THEN AND NOW.
Reading edition
Mr. Punch's Reply to the Premier.
["There is a popular periodical which, whenever it can, manifests the Liberal sentiments by which it has been guided from the first—I mean the periodical Punch. At that time I had the honour of figuring, if I remember right, in a Cartoon of Punch, in connection with the rejection of the Paper Duty, and a clever Cartoon it was, for I was represented as a little lad in school, sitting (it was standing, Sir—Mr. P.) upon a small stool, and Lord Derby—the Lord Derby of that day, who led the House of Lords—was standing over me with an immense sheet of paper, made into a fool's-cap, which he planted on my head."—Mr. Gladstone at Edinburgh, Sept. 27, 1893.]
See Cartoon, "The Paper Cap," in Punch (p. 223, vol. xxxviii.), June 2, 1860.
Thirty-three years ago, my William, thirty-three years ago, Yet you, as of yore, are well to the fore, and Punch, too is in front also; And that paper cap was a popular crown, as Punch at the time suggested; With the real fool's-cap, by a singular hap, "the Lord Derby" himself was invested.
Punch "advised his friend Gladstone to look out for squalls, and likewise look out his umbrella." (Prophetic that, but then Mister P. was always that sort of a fella!) You have used a good many "umbrellas" since then, both Old and New (Castle) "brollies," As you needed a stout one in Derby's storm, so you will, my dear William, in Solly's.
You have "had the honour of figuring," Sir, many times since then in my pages; As I hope, my dear William, with all my heart, you'll continue to do—oh! for ages! The same great designer of "clever cartoons" ("our Sir John") is as lively as ever, And if you'll give him suitable subjects, dear boy, he'll still furnish cartoons quite as clever.
"Liberal sentiments"—"manifest still"—"whenever I can," you say? Well, Sir! My sentiments, William, are liberal always—but with a small non-party l, Sir! "Liberal souls devise liberal things"—you know the authority grand, Sir!— If your Liberal things are "liberal," always, by liberal things you shall stand, Sir.
There! Verb. sap., my long-honoured old chap! May a real fool's-cap crown you never, But a Crown of Honour be yours at the end—which we'd wish to postpone, Sir, for ever! Thanks very much for your genial touch. We have pleasant joint memories, many, Since you fought the good fight on the Paper Duty and a Press at the Popular Penny!
Colourable.
["The banners of most of the Dutch regiments have hitherto been those captured from the French at Waterloo in 1815, since when they have never been renewed."—Daily News, September 22.]
The Dutch have had second-hand flags to fight under; And so if "Dutch courage" mean borrowed, what wonder?
Hiss-trionic Query.—Where exists the theatrical manager who, utterly disregardless of tradition and reckless as to the omen of "the Bird," would have produced a new piece for the first time last Friday night, which was Michaelmas Day, the day sacred to the Goose? We know of only one manager likely to be so bold, and he would not be so audacious as to defy the combined omens of ill.
Ichabod!
(As it generally seems now in Sculling Matches on the Thames.)
Row, brothers, row! But you don't row fast! It's foreigner first, and Britisher last! John no longer can sing now, "I says the Bull" (As in Poor Cock Robin), "because I can pull!"
Coal and Drama.—Mr. John Hollingshead says that the Princess's Pit, which has been closed for a long time, will be at once re-opened. The price has been generally accepted.
News of the Matabele.—The "Impi" are "suffering from want of supplies." They are impi-cunious.
The Most Gratuitous Form of Vice.—Ad-vice!