DOI Heft:
November 5, 1892
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17694#0213
208 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [November 5, 1899.
GUY-FOX POPULI.
done by organising1 and bringing their grievances before Parliament,
with a view to remedial legislation. They might begin by agitating
The" proceedings of the Midnight Mass Meeting of Unemployed , for the Franchise. " One Guy, one vote ! " would be a popular cry
Guys at Vauxhall on the fifth of November were of a somewhat dis- ; just now, when some Electoral Reforms were believed to be in con-
orderly nature, several of the speeches being characterised by a j templation. Fortunately they had a Home Secretary whom they
distinctly incendiary tone, as will be seen from the following account ' might reasonably hope to find sympathetic—he thought they should
by Mr. Punch's Special Reporter, who was present throughout,
The Chair-guy (whose appearance was comparatively respectable)
ascertain his views before taking any other steps.
A G-uy in a Pink Mask said he had organised till he was sick of it.
said he was proud to occupy the chair—notwithstanding that the ; As for the Home Secretary, he happened to have headed a deputation
bottom was out of it. {Shame !) Oh, he was used to that, although I to the Home Office that very afternoon—and what did the Meeting
he could tell the meeting he _ had driven his own think was the result ? Why, the
donkey-cart once upon a time, if he had come down v?5^*' /$ Home Secretary had declined to
to a wheelbarrow now! {Cries of "Toff/" and ^^Msnmrk M receive him! {Shame.') Ah, he
"Aristocrat!" from the more extreme Guys.) He wBBKSPS. ^^lils^^ might call himself a Radical —
did not understand those expressions of disapproval /Mm\G»v^vt ^0M^' ^nt ^ ne treat a Guy as a Man
—a wheelbarrow with one leg missing was surely «W^V^^^ s^J^W^k and a Brother ? Did he recog-
an unostentatious conveyance enough. Well, they /^PI'/^^vO" \ nise that, creatures of rags and
had met that evening to discuss the means to be ,J||^i^/^v'\ ^^1^ f^,/ shavings as they were, they lhad
taken to obviate the depression in the important /^^^^^Cr^i^C$$f<\/ / their feelings ? Not he! they
branch of out-door industry in which, if he did not /iLK^^i \ 3"J\\ s were all alike, these politicians,
mistake, they were all interested. {Hear, hear!) ^fll\ fWs^J&xrl^J § mr directly they got into office.
That such depression existed, and was on the /y/'/uV. Y~"*Jf t^'i^J^ How long, he asked them, were
increase, there was, unhappily, no doubt — it was /f///!f JfbkJ? mi Ghrys to be chivied, and harried,
becoming more and more difficult, as they knew //ylis Imnm&m mtik?* and moved along into back-
without his telling them, for the steadiest Guy to r'/Mf:-'- a vimmMsW streets by the brutal minions of a corrupt middle-
maintain himself in a proper position, without ////mil I mJwInlW^ class? If they wanted to get their rights, they must
extraneous support. He knew, for a fact, that there i\!lJm'' \ mmmWffi- make themselves a nuisance to the Authorities, like
were , hundreds of Guys at that very moment who, (JljiWM § |l H'|Hf other people. It was all very fine to talk about the
when their present job was over, would find them- f^llmi I w mWwIm Franchise, and " One Guy, one vote! " and all the
selves—through no fault of their own—thrown out ' /^/'lf| I /\ lOT'lWl res^ of it, but they all knew that Home Rule blocked
of employment for another twelvemonth, at least. f'l/Il i| f/A mm l ift the way at present. They must go to Trafalgar
Did they call that justice ? {No! and groans.) The ''/fil V linum Wl Square in their thousands ; it was the finest place for
whole system was iniquitous—the question was, how 4rl\ I n |v l®Wm \w\ a bonfire in all London, and they had been kept out
they were to put a stop to it. He invited suggestions <\ '■'IJ^IW i mJm '! °f it l°n^ enough. He meant to go, if he had to be
from the Audience. > LgtSjijfja^ i| Wmm )\ carried there! {Loud cheers.)
A.Guy said that, in his opinion, their "decline was ^^^^SL mmimk 1 A Guy in Spectacles and a Tall Hat, said that a
entirely due to their inability to supply themselves / WWzS^f; § WsMW^^'x demonstration in the Square would, no doubt, be an
with the apparel necessary and suitable to their call- j M S§|m§ li lMf//||fl^S, excellent way of drawing public attention to their
ing. What were their duties ? Why, to keep alive \a| (s m j j| BBsUM^ wrongs. He advised that when they had succeeded
the memory of their famous Founder, the author of i m i^^J W^mS^s in capturing the Square, they should proceed to pass
the great, and never-to-be-forgotten Gunpowder v^fhifr m Ummu^s a resolution calling upon the London County Council
Plot — he need hardly say he alluded to Gdtdo "ll ::1 mMWlE to nn(^ instant and permanent employment for such
Fawkes ! {Enthusiastic and prolonged cheering.) ' ,1} JWWf Guys as were out of work. {Cheers.) They could do
He was no scholar himself—lie had never enjoyed a /^L. 'if /mSi it easily enough if they liked, and he would tell them
University education—and he did not pretend to be f'^^^/amlUm how. All over London, nay, in the very Square
an authority on historical costume. Still, he felt safe >^^Mr wKm$ itself, there were innumerable pedestals at present
in asserting that a Guy who, like himself, was com- wlt|5Sr Iff™)' usurped by Statues which were a disgrace to the
pelled to represent their glorious Predecessor in an /^^^^I lll!Bw Metropolis. All the Council had to do was to remove
old tail coat, a pair of baggy tweed trousers, and a W^^Mt<??ol^^X those Statues from positions they had so long abused,
pot hat with a hole through the crown, did so under ^^^mWwiy^^^ an(i promote the most deserving and destitute Guys
a cruel disadvantage. He had heard that, in former ^^®SiMife^r / <n to fill their places. ( Uproar.)
times, every Guy was sent out provided, as a matter r.Av ^ *n ^us^ian an(l a Red- Comforter rose
of course, with a dark lantern and a box of matches. ((' . . t- \ a excitedly to protest against the last speaker's pro-
Whoever saw a Guy so equipped nowadays? They a (niv in SpMtarles and a p0sals, which he declared were an insult to their
had been robbed of the very implements of their trade common Guy hood. They might have come down in
by the grasping greed of their so-called superiors. {Shame !) In
his opinion every Guy had a right to be furnished with the correct
costume of the period — whatever that might be—at the public
expense. {Loud cheers.)
A Guy in a Cocked Hat said he did not think the previous speaker
had mentioned the real cause of their fallen fortunes—their clothes
were right enough ; they had to thank their own shortsighted policy
for their present position—yes, he was there to speak plainly, as Guy
to Guy, and he told them that it was nothing short of social suicide
for a Guy to carry about a placard, such as he saw too many of them
wearing that evening, inscribed with the name of a recent murderer
or some other popular but ephemeral favourite. {Some murmuring.)
That was not the way to preserve the name and fame of their revered
Chief. No ; let every Guy be true to himself and his order, let him
indignantly refuse to sully his descent by such vulgar and unworthy
devices, and then-{Uproar, amidst which the Speaker was com-
pelled to resume his seat.)
A Guy in a Blue Mask, who carried a placard bearing the name of
the Ex-Premier, described the remarks of both his brother Guys as
pestilent drivel. _ It was not clothes that made the Guy. A Guy was
a Guy in any guise! {Loud cheers.) But no Guy ever rose in the
world yet without combustibles of some sort inside him, and how
many of them ever knew what it was to get their fill of crackers ?
They were starving amidst an abundance of squibs! Society was
responsible, and must be forced to do its duty. He had had enough
of it, he meant to get a good blow-out before he was much older, he
could tell them, and if the Government refused to provide it free,
he must loot a firework factory, that was all—he was ready to lead
the way—if they would follow ! {Applause.)
A Guv in a Yellow; Mask said he was in favour of proceeding by
peaceable and constitutional methods if possible. Much could be
the world, but hitherto, whatever mie-ht be said of them, they had, at
least, never rendered themselves publicly ridiculous._ Now they were
asked to degrade themselves by accepting the ignominious position of
London Statues ! Was there a Guy who would ever hold up his head
again, after such an infamous surrender of his self-respect and in-
dependence ? He felt it his duty to denounce the Guy who was
guilty of such a suggestion as a wolf, in sheep's clothing, a base
traitor to his order, and a paid spy!
{Lntense excitement; charges and countercharges, and vain
attempts by the Chair-guy to restore order. Several Guys,
unable to control their indignation any longer, exploded, and
the Meeting finally dispersed without attempting to pass any
resolution, amidst a scene of indescribable conf usion.
A Patron of ttie Gaiety Theatre and Modern Variety
Extravaganza Snow Anticipated by Charles Dickens.—"There's
a lot of feet in Shakspeare's verse, but there ain't any legs worth
mentioning in Shakspeare's Plays. * * * What the people call
dramatic poetry is a collection of sermons. Do I go to the theatre
to be lectured ? No, Pip. If I wanted that, I'd go to church.
What's the legitimate object of the Drama, Pip ? Human nature.
What are legs ? Human nature. Then let us have plenty of leg-
pieces, Pip, and I '11 stand by you, my buck f" — Martin
Chuzzleivit.
N.B.—This is the Pip of our puzzle to Dickensian Students
last week. The reference, chapter and verse, was given imme-
diately by Mr. Comyns Carr, who, on the spot received his
reward, and went away rejoicing. We regret that there are no
second and third prizes, otherwise Messrs. Walter Wren and Van
Tromp would have been " placed."—Ed.
GUY-FOX POPULI.
done by organising1 and bringing their grievances before Parliament,
with a view to remedial legislation. They might begin by agitating
The" proceedings of the Midnight Mass Meeting of Unemployed , for the Franchise. " One Guy, one vote ! " would be a popular cry
Guys at Vauxhall on the fifth of November were of a somewhat dis- ; just now, when some Electoral Reforms were believed to be in con-
orderly nature, several of the speeches being characterised by a j templation. Fortunately they had a Home Secretary whom they
distinctly incendiary tone, as will be seen from the following account ' might reasonably hope to find sympathetic—he thought they should
by Mr. Punch's Special Reporter, who was present throughout,
The Chair-guy (whose appearance was comparatively respectable)
ascertain his views before taking any other steps.
A G-uy in a Pink Mask said he had organised till he was sick of it.
said he was proud to occupy the chair—notwithstanding that the ; As for the Home Secretary, he happened to have headed a deputation
bottom was out of it. {Shame !) Oh, he was used to that, although I to the Home Office that very afternoon—and what did the Meeting
he could tell the meeting he _ had driven his own think was the result ? Why, the
donkey-cart once upon a time, if he had come down v?5^*' /$ Home Secretary had declined to
to a wheelbarrow now! {Cries of "Toff/" and ^^Msnmrk M receive him! {Shame.') Ah, he
"Aristocrat!" from the more extreme Guys.) He wBBKSPS. ^^lils^^ might call himself a Radical —
did not understand those expressions of disapproval /Mm\G»v^vt ^0M^' ^nt ^ ne treat a Guy as a Man
—a wheelbarrow with one leg missing was surely «W^V^^^ s^J^W^k and a Brother ? Did he recog-
an unostentatious conveyance enough. Well, they /^PI'/^^vO" \ nise that, creatures of rags and
had met that evening to discuss the means to be ,J||^i^/^v'\ ^^1^ f^,/ shavings as they were, they lhad
taken to obviate the depression in the important /^^^^^Cr^i^C$$f<\/ / their feelings ? Not he! they
branch of out-door industry in which, if he did not /iLK^^i \ 3"J\\ s were all alike, these politicians,
mistake, they were all interested. {Hear, hear!) ^fll\ fWs^J&xrl^J § mr directly they got into office.
That such depression existed, and was on the /y/'/uV. Y~"*Jf t^'i^J^ How long, he asked them, were
increase, there was, unhappily, no doubt — it was /f///!f JfbkJ? mi Ghrys to be chivied, and harried,
becoming more and more difficult, as they knew //ylis Imnm&m mtik?* and moved along into back-
without his telling them, for the steadiest Guy to r'/Mf:-'- a vimmMsW streets by the brutal minions of a corrupt middle-
maintain himself in a proper position, without ////mil I mJwInlW^ class? If they wanted to get their rights, they must
extraneous support. He knew, for a fact, that there i\!lJm'' \ mmmWffi- make themselves a nuisance to the Authorities, like
were , hundreds of Guys at that very moment who, (JljiWM § |l H'|Hf other people. It was all very fine to talk about the
when their present job was over, would find them- f^llmi I w mWwIm Franchise, and " One Guy, one vote! " and all the
selves—through no fault of their own—thrown out ' /^/'lf| I /\ lOT'lWl res^ of it, but they all knew that Home Rule blocked
of employment for another twelvemonth, at least. f'l/Il i| f/A mm l ift the way at present. They must go to Trafalgar
Did they call that justice ? {No! and groans.) The ''/fil V linum Wl Square in their thousands ; it was the finest place for
whole system was iniquitous—the question was, how 4rl\ I n |v l®Wm \w\ a bonfire in all London, and they had been kept out
they were to put a stop to it. He invited suggestions <\ '■'IJ^IW i mJm '! °f it l°n^ enough. He meant to go, if he had to be
from the Audience. > LgtSjijfja^ i| Wmm )\ carried there! {Loud cheers.)
A.Guy said that, in his opinion, their "decline was ^^^^SL mmimk 1 A Guy in Spectacles and a Tall Hat, said that a
entirely due to their inability to supply themselves / WWzS^f; § WsMW^^'x demonstration in the Square would, no doubt, be an
with the apparel necessary and suitable to their call- j M S§|m§ li lMf//||fl^S, excellent way of drawing public attention to their
ing. What were their duties ? Why, to keep alive \a| (s m j j| BBsUM^ wrongs. He advised that when they had succeeded
the memory of their famous Founder, the author of i m i^^J W^mS^s in capturing the Square, they should proceed to pass
the great, and never-to-be-forgotten Gunpowder v^fhifr m Ummu^s a resolution calling upon the London County Council
Plot — he need hardly say he alluded to Gdtdo "ll ::1 mMWlE to nn(^ instant and permanent employment for such
Fawkes ! {Enthusiastic and prolonged cheering.) ' ,1} JWWf Guys as were out of work. {Cheers.) They could do
He was no scholar himself—lie had never enjoyed a /^L. 'if /mSi it easily enough if they liked, and he would tell them
University education—and he did not pretend to be f'^^^/amlUm how. All over London, nay, in the very Square
an authority on historical costume. Still, he felt safe >^^Mr wKm$ itself, there were innumerable pedestals at present
in asserting that a Guy who, like himself, was com- wlt|5Sr Iff™)' usurped by Statues which were a disgrace to the
pelled to represent their glorious Predecessor in an /^^^^I lll!Bw Metropolis. All the Council had to do was to remove
old tail coat, a pair of baggy tweed trousers, and a W^^Mt<??ol^^X those Statues from positions they had so long abused,
pot hat with a hole through the crown, did so under ^^^mWwiy^^^ an(i promote the most deserving and destitute Guys
a cruel disadvantage. He had heard that, in former ^^®SiMife^r / <n to fill their places. ( Uproar.)
times, every Guy was sent out provided, as a matter r.Av ^ *n ^us^ian an(l a Red- Comforter rose
of course, with a dark lantern and a box of matches. ((' . . t- \ a excitedly to protest against the last speaker's pro-
Whoever saw a Guy so equipped nowadays? They a (niv in SpMtarles and a p0sals, which he declared were an insult to their
had been robbed of the very implements of their trade common Guy hood. They might have come down in
by the grasping greed of their so-called superiors. {Shame !) In
his opinion every Guy had a right to be furnished with the correct
costume of the period — whatever that might be—at the public
expense. {Loud cheers.)
A Guy in a Cocked Hat said he did not think the previous speaker
had mentioned the real cause of their fallen fortunes—their clothes
were right enough ; they had to thank their own shortsighted policy
for their present position—yes, he was there to speak plainly, as Guy
to Guy, and he told them that it was nothing short of social suicide
for a Guy to carry about a placard, such as he saw too many of them
wearing that evening, inscribed with the name of a recent murderer
or some other popular but ephemeral favourite. {Some murmuring.)
That was not the way to preserve the name and fame of their revered
Chief. No ; let every Guy be true to himself and his order, let him
indignantly refuse to sully his descent by such vulgar and unworthy
devices, and then-{Uproar, amidst which the Speaker was com-
pelled to resume his seat.)
A Guy in a Blue Mask, who carried a placard bearing the name of
the Ex-Premier, described the remarks of both his brother Guys as
pestilent drivel. _ It was not clothes that made the Guy. A Guy was
a Guy in any guise! {Loud cheers.) But no Guy ever rose in the
world yet without combustibles of some sort inside him, and how
many of them ever knew what it was to get their fill of crackers ?
They were starving amidst an abundance of squibs! Society was
responsible, and must be forced to do its duty. He had had enough
of it, he meant to get a good blow-out before he was much older, he
could tell them, and if the Government refused to provide it free,
he must loot a firework factory, that was all—he was ready to lead
the way—if they would follow ! {Applause.)
A Guv in a Yellow; Mask said he was in favour of proceeding by
peaceable and constitutional methods if possible. Much could be
the world, but hitherto, whatever mie-ht be said of them, they had, at
least, never rendered themselves publicly ridiculous._ Now they were
asked to degrade themselves by accepting the ignominious position of
London Statues ! Was there a Guy who would ever hold up his head
again, after such an infamous surrender of his self-respect and in-
dependence ? He felt it his duty to denounce the Guy who was
guilty of such a suggestion as a wolf, in sheep's clothing, a base
traitor to his order, and a paid spy!
{Lntense excitement; charges and countercharges, and vain
attempts by the Chair-guy to restore order. Several Guys,
unable to control their indignation any longer, exploded, and
the Meeting finally dispersed without attempting to pass any
resolution, amidst a scene of indescribable conf usion.
A Patron of ttie Gaiety Theatre and Modern Variety
Extravaganza Snow Anticipated by Charles Dickens.—"There's
a lot of feet in Shakspeare's verse, but there ain't any legs worth
mentioning in Shakspeare's Plays. * * * What the people call
dramatic poetry is a collection of sermons. Do I go to the theatre
to be lectured ? No, Pip. If I wanted that, I'd go to church.
What's the legitimate object of the Drama, Pip ? Human nature.
What are legs ? Human nature. Then let us have plenty of leg-
pieces, Pip, and I '11 stand by you, my buck f" — Martin
Chuzzleivit.
N.B.—This is the Pip of our puzzle to Dickensian Students
last week. The reference, chapter and verse, was given imme-
diately by Mr. Comyns Carr, who, on the spot received his
reward, and went away rejoicing. We regret that there are no
second and third prizes, otherwise Messrs. Walter Wren and Van
Tromp would have been " placed."—Ed.