Punch (99.1890)

10 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [Jm* 5, 1890.

"THE SEA! THE SEA !"

a business-like ballad.

(Penned by Mr. Punch on behalf of "Nobody's Soys.")
"We propose soon to take our rescued Street-Arabs for 'A Fortnight's
Holiday under Canvas'—by the sea, if possible."—Appeal of Mr. J. W. G.
Fegan, of the Boys' Some, Southward.

Thalatta! Thalatta! Not Xenophon's Greeks, 0 benevolent

Public, but "Nobody's Boys,"
"Wild Arabs of London, by tenderness tamed, at the sight of the sea
vent exuberant joys

Picture the boys "camping out" on the commons, and gipsying

gaily in tents midst the heather,
Armed with their canvas and blankets and boilers and pannikins

well against hunger and weather.
Picture them—Callot's free brush might have managed it—gathered

in pow-wow around the camp-fire,
Sun-tanned and wind-browned, in picturesque raiment, with wisp

of the wild hop or trail of the briar
Hat-wreathed or button-holed. Bubns should have sung of them ;

trim-skirted Muse, with punctilious tastes,
Were not at home with these waifs from the rookery, pastured at
large in free Nature's wild wastes,

In vociferous shoutings! Ima- Bounding, and breathing fresh

gine the rapture of wrecks -y^j-. air, romping, wrestling, and

from the gutter and waifs P 5 e> ^ __ s "\ disciplined only to oleanness

from the slum, >£fcN&SHkft»i *n f 11M N >- '—\ and order,

"When first on their ears falls ^^" wiWfiV W v Otherwise free as the tent-

the jubilant thrill of the s#iAwMMfff^L'' (P >*^^^v^-> dwelling Arabs, or outlaws

sky-soaring lark, or the wild p JslSfSfe*? of Sherwood, or bands of the

bee's low hum! > f Mfo s wJftf' ^ (Qk <1I1L^ f Border.

Imagine the pleasure of plung- f«SS£4« ^P^W^S - ^ Picture it! Eegan's pink

ing at will into June's leafy Mff '°^J^^^J^^^»'m\^^ Uj^^^ ~ pamphlet has pictured it.

copses of hazel and lime, ^'W??"/^^^^^Wi^MW^-^t^^^^^^^^^ir''J^- ==.- Bead it, all lovers of Nature

Of scudding through acres of fHlwKwxI^^^'^^'^^^S^^^^^Kbi;1 1"' \ $ '% and youth,

grasses knee-high, and of Jwi| ^S^^^Mm^W&%^n^^Pa^^^^-' ' — All who have care for the

snuffing the fragrance of MJ, WjWm w^Wmw ^^WW^^^^P^^^^frx " ~<^~ wrecks of humanity, all who

clover and thyme. ^^CwttwMlm^WUmS^i^YWSlM^^^^^ ^■•CSb -'"'•*"'• are moved by the spirit of

But what is all this to the Iwy-vJ/i -'"' ruth-

dumb-stricken wonder, swift iLb MMfX'V^^wmWt^xJ^^^^^M^K^ ^' Ere Spring returns, far Cana-

followed by outbursts of "S^ fflr/trp/$\SWmA kpraSF^^r8^^-^ ^--^ dian homesteads will house

full-throated glee, ^^^Wffl&w/k WIIWIrS W/ffl V Wtfl * ' " ^ their oontin?,ellt3 of " No-

Which fancy can picture, when .mi, yKII/ii §/w(!'^^WKIl^^f ~tka " c- S~ body's Boys."

London's pale outcasts from -Mi Wmfihjtfflml xWr w-. ' Let them take with them kind

some grassy cliff catch first I? MffflPwiW'/p C • <• thoughts of Old England,

sight of the Sea! »lif * I Hffl IVffl ' /"''' and memories sweet of its

Thalatta! Thalatta! There's W£m&m^ Mw/ffiBllteSlli!\®ss^ It?) ' ' \ rare rural joys,

many a lad who has never 1 ffls/^^XM Y ^r^^^^^fl'lu^^aiia; ' Let them "oamp out" once

before had a glimpse of the yjf] . ■ ' lf*4 o ""^^^Njlgl •' ^ - again, by the ocean, and

wave; illlMwb' ' ■' ' ^|>-C-"^1!^e5sKq$V-5, i«l ~-=s, plunge in the billow, and

For these are of those who, S§£/^ML "' '.- ^ " . .- ^» ^C^_^" — ~ 7 ~ rove on the sands ;

from London's dark wastes '^**jfc^Bi^^^_"5> -.<t\ > Pv 7* •_ ^T^?^—Know the true British brine-

'tis the aim of their leaders ' r— -T^pssar- 7~ whiff by experience. Help,

to rescue and save. *, f-^*yp*$^X~ " ~ - ~" "^ ^1 <—British Public, their friends'

"Nobody's Boys," the lost \ _ ^f^>' V5" Jv^,' kindly hands.

waifs of the city, fore- > ~^">- ' - '2/^ ~^ ^r^UfmF^3 ——" Good is the work, and the fruit

doomed, but for aid, to de- ~.,"fif^^% ~* SZ&iffiww ^*-r—---• of it excellent; giving poor

basement and crime, -- . ^ssseffi^ffif^i---'s wastrels a fair start in life,

Possible gallows-birds,—they ""vb^ffllpmW^ \ •' '. " ',!| Ifili liC^^-^'' —"~j3!I_ Taste of true pleasure, and

with wan faces late cleansed "T^ | |H{It f —JiP^-^g^^>^ wholesome enjoyment, aid

from the rookery's hideous 1 T^L— 5 — _ ^a endeavour, and strength

grime, f°r the strife.

Snatched from the gutter whilst boyhood bears hope with it, gathered

and tended with vigilant care.
Servants of soul-thrift their volunteer champions! "Weeds of the

slum, with fresh soil and sweet air,
Grow into grace and fair fruitage. These pariahs, "Southwark

Boys," strays from the slime-sodden east,
Fegan takes forth in gay troops to the meadows, in freshness of

nature to frolic and feast,
Climb in the woodlands and plunge in the waters, ramble and

scramble through tangle-hedged lanes,
Fish in the pools with youth's primitive tackle, breathe quickening

vigour through bosoms and brains.

What better use for spare cash at this season ? Come then, Punch

readers, right willingly come !
Mr. Punch knows scarce a cause more deserving, or worthy of aid,
than the Southwark Boys' Home!
Mem.—Mr. J. W. C. Fegan, of the Boys' Home, Southwark, the
writer of the pleasant pamphlet entitled Camping Oat, makes appeal
towards the expenses of giving "a fortnight's holiday under canvas
—by the sea, if possible"—to the waifs and strays in Mr. Fegan's
Homes. To that gentleman, and not to Mr. Punch, subscriptions
should be sent. Remittances may be made to him (by P.O.O., pay-
able at General Post-Office, or by cheque crossed " London and
County Bank) at the Boys' Home, 95, Southwark Street, London, S.E.

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OP TOBY, M.P.

House of Commons, Monday, June 23.—A gleam of glory in
sombre chamber of the Peers; a thin streak of red making its
devious way between the table and the Benches. At the head comes
Black Rod, giving some relief to the glittering spectacle; Garter
King-at-Arms, without whom British Constitution would be a vain
thing, follows. Then the Prince of Wales, looking a trifle anxious;
is bringing out his son and heir to take his plaoe in the hereditary
chamber; anxious that all should go well. Next the new Duke of
Clarence, looking very well in his new Peer's robes, on which his
fair mother, seated with her daughter in side galleries, casts
approving glance. Then the Duke of Edinbubgh:, with the stalwart
Hereditary Grand Marshal, Jockey o' Norfolk, and Aveland, Lord
Great Chamberlain.

Procession strolled in in quite casual way; passed Woolsack to
which Halsbtjby lent graoe and dignity; New Peer handed his
credentials to Lokb Chancellor ; but Haisbuby, above all things,
man of cautious habits. No doubt everything was right and in
order; presence of Prince of Wales guarantee of it; but Halsbtjby

not to be taken in. All very well, but all in due order. So new
Peer taken charge of by the Reading Clerk; Procession moved on
to table ; documents mumbled over ; oath taken; roll signed. New
Peer turned to look at Lobd Chancelloe ; decidedly more friendly;
haughty, forbidding, distrustful look, vanished from his ordinarily
genial countenance. Young Peer encouraged to venture on friendly
nod; Lobd Chancelloe in response, lifted three-cornered hat, and
on replacing it, was observed to cock it slightly on one side. Pro-
cession now moved on towards doorway by side of Throne, where
was set three chairs.

" A little slow isn't it, Sir," said Duke of Clarence to H.R.H.;
" suppose we sit down here a bit; Black Rod will go and fetch us a
flagon of Malmsey wine; am told they always keep a butt on the
premises for stray Dukes."

"No Malmsey for you, Clarence," said the Gracious Parent;
" but if you'd like to sit down a moment, you may."

So new Peer sat in middle chair, Father and Uncle anxiously
regarding him. Lobd Chancellor slewed round on Woolsack to
see what was going on behind him. New Peer, making himself quite
at home, put on hat; finding Lobd Chancelloe staring at him,
uplifted it; Lobd Chancelloe did same with his. Duke tried it