was compelled to stop here, as ne had

barely time to catch the last train to his Retreat.

Mr. Booser said he wasn't scientific fler, like some other tiers, still
he flattered himself he was fler that knew as
much about Inebriety as most flers, and if
there 'was any fler there liked doubt his
word, give him the lie—they understood what
give him the lie meant—he repeated—give
him the lie, why, what he wanted to know
was, why didn't they have courage of their
opinions P They knew where find him, and
if they didn't— he knew where find them.
[Uproar.)

The Meeting then broke up in some con-
fusion, as the Chairman, having removed his
boots during the proceedings, was unable to
propose the customary vote of thanks to Professor Jambes, who left
the hall in a state of considerable excitement in consequence.

The Art Kaleidoscope may undoubtedly be found at 160, New
Bond Street, where the Messrs. Dowdeswells are everlastingly
giving it a turn. Before you have time to get tired of one show,
the turn is made, and another reigns in its place. Yesterday it was
Royal Berkshire, to-day it is pictures principally of the French
School. There are some fine works by Corot, which, however, did
not justify a weak-minded critic in calling the show "the Corotid
Art-ery." Also examples of Monticelli, Segantini the Italian,
Daubigny, Troyon, Muhrman, and other notable painters.

vol. xcvin.