Punch: Punch (100.1891)

March 21, 1891.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

143

"OH, NO, WE NEVER MENTION HIM! "

[Her Majesty in the evening witnessed the performance of The
Gondoliers, a Comic Opera, composed by Sir Arthur Sullivan,
in the Waterloo Chamber, by the Savoy Theatre Company,
under the management of Mr. E. D'Oyly Carte.—From
the Times Court Circular, Monday, March 9.]

"A Comic Opera, composed by Sir Abthub Sullivan."
Quite so. But where does W. S. Gilbert come in ? Let
us see. After giving the programme, and after giving
all the characters and the supers, the words " Dramatis
Personce" occur as an after-thought, and underneath
are the names of the Musical Director, Stage Manager,
Wig Provider, &c, &o. Well, " W. S. G. " doesn't come
in here. After the highly successful performance,
R. D'Oylt Carte, says the Times C. C, "had the honour
of being presented to Her Majesty, who expressed her
warm appreciation of the manner iu which the perform-
ance was conducted." Did R. D'Oylt think of men-
tioning that " the words" were by W. S. G. ? And then
it is told how D'Oylt refused to take any payment
for the performance. Noble, generous-hearted, large-
minded, and liberal D'Otlt ! Sir Arthur Courtlt
Sullivan's name was to the Bill, and so his consent to
this extra act of generosity may be taken for granted.
But what said Sir Brian de Bois Gilbsbt? By the
merry-maskins, but an he be not pleaded, dub me knight
Samingo ! Will D'Oylt be dubbed Knight ? And what
sort of a Knight ? Well, remembering a certain amusing
little episode in the more recent history of the Savoy
Theatre, why not a " Carpet Knight" ?

A Mere Suggestion eoe Next Time.—Last Tuesday,
under the heading of "To-day," the Times announced
that " at the Society of Arts Mr. j. Stabkie Gabdner,
as Cantor Lecturer, would discourse on ' Euamelling and
Damascening,' Professor H. Herkomer being in the
Chair." Oar excellent Bushian Professor was the right
man in the right place, being to interested in theatrical
matters ; but, at the same time, wouldn't the lecture on
"Damascening," or " How to Dam-a-scene," have been
more suitably given at the Playwreckers' Club, with
Mr. Jebumkt Jebum in the Chair ?

Song of tele Bells oe Richmond.—"Turn again,
Whittaker, First Mayor of Richmond."

A NEW SECT.

"And is the new Curate harried, Mrs. Jenkins
"Oh no, Ma'am. He's what they call a Chalybeate !

ESSENCE OE PARLIAMENT.

Extracted from the Diary of Toby, M.P.

House of Commons, Monday Night, March 9.—Naval Estimates
on again. Approach delayed by action of Cameron ; House been
Counted Out on Friday; necessary
for Government to set up Supply
again; formal Motion made by
Jackson; Cameron objects; deeply
distressed to think that Govern-
ment should have fallen so low as
to permit Count Out. "It's really
shocking," he said. "Here we are
brought from our peaceful homes
to London at this inclement season,
to do the work of the nation.
Assembled as usual on a Friday
night; important business on;
Ministers and their friends go off
to dinner; and, it being found
there are not Forty Members pre-
sent, House is Counted Out at
half-past eight. Night absolutely
lost; Sitting criminally chucked
away."

" Ah! " I said, sympathetically;
'' must have been very hard upon
you, sternly attending to your duty
whilst others gambolled in the
shade. And then to be suddenly
Counted Out! How many of you
were there when the Count was

Kl 3-g 6 ^ "

." Well - er-you see, Tort," « Count" Cameron,

said Cameron, almost blushing ; " the fact is I wasn't there myself,
though that, of course, does not deter me from invoking censure on
Ministers. Indeed I am not sure that the circumstance doesn't place

me in a more favourable position. Outsiders, you know, see most
of game. I was outside; had, in fact, comfortably gone off to
dinner, expecting other people would stop to make House. But
they didn't, and I feel I'm just the man to make it hot for Old
Moralitt and. his friends, who ought to have been here."

Other people didn't seem to see it in quite that light. Condem-
natory Motion negatived by 184 Yotes against 42.

House thereupon took up Naval Estimates. Instantly Commodore
Harcourt appeared in offing; landed on Front Opposition Bench,
diffusing unwonted smell of stale mussels and seaweed. Com-
modore looked very imposing pacing down quarter-deck towards
Mace, with telescope under his arm, sou'wester pulled well over his
ears, and unpolished square-toed boots rising above his knees. A
blizzard outside ; snow and wind ; bitterly cold ; but the Commodore
soon made it hot all round. Fell upon Jokim spars and sails, stem
and starn. " Regularly claw-hammered him," as George Hamilton
said, drawing on naval resources for adequate adjective. Accused
him of making a speech that would have become Charles the
First. Talked about levying Ship Money ; threatened a revolution •
hinted at Hampden, and, unrebuked by the Speaker, called
unoffending Prince Arthur the " youthful Strafford."

Splendid performance, only wanting an audience. But the storm
inside House burst as suddenly as tbe blizzard without. Nobody
knew that the Commodore was close-hauled, and meant business.
Few present to witness the perturbed scene on the Treasury
Bench: —Old Morality huddled up against Georgie Hamilton,
who was nervously tearing sheet of paper into measured strips;
Jokim shaking in every limb, and white to the lips; Prince Abthub
most successful of the group in maintaining his self-possession, though
evidently not_ liking the reference to Stbaffobd. The Commodore,
looking in his tarpaulins considerably more than six foot high,
stormed and raged what time the snow and sleet beat a wild
accompaniment on the melancholy windows.

Business done.—Commodore HABCOUBTgoes again on the rampage.

Tuesday.—Howabd Vincent rather staegered to-night. Favoured
by fortune and the ballot, had secured first place for Motion on
Friendly Societies. Useful thing for coming General Election to be