Volume 25 — THE GREAT CAB REFORM.
Reading edition
After several years of grumbling on the part of the public, we have at last got a Government that has been "strong enough" to venture on what, in the highly intelligent circles of Downing Street, has hitherto been considered the "hazardous question" of Cab Reform. It is a positive fact that until Mr. Fitzroy took the matter in hand, every administration has been "afraid" of the introduction of a Cab Bill, lest it should have opened the door to opposition, or, in other words, the public were to be crammed into wretched cabs, lest the Cab-in-et should be turned out.
Everybody with half a grain of common sense was perfectly well aware that Cab Reform would be one of the most popular things a Government could undertake; but it has required several years to make this plain fact intelligible in high quarters; and even now, there has been a timidity in dealing with some portions of the subject of Cab Reform, which, though the new Act is very good, as far as it goes, will soon cause the public to complain. We, however, desire to give all praise where it is due; and especially to Mr. Fitzroy, who will go down to posterity with his aggravated Assaults' Act in one hand, and his Cab Law in the other, to say nothing of the County Courts' Measure sticking out of his pocket. The sympathy shown by the present Government towards riders in cabs affords a proof that we have in the Administration—(now, reader, prepare to be knocked over by an unexpected blow)—a few really Cabbin'-it Ministers. We will conclude with a lyric tribute to Mr. Fitzroy, adapted to the itinerant air of—
CHEER! BOYS, CHEER!
Cheer! boys, cheer! no more of imposition, Cabs at true fares shall bear us on our way; Mayne's smart police shall show the proper tariff, Telling us exactly what we have to pay. So farewell, fraud—much as we've endured thee, We'll let alone what may have gone before, Why should we growl at having paid back carriage, We shall not have to pay it any more. Cheer! boys, cheer! for Punch and Mr. Fitzroy, Cheer! boys, cheer! for Punch is our right hand; Cheer! boys, cheer! there's fruit of Fitzroy's labour, Cheer! boys, cheer! for the new Improved Cab Stand. Cheer! boys, cheer! no wind is on us blowing, Through broken panes upon our neck and chest, This horse can go the distance we are going, By over work he is no more opprest; Once we had cabs—than hencoops scarcely better— Through open spaces letting in the rain; Now, ours shall be the clean and well-built carriage, And at a price as moderate again. Cheer! boys, cheer! &c.
PASSIONATE MEN.
"Men in a passion should be treated like kettles—when they boil over, they should be taken off."
PECUNIARY DEMANDS.
Of all men it must be confessed that the Tax-gatherer has the most calls for his money.
A Guardsman's Confession (overheard at Chobham).—"On my word there's no greater Bore in the world than your military Drill!"
First Cock Sparrow. "What a miwackulous tye, Fwank. How the doose do you manage it?"
Second Cock Sparrow. "Yas. I fancy it is rather grand; but then, you see, I give the whole of my Mind to it!"