diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:44:59 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:44:59 -0700 |
| commit | 04d001116fffe23d65aae6384286aef81f319cdc (patch) | |
| tree | c83e1fad98eb73e746bc35e0b0881b63723ce547 /old/14639.txt | |
Diffstat (limited to 'old/14639.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/14639.txt | 1971 |
1 files changed, 1971 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/14639.txt b/old/14639.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..30e1c45 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14639.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1971 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 152, +February 28, 1917, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 152, February 28, 1917 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: January 9, 2005 [EBook #14639] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PUNCH *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Keith Edkins and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. + +VOL. 152. + + + +February 28th, 1917. + + + + +CHARIVARIA. + +One of the latest peculiarities of the KAISER is an absolute horror at the +thought of being prematurely buried. Several experts however say that this +is impossible. + + *** + +It appears that HINDENBURG accuses the CROWN PRINCE OF BAVARIA of having +misunderstood an order, thus losing Grandcourt for the Germans. RUPPRECHT, +we understand, retorted that the real culprits were the British. + + *** + +In a character-sketch of VON BISSING, the _Cologne Gazette_ says, "He is a +fine musician and his execution is good." It would be. + + *** + +[Illustration: THE PAPER SHORTAGE. + +_News Editor of_ "_Daily Bugle Blast_." "JUST TYPE A SHORT NOTICE THAT +FINDERS OF FIRST SNOWDROP, CROCUS, PRIMROSE OR ANY EARLY SPRING PHENOMENA +MUST APPRISE WORLD THROUGH OUR ADVERTISEMENT COLUMNS."] + + *** + +No German submarine, says ADMIRAL VON CAPELLE, has been lost since the +beginning of the submarine war. This assurance has been received with the +liveliest satisfaction by several U-boat commanders who have been in the +awkward predicament of not knowing whether they were officially missing. + + *** + +Captain BOY ED is stated to have returned to the United States disguised. +Not on this occasion, we may assume, as an officer and a gentleman. + + *** + +According to the ex-Portuguese Consul at Hamburg bone tickets are issued +for making soup, but the bone must be returned to the authorities. Possibly +the hardship of the procedure would be mitigated if ticket-holders were +permitted to growl. + + *** + +A metallurgical engineer at the Surbiton Tribunal said he was forty-one +years old, and only missed the age-limit by eighteen hours. It is not +thought that he did it purposely. + + *** + +At the Billericay Tribunal an applicant last week stated that he had nine +children, but upon counting them again he discovered that he had ten. There +seems to be no excuse for this sort of thing, for Adding machines are now +fairly well advertised. + + *** + +Discussing the latest dress fashion, a lady writer says, "It is a most +ridiculous dress. Nothing worse could be conceived." This, of course, is +foolish talk, for the lady has not seen next season's style. + + *** + +Austrian tobacconists are now prohibited from selling more than one cigar a +day to a customer. To conserve the supply still further it is proposed to +compel the tobacconist to offer each customer the alternative of nuts. + + *** + +"When I see a map of the British Empire," said Mr. PONSONBY, M.P., "I do +not feel any pride whatsoever." People have been known to express similar +sentiments upon sighting certain M.P.'s. + + *** + +"The public must hold up the policeman's hands," said a London magistrate +in a recent traffic case. It is astonishing how some policeman are able to +hold them up without assistance for several seconds at a time. + + *** + +The staff of the new Pensions Minister, it is announced, will be over two +thousand. It is still hoped, however, that there may be a small surplus +which can be devoted to the needs of disabled soldiers. + + *** + +Several men have been arrested in Dresden for passing counterfeit food +tickets. The defence will presumably be that it wasn't real food. + + *** + +The Royal Engineers are advertising for seamen for the Inland Water +Transport Section. The Chief Transport Officer, we understand, has already +hoisted his bargee. + + *** + +Eggs to the number of six million odd have just arrived from China, says a +news item, and will be used for confectionery. Had they arrived three +months ago nothing could have averted a General Election. + + *** + +A hen while being sold at a Red Cross sale at Horsham laid an egg which +fetched 35_s._ In the best hen circles, where steady silent work is being +done, there is a growing tendency to frown upon these isolated acts of +ostentatious patriotism. + + *** + +_The Times_, it seems, has not published a complete list of its rivals in +the desperate struggle for the smallest circulation. A Finchley Church +magazine has increased its price to 1-1/2_d._ a copy. + + *** + +Paper bags are no longer being used by greengrocers in Bangor, and their +customers are patriotically assisting this economy by unpodding their green +peas and rolling them home. + + *** + +"Bacon, as a breakfast food," says an evening paper, "is fast disappearing +from the table." We have often noticed it do so. + + *** + +"It is pitiful and disgraceful," says the _Berliner Tageblatt_, "to watch +women-folk walking beside their half-starved dogs. There is no room in +warfare for dogs." We have all along felt sorry for the poor animals at a +time when one half the dachshund does not know how the other half lives. + + *** + +A Felicitous Juxtaposition. + + "EGGS FOR LINCOLN HOSPITAL. + COL. ---- LAYS A FALSE RUMOUR."--_Lincoln Leader_. + + *** + + "PULLETS, laying 3s. 6d. each."--_Provincial Paper_. + +Yet farmers persist in telling us there's no money in fowls. + + *** + + "The first description of how the German Fleet reached Rome after the + battle of Jutland is furnished by a neutral from Kiel."--_Johannesburg + Daily Mail_. + +Of all the roads that lead to Rome this is certainly the roughest. + + *** + +The New Greeting: "Comment vous Devonportez-vous?" + + * * * * * + +TO GERMANIA + +FROM SOMEBODY WHO OUGHT TO BE IN PRISON. + +_Air_--"To Althaea from Prison." + + When Peace with wide and shining wings + Invades this warring isle, + And my beloved Germania brings + Wearing her largest smile; + When close about her waist I coil + And mouth to mouth apply, + Not SNOWDEN, patriot son of toil, + Will be more pleased than I. + + When round the No-Conscription board + The wines of Rhineland flow, + And many a rousing _Hoch!_ is roared + To toast the _status quo_; + When o'er the swiftly-circling bowl + Our happy tears run dry, + Not PONSONBY, that loyal soul, + Will be more pleased than I. + + When sausages and sauerkraut + Fulfil the air with spice, + And loosened tongues the praise shall shout + Of Peace-at-any-price; + When German weeds our lips employ + And hearts are full and high, + Not CHARLES TREVELYAN, blind with joy, + Will be more pleased than I. + + Stone walls do not my feet confine + Nor yet a barbed-wire cage; + I talk at large and claim as mine + The freeman's heritage; + And, if this wicked War but end + Ere German hopes can die, + Not WILLIAM'S self, my dearest friend, + Will be more pleased than I. + +O.S. + + * * * * * + +THE BROKEN SOLDIERS. + +"Now," I suggested as we left the drapery department, "you've got as much +as you can carry." Unfortunately it was impossible to relieve her of the +parcels as I had all my work cut out to manipulate those confounded +crutches. + +"There's only the toy department," returned Pamela, leading the way with +her armful of packages. "I do hope you're not frightfully tired." Of course +it seemed ridiculous, but I had not been out of hospital many days, and as +yet I had not grown used to stumping about in this manner. + +"Do you happen," asked Pamela at the counter, "to have such a thing as a +box of broken soldiers?" + +The young woman looked astonished and even a little hurt, but offered, with +condescension, to inquire. + +"Do you want them for Dick?" I asked, Dick being Pamela's youngest brother. + +"For Dick and Alice," said Pamela. Alice was her sister, younger still. + +"Why shouldn't I buy them a box of whole ones?" + +"That wouldn't answer the purpose. They have three large boxes already," +answered Pamela, as a young man appeared in a frock coat, with a silver +badge on the right lapel, "For Services Rendered." In his hand was a dusty +cardboard box, and in the box lay five damaged leaden soldiers, up-to-date +soldiers in khaki; two without heads, two armless, one who had lost both +legs. + +"Those will do splendidly," said Pamela, and the young man with the silver +badge obligingly put the soldiers into my tunic pocket. It seemed to be +understood that they and I had been knocked out in the same campaign. + +"Why," I asked on the way home in the taxi, "did you want the soldiers to +be broken?" + +"I--I didn't," murmured Pamela, with a sigh. + +"Why did Dick?" I persisted. + +"The children are so dreadfully realistic now-a-days. You see, Father +objected to his breaking heads and arms off his new ones. Dick was quite +rebellious. He wanted to know what he was to do for wounded; and Alice was +more disappointed still." + +"I should have thought it was too painful a notion for her," I suggested. + +"Oh!" cried Pamela, with a laugh, "Alice is a Red Cross nurse, you know. +She's made a hospital out of a Noah's Ark. She only thinks of healing +them." + +"All the King's horses and all the King's men cannot put Humpty Dumpty +together again," I said. + +"Poor old boy!" whispered Pamela. + +"I wonder whether broken soldiers have an interest for you as well," I +remarked ... and Dick and Alice were completely forgotten until they met us +clamorously in the hall. + +"Did you get any, Pam?" cried Dick. + +"Only five," was the answer, as I took the small paper parcel from my +pocket and handed it over. + +"Is that all?" demanded Alice. + +"There's one more," I said. + +"Is that for me?" cried Alice; but Pamela shook her head and smiled very +nicely as she took my arm. + +"No, that's for me," she said. + + * * * * * + +A TRAGEDY OF THE SEA. + +The night was a very dark one, for a cold damp fog hung over the Channel. +The few lights we carried reflected in-board only, and, leaning over the +rail, it was with difficulty that I could distinguish the dark waters +washing below. Shore-ward I could see nothing, though I knew that a +good-sized town lay there. + +I had soon had enough of the inclement night. Keeping my feet with some +difficulty upon the wet boards, I groped my way to a door and, pushing it +open, entered. + +A strange scene met my gaze. A spruce man in the uniform of a naval officer +was seated at a table. Before him stood a tall well-set-up young seaman. +His dishevelled head was hatless, but otherwise he looked trim, and his +garments fitted him better than a seaman's garments generally do. On each +side of him stood an armed guard. + +"Have you anything to say for yourself?" asked the officer sternly. + +"No, Sir, only that I am innocent," answered the man. He held his head +high, almost defiantly. I could not but admire his courageous bearing, and +yet there was an air of unreality about the whole thing. I felt almost as +if I were dreaming it, but I knew that this was not a dream. + +"The evidence against you is overwhelming," said the officer. "I have no +alternative but to sentence you to death. The sentence will be carried out +at dawn. Remove the prisoner." + +The seaman took a step forward. For a moment he seemed to be struggling +with himself, anxious to speak, yet forcing himself to silence. Then he +bowed his head, and, turning, placed himself between the guards and was +marched away. + +The officer sighed. "It's a bad business," he said. "He's the best man I +ever had on my ship." + +He was speaking to himself, and again I had that strange sense of +unreality, as indeed I well might, for this was the Third Act of _True to +the Death_, a melodrama in the pavilion at the end of the pier. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: THE RETORT CELESTIAL. + +[China has threatened to break off relations with the German Government on +account of its barbarity. It will be recalled that the KAISER once designed +an allegorical picture entitled "The Yellow Peril."]] + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: SAUCE FOR THE GANDER. + +_Grocer_. "A LITTLE SUGAR WITH MY TART, PLEASE." + +_Waitress_ (_late grocer's assistant_). "CERTAINLY, SIR, IF YOU WILL ALSO +TAKE MUSTARD, PEPPER, SALT, YORKSHIRE RELISH AND SALAD DRESSING."] + + * * * * * + +WEATHER-VANES. + +It was 2 A.M. The mosquitoes were singing their nightly chorus, and the +situation reports were coming in from the battalions in the line. With his +hair sizzling in the flame of the candle, the Brigade Orderly Officer who +was on duty for the night tried to decipher the feathery scrawl on the pink +form. + +"Situation normal A-A-A wind moderate N.E.," it read. + +"Great Scott!" said the O.O. "North-East!" (Hun gas waits upon a wind with +East in it). "Give me the message book." + +Laboriously he wrote out warnings to the battalions and machine gun +sections, etc., under the Brigade's control. Then he turned to the next +message. + +"Situation normal A-A-A wind light S.W." + +"South-West?" said the O.O. blankly, viewing his now useless handiwork. +"Which way _is_ the wind then?" + +The orderly went out to see, and returned presently with a moistened +forefinger and the information that it was "blowing acrossways, leastways +it seemed like it." The O.O. got out of his little wire bed, searched in +his pyjamas for the North Star, and, finally deciding that if there was any +wind at all (which was doubtful) it was due South, reported it as such. The +responsibility incurred kept him awake for some time, but when the Brigade +on the right flank reported a totally different wind he concluded there +must be a whirlwind in the line, and, putting up a barrage of bad language, +went to sleep. + +In due course the matter came to the ears of the Staff Captain, who +broached the subject at breakfast as the General was probing his second +poached egg. + +"This," said the General, who is rather given to the vernacular, "is the +limit. A North-South-East-West report is preposterous. Something must be +done. Haven't we got a weather-vane of our own? Pass the marmalade, will +you?" + +Four people reached hastily for the delicacy, and the O.O. feeling out of +it passed the milk for no reason. (Generals really get a very good time. +People have been known to pass things to them unasked.) + +"What about those two vanes in our last headquarters, Sir?" said the Staff +Captain brightly--he is very bright and bird-like in the mornings--"the +ones the padre thought were Russian fire-guards. Can't we get them? They +aren't ours, but then they aren't anybody's--they've been there a year, the +old woman told me." + +"Where's the Orderly Officer?" (He was there with a mouthful of toast.) +"Take the mess limber and fetch 'em back if the Heavy Group Artillery will +let you--they're in there now, aren't they?" + +"And if you're g-going into the town g-get some fish for dinner," said the +Brigade Major; "everlasting ration beef makes my s-stammer worse." + +"Why?" said the General. + +"Indigestion--nerves, Sir; I can hardly talk over the telephone at all +after dinner." + +"Good heavens!" said the General; "bring a turbot." + + * * * * * + +"Fish!" said the B.M. at dinner. "Bong!" + +"I brought the vanes, Sir." + +"Have any trouble?" + +"No, Sir. I saw the A.D.C., and said we had 'left them behind,' which was +true, you know, Sir." (The O.O. for once felt himself the centre of +interest and desired to improve the occasion). "We _did_ 'leave them +behind,' so it wasn't a lie exactly ..." + +"I don't care if it was," said the General; "you've got 'em, that's the +main thing." + +"Where will you have one put, Sir?" + +"In the fields," said the B.M. + +"Not too low," said the Captain. + +"Or too high," said Signals. + +"Or too far away," said the attached officer. + +"Well, now you know," said the General, "pass the chutney." + +They all passed it as well as several other things until he was thoroughly +dug-in. + + * * * * * + +"Another N.S.E.W. report, Sir," said the Staff Captain next morning. + +"----!" said the General. (I think I mentioned his partiality for the +vernacular). "Where's our vane?" + +"It's up, Sir," said the O.O., shining proudly again, "and I--" + +"We'll have' a look at it," and out they all went--General, Brigade Major +(enunciating pedantically after a fish breakfast), Staff Captain (bright +and birdlike), and the O.O. It was a brilliant spectacle. + +"North is--there!" said the General in his best field-day manner, "and this +is pointing--due East!" He touched the vane gently. It did not budge. He +touched it again. A cold sweat broke out on the forehead of the O.O. + +"Paralysed," said the B.M. + +"Give it a 'stand-east,' Sir," said the Staff Captain. + +"It's stiff!" said the General; "wants-oil" (pause); "wants _oil_!" and the +O.O. slid away, returning at once with oil (salad, bottle, one). + +"Now pour it over the top--top, boy, top!" + +A flood sprayed over the top flange, and the B.M. searched hastily for a +handkerchief. + +"Making a salad of you?" said the General. "Ha! ha!" + +The B.M. smiled a smile (sickly, one). + +"That's better!" The General spun it round. "What's it say now? East!" + +"Better wait," said the B.M., "it'll change its mind in a minute." + +"It's going!" cried the General excitedly. "There! Well, I'm--West!" + +"The padre was right--it must be a fireguard, after all," said the Staff +Captain. + +"Or a s-sundial," muttered the B.M. + +I believe the meteorological report was finally entered as: "Wind light to +moderate (to strong), varying from East to West (_via_ North and South)." + +"Of course," said the General kindly to the O.O., "it's not quite +perpendicular, it's a bit too low; wants a stronger prop, wires are a bit +slack, the vane itself wants looking to, and the whole thing is in rather a +bad position, but otherwise it's all right--quite all right." + +"Yes, Sir," said the O.O. + +"And there's too much oil," added the General, as he moved off. + +"There is," said the B.M., discovering another blob on his shiny boots, +"and on m-me!" + + * * * * * + +The Staff were unaccountably late. The O.O. breakfasted alone. For three +days he had been the despair of the small and perspiring body of pioneers, +who towards the end had fled at the mere sight of him. But at last the vane +was working. + +"Well," said the General when he came in, "how's the wind, expert?" + +"N.N.E.," said the O.O. proudly. (It was the first thing he had done since +he came on the Brigade three weeks before, and he was pleased at the +interest the Staff had taken in his little achievement.) "I've had the +pioneers working on it, and we've got it up another four feet, Sir, +tightened the pole, and wired it on to the supports on every side. It's +quite perpendicular now. I've marked out the points of the compass on it, +and fixed up a little arrangement for gauging the strength of the +wind--that flap thing, you know, Sir--" + +"Yes, yes," said the General, who seemed to have lost his first keenness, +"I'm glad it's working all right. By the way, we shall be moving from here +to-morrow; the division's going back." + +The O.O. drained the teapot in silence, and was glad it was strong and +bitter. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: AT OUR COMPANY SMOKER. + +_The Major_ (_sings_). "AND WE DIDN'T CARE A BUTTON IF THE ODDS WERE ON THE +FOE TEN--TWENTY--THIRTY--FORTY--" + +_Colonel_ (_roused from surreptitious snooze_). "AS YOU WERE!--NUMBER!"] + + * * * * * + +Result of the Blockade. + +Notice on a railway bookstall:-- + +"MEN AROUND THE KAISER. +MUCH REDUCED." + + * * * * * + + "On the pier a man was arrested who declared excitedly that he was + Frederick Hohenzollern, the Kaiser's nephew, but he appeared quite + harmless."--_Daily News_. + +Obviously an impostor. + + * * * * * + + "The khaki-clad boys were as merry as a party of undergraduates + celebrating some joyous event at the college tuck-shop."--_Yorkshire + Herald_. + +What memories of the Junior Common Room are recalled by this artless +phrase. + + * * * * * + +The Super-Submarine. + + "The Lyman M. Law was stopped by a gunshot fired by a submarine, which + boarded the American boat, took the names of all on board, and then + authorised the continuation of the voyage."--_Evening News_. + + * * * * * + +Experiences of Mr. GERARD'S party:-- + + "Our first surprise on reaching Paris was to find taxi-cabs, and + taxi-cubs with pneumatic tyres."--_Scots Paper_. + +We suggest that our M.F.H.'s should import a few of these in time for next +season's cubbing. They give an excellent run for the money--a mile for +eightpence or so. + + * * * * * + +THE MISSING LEADER. + + What is Master WINSTON doing? + What new paths is he pursuing? + What strange broth can he be brewing? + + Is he painting, by commission, + Portraits of the Coalition + For the R.A. exhibition? + + Is he Jacky-obin or anti? + Is he likely to "go Fanti," + Or becoming shrewd and canty? + + Is he in disguise at Kovel, + Living in a moujik's hovel, + Making a tremendous novel? + + Does he run a photo-play show? + Or in _saeva indignatio_ + Is he writing for HORATIO? + + Fired by the divine afflatus + Does he weekly lacerate us, + Like a Juvenal _renatus?_ + + As the great financial purist, + Will he smite the sinecurist + Or emerge as a Futurist? + + Is he regularly sending + HAIG and BEATTY screeds unending, + Good advice with censure blending? + + Is he ploughing, is he hoeing? + Is he planting beet, or going + In for early 'tato-growing? + + Is he writing verse or prosing, + Or intent upon disclosing + Gifts for musical composing? + + Is he lecturing to flappers? + Is he tunnelling with sappers? + Has he joined the U-boat trappers? + + Or, to petrify recorders + Of events within our borders, + _Has he taken Holy Orders?_ + + Is he well or ill or middling? + Is he fighting, is he fiddling?-- + He can't only be thumb-twiddling. + + These are merely dim surmises, + But experience advises + Us to look for weird surprises, + Somersaults, and strange disguises. + + * * * * * + + Thus we summed the situation + When Sir HEDWORTH MEUX' oration + Brought about a transformation. + + Lo! the Blenheim Boanerges + On a sudden re-emerges + And, to calm the naval _gurges_, + FISHER'S restoration urges. + + * * * * * + +A Work of Supererogation. + + "At an interval in the evening some carols were sung by members of our + G.F.S., and a collection was taken on behalf of a fund for providing + Huns for our soldiers."--_Parish Magazine_. + + * * * * * + +INFORMATION WANTED. + +No one can answer the question, and I have not the pluck--being a +law-abiding citizen--to try for myself. But I do so want to know. I ask +everyone. I ask my partners at dinner (when any dinner comes my way). I ask +casual acquaintances. I would ask the officials themselves, only they are +so preoccupied. But the words certainly set up a very engrossing problem, +and upon this problem many minor problems depend, clustering round it like +chickens round the maternal hen. But I should be quite content with an +answer only to the hen; the rest could wait. Yet there is an +inter-dependence between them that cannot be overlooked. For example, did +someone once do it and meet with such a calamity that everyone else had to +be warned? Or is it merely that the authorities dislike us to be comfy? Or +is it thought that the public might get so much attracted by the habit as +to convert the place into a house where a dance is in progress? I wish I +knew these things. + +Will not some Member ask for information in the House, and then--arising +out of this question--get all the other subsidiary facts? We are told so +many things that don't matter, such as the enormous number of Ministers in +the new Government, which was formed, if I remember rightly, as a protest +against too large a Cabinet; such as the colossal genius of each and every +performer in Mr. COCHRANE'S theatrical companies; such as the best place in +Oxford Street to contract the shopping habit; such as the breaks made day +by day all through the War by billiard champions; such as the departure of +Mr. G.B. SHAW on his bewildering and, one would think, totally unnecessary +visit to the Front and his return from that experience; such as--but +enough. I am told by the informative Press all these and more things, but +no one tells me the one thing I want to know. + +Perhaps YOU can. + +I want to know why we may not sit on the Tube moving staircases, and I want +to know what would happen if we did. + + * * * * * + +What to do with Our Dogs. + + "FOR SALE.--Pure Bred Irish Terrier Dog, right thing to wear now. + Seamless, comfortable. All Wool."--_Bedford Daily Circular_. + + * * * * * + + "Bread embroideries encircle the figure."--_Glasgow Citizen_. + +An appropriate adornment for the bread basket, no doubt, but too +extravagant in these times. + + * * * * * + +BUNNY'S LITTLE BIT. + + This scheme of keeping rabbits + To fatten them as food + Breaks up the kindly habits + Acquired in babyhood; + For we, as youthful scions, + Were taught to love the dears + And bring them dandelions + And lift them by the ears. + + We learned how each new litter + That came to Flip or Fan + Grew finer and grew fitter + With tea-leaves in the bran; + We learned which stalks were milky + And which were merely tough, + What grass was good for Silky + And what was good for Fluff. + + Such moral mild up-bringing + Now makes me much distressed + When little necks need wringing + And little paws protest, + Lest wraiths from empty hutches + Should haunt me, hung in pairs, + And ghosts--'tis here it touches-- + Of happy Belgian hares. + + However, with my morals + I manfully shall cope, + And back my country's quarrels, + But none the less I hope + Before poor Bunny's taken + As stuff for knife and fork + The hedge-hog will be bacon, + The guinea-pig be pork. + +W.H.O. + + * * * * * + +PROBLEMS FOR PETROLEUSES. + +The Metropolitan Commissioner of Police having decided to sanction women +taxicab drivers, we understand that all applicants for licences will be +required to pass a severe examination in "knowledge of London." As, +however, this will be concerned mainly with localities and quickest routes, +we venture to suggest to the examiners a few supplementary questions of a +more general character:-- + +(I.) How far should a cab-wheel revolving at fifteen miles an hour, be able +to fling a pint of London mud? + +(II.) Has a pedestrian any right to cross a road? and, if so, how much? + +(III.) With three toots of an ordinary motor-horn indicate the +following:--(_a_) contempt, (_b_) rage, (_c_) homicidal mania. + +(IV.) Under what circumstances, if any, should the words "Thank you" be +employed? + +(V.) Having been engaged at 11.35 P.M. to drive an elderly gentleman, +wearing a fur-coat, to Golder's Green, you are tendered the legal fare +plus twopence. Express, within ladylike limits, your appreciation of +this generosity. + +(VI.) On subsequently discovering the same gentleman to be a member of the +Petrol Control Committee, revise your answer accordingly. + +(VII.) Sketch, within ten sheets of MS., your idea of a becoming and +serviceable uniform for a lady-driver. + +(VIII.) Who said, and in what connection-- + + "The hand that stops the traffic rules the world"? + "This flag shall not be lowered at the bidding of an alien"? + +(IX.) At the top of St. James's Street you are hailed simultaneously by two +spinster ladies with hand luggage, wishing to be driven to Euston, and by a +single unencumbered gentleman whose destination is the Savoy Grill. Well? + +(X.) At what hour do performances at the London theatres end, and which do +you consider the best places of concealment in which to secrete yourself at +that time? + +(XI.) What would be your correct procedure on receiving a simple direction +to "The Palace" from-- + + (a) The PRIME MINISTER? + (b) The Bishop of LONDON? + (c) Any Second-Lieutenant? + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: _Old Lady_ (_buying records to send to France--to assistant +in Gramophone Department_). + +"IF THAT ONE IS THE SONG CALLED, 'THERE'S A SHIP THAT'S BOUND FOR BLIGHTY,' +I'LL TAKE IT. BUT WILL YOU FIRST LET ME KNOW IF IT CONTAINS ANY INFORMATION +WHICH COULD BE OF ADVANTAGE TO THE ENEMY?"] + + * * * * * + +A PROPHET OF EVIL. + + "SIR EDWARD CARSON ON THE ADMIRALTY'S NEW FIGHTING POLICY. + + 'IT CAN AND WILL BE DEFEATED.'"--_Headlines in_ "_The Daily + Chronicle_." + + * * * * * + +From an official circular relating to the British Industries Fair:-- + + "Information regarding the best means of reaching the Fair from all + parts of London will be obtainable at the Fair, but will not be + available before the opening day." + +You must get there first, if you want to be told how to get there. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: _The Vicar_ (_to Mrs. Bloggs, who has been describing the +insulting behaviour of the lady next door_). "WELL, WELL, IT MUST BE MOST +UNPLEASANT BEING SHOUTED AT OVER THE WALL, BUT I SUPPOSE THE BEST THING IS +TO TAKE NO NOTICE." + +_Mrs. Bloggs_. "THAT'S WHAT I SHOULD LIKE TO DO, SIR. BUT O' COURSE I 'AS +TO GIVE 'ER A ANSWER BACK NOW AND AGAIN--JUST TO KEEP THE PEACE, LIKE."] + + * * * * * + +THE ACTING BOMBARDIER. + + When JOOLIUS CAESAR took 'is guns along the pavvy road + An' strafed the bloomin' 'eathens on the Rhine, + The men 'oo did 'is dirty work an' bore the 'eavy load + Was the men 'ose job did correspond to mine. + When NAP. dug in 'is swossung-kangs be'ind the ugly Fosse + And made the Prooshians sweat their souls with fear, + The men 'oo 'elped 'im most of all to slip it well across + Was the men with actin' rank o' bombardier. + + Oh, the Colonel strafes the Old Man, an' 'e strafes the Capting too, + Then to the subs the 'eavy language flows; + They comes an' calls their Numbers One an inefficient crew + An' down it comes to junior N.C.O.'s; + An' then the B.S.M. chips in an' gives 'em 'oly 'ell, + An' the full edition's poured into the ear + Of the man that's got to be ubeek (an' you be--blest as well), + The man with actin' rank o' bombardier. + + Or, if there's nothin' doin' of a winter afternoon, + The Old Man's at 'eadquarters 'avin' tea, + The section subs is feedin' up with oysters in Bethoon, + The Capting's snorin' out at the O.P.; + The Sergeant-Major's cleaned 'is teeth an' gone a prommynard, + The N.C.O.s is somewhere drinkin' beer, + An' the man they've left to work an' drill an' grouse an' mount the guard + Is of course your 'umble actin' bombardier. + + Oh, I'm the man that takes fatigues for bringin' stores at night, + Conductin' G.S. wagons in the snow, + An' I'm the man that scrounges round to keep the 'ome fires bright + ("An' don't you bloomin' well be pinched, you know"); + An' I'm the man that lashes F.P.1.'s up to the gun, + An' acts the nursemaid 'alf the ruddy day; + An' fifty other little jobs that ain't exactly fun + Accompany one stripe (without the pay). + + But no, we never grouses in the Roy'l Artillerie, + Of cheerful things to think there's quite a lot; + Old Sergeant Blobbs is goin' 'ome the end of Februree + To do instructin' stunts at Aldershot; + The S.M.'s recommended ('Eavens!) for commissioned rank, + An' little changes means a step up 'ere, + So if I keep me temper an' go easy with vang blank, + I'll soon drop "_actin_'" off the "bombardier." + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: WHO FOLLOWS?] + + * * * * * + +ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. + +[Illustration: OPPOSITION APPROVAL OF THE NEW BOYS. + +{ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (_patting Sir EDWARD CARSON on the back_) } +{ MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (_patting Mr. BONAR LAW on the back_) } + +"HE'S BEEN TALKING SENSE."] + +_Monday, February 19th_.--The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER announced that +the "new money" subscribed for the War Loan amounted to at least seven +hundred millions. Being a modest man he refrained from saying, "A loan, I +did it," though it was largely due to his faith in the generosity and good +sense of his fellow-citizens that the rate of interest was not more onerous +to the State. + +Mr. LYNCH thinks it would be a good idea if Ireland were specially +represented at the Peace Conference, in order that her delegates might +assert her right to self-government. I dare say, if pressed, he would be +prepared to nominate at least one of her representatives. Having regard to +the Nationalist attitude towards military service Mr. BALFOUR might have +retorted that only belligerents would be represented at the Peace +Conference, but he contented himself with a simple negative. + +There is an erroneous impression that Mr. LLOYD GEORGE sits in his private +room scheming out new Departments and murmuring like the gentleman in the +advertisement of the elastic bookcase, "How beautifully it grows!" Up to +the present, however, there are only thirty-three actual Ministers of the +Crown, not counting such small fry as Under-Secretaries, and their salaries +merely amount to the trifle of L133,500. It is pleasant to learn that a +branch of the Shipping Controller's department is appropriately housed in +the Lake Dwellings in St. James's Park; and, in view of Mr. KING'S +objection that the members of the Secret Service with whom he has come into +contact make no sort of secret about their business (one pictures them +confiding in this gentleman), it is expected that the Board of Works will +shortly commandeer a strip of Tube Railway to conceal them in. + +_Tuesday, February 20th_.--In one respect the two representatives of the +War Office in the House of Commons are singularly alike. When answering +their daily catechism both wear spectacles--Mr. FORSTER an ordinary +gold-rimmed pair, Mr. MACPHERSON the fearsome tortoise-shell variety which +gives an air of antiquity to the most youthful countenance; and each, when +he has to answer an awkward "supplementary," begins by carefully taking off +his glasses and so giving himself an extra moment or two to frame a telling +reply. + +This afternoon Mr. MACPHERSON'S spectacles were on and off half-a-dozen +times as he withstood an assault directed from various quarters against the +refusal of the War Office to admit the profession of "manipulative surgery" +to the Army Medical Service. In vain he was informed of wonderful cures +effected by this means on generals and admirals, and even members of the +Government; in vain Mr. LYNCH sought from him an admission that the life of +one private soldier was more valuable than that of the two Front Benches +put together. All these attempts at manipulative surgery quite failed to +reduce Mr. MACPHERSON'S obstinate stiff neck; and at last the SPEAKER had +to intervene to stop the treatment. + +The persistence with which a little knot of Members below the Gangway +advances the proposition that all Germany is longing to make an honourable +peace, and that it is only the insatiate ambition of the Allies which +stands in the way, would be pathetic if it were not mischievous. Mr. +PONSONBY, Mr. TREVELYAN, and Mr. SNOWDEN once more argued this hopeless +case with a good deal of varied ability. A small house listened politely, +but was more impressed by a masterly expose of the facts by Mr. RONALD +M'NEILL, and an Imperialist slogan by Sir HAMAR GREENWOOD; while later in +the debate Mr. BONAR LAW restated the national aims in the War with a +cogency that drew from Mr. SAMUEL a generous pledge "on behalf of those who +sit opposite the Government" to give Ministers their whole-hearted support. + +_Wednesday, February 21st_.--The House learned with satisfaction that crews +of our river gun-boats in Mesopotamia are to get their hard-lying money; +and when the authors of the Turkish _communiques_ hear of it they are +expected to put in a similar claim. + +Lord FISHER was in his customary place over the Clock--his friends all tell +us that he is superior to Time; Lord BERESFORD was at a suitable--I had +almost said respectful--distance from him in the Peers' Gallery; and +conspicuous among the Distinguished Strangers was Sir JOHN JELLICOE. They +and all of us listened intently while for over an hour Sir EDWARD CARSON, +now as much at home on the quarter-deck as ever he was at quarter sessions, +discoursed eloquently and frankly on the wonderful and never-ending work of +the Senior Service. + +He did not underestimate the danger of the submarines, or pretend that the +Admiralty had yet discovered any sovran remedy for their attacks. Nor could +he say--for reasons which seemed to satisfy the House--how many of them had +already been captured or sunk. But he told us enough to convict Admiral VON +CAPELLE, who was at that moment declaring that not a single U-boat had been +lost since the opening of the new campaign, of being either singularly +misinformed or highly imaginative. + +_Thursday, February 22nd_.--A strange sympathy seems to exist between the +SPEAKER and Mr. GINNELL. Each, I fancy, has a soft spot somewhere. Mr. +LOWTHER'S is in his heart, and makes him go out of his way to help the +wayward Member for North Westmeath. Mr. GINNELL, whose soft spot seems to +be higher up, wanted to show that he did not approve of Mr. MACPHERSON, and +called him an impertinent Minister. Ordered to withdraw the expression, he +substituted "impudent." That would not do either, and there seemed danger +of a deadlock and another expulsion until Mr. LOWTHER suggested that +"incorrect" was a Parliamentary epithet which might suit the hon. Member's +purpose. Mr. GINNELL handsomely accepted this variation in the spirit in +which it was offered. + +Sir GEORGE CAVE is the Ministerial maid-of-all-work. Whenever there is a +disagreeable or awkward measure to introduce it falls to the Quite-at-Home +Secretary, if I may borrow an expression coined by my friend, TOBY, M.P., +for one of Sir GEORGE'S predecessors. So judiciously did he accentuate the +good points and soften the possible asperities of the National Service Bill +that even Sir CHARLES HOBHOUSE, who had come to condemn, remained to bless. + +_Friday, February 23rd_.--Owing to a variety of causes, we are short of +tonnage, and unless we manage to grow more and consume less we shall before +very long be within reach of the gaunt finger of Famine. That was the +burden of the PRIME MINISTER'S appeal to the Nation. The farmer is to have +a guaranteed minimum price for his produce, the agricultural labourer is to +be raised to comparative affluence by a minimum wage of 25_s._ a week, and +the rest of us are to go without most of our imported luxuries and a good +many necessities. So impressed were Members by the gloominess of the +prospect that the moment the speech was over they rushed out to secure what +they felt might be their last really substantial luncheon, and Mr. DAVID +MASON, who had nobly essayed to fill the breach caused by Mr. ASQUITH'S +absence, was soon talking to empty benches. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: _The Big 'Un._ "MY DEAR FELLOW! IS IT REALLY TRUE THAT YOU +HAVE TO JOIN UP?" + +_The Little 'Un._ "YES; BUT DON'T LET IT GET ABOUT. YOU SEE, THE IDEA IS TO +SPRING IT ON THE GERMANS, AS IT WERE, IN MARCH."] + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: ACROBAT, HAVING BEEN OFFICIALLY INFORMED THAT HE BELONGS TO +ONE OF THE NON-ESSENTIAL PROFESSIONS, DETERMINES NEVERTHELESS TO DEVOTE HIS +TALENT TO THE CAUSE OF HIS SUFFERING FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN.] + + * * * * * + +THE COMPLIMENT. + +We all know the man with a grievance and avoid him. But there is another +man with a grievance whom I rather like, and this is his story. I must, of +course, let him tell it in the first-person-singular, because otherwise +what is the use of having a grievance at all? The first-person-singular +narrative form is the grievance's compensation. Listen. + +"I am an old Oxonian who joined the Royal Naval Division as an ordinary +seaman not long after the outbreak of the War, and being perhaps not too +physically vigorous and having a certain rhetorical gift, developed at the +Union, I was told off, after some months' training, to take part in a +recruiting campaign. We pursued the usual tactics. First a trumpeter +awakened the neighbourhood, very much as Mr. HAWTREY is aroused from his +coma in his delightful new play, and then the people drew round. One by one +we mounted whatever rostrum there was--a drinking fountain, say--and spoke +our little piece, urging the claims of country. + +"As a rule the audience was either errand-boys, girls or old men; but we +did our best. + +"Sometimes, however, there would be an evening meeting in a public +building, and then the proceedings were more formal and pretentious. The +trumpeter disappeared and a chairman would open the ball. The occasion of +which I am thinking was one of these meetings in the East End, where the +Chairman was a local tradesman. He said that this was a war for liberty and +that England could never sheathe the sword until Belgium was free; he told +the audience how many of his relations were fighting; and then he made way +for our gallant boys in blue who were to address the company. + +"Well, we addressed the company, I by no means the least of the orators, +and then the Chairman wound up the meeting. He said how much he had enjoyed +the speeches and how much he hoped that they would bear good fruit; and +indeed he felt confident of that, because 'we 'ere in the East End are +plain straight-forward folk, who like plain straight-forward talk, and we +would rather listen to the honest 'omely sailors who 'ave been talking to +us this evening, than any fine Oxford gentleman.'" + +That is the story of my friend with a grievance. And yet, now I come to +think about it again, and his manner of telling it, I'm not sure I ought +not rather to call him a man with a triumph. + + * * * * * + + "Farmer's Daughter wanted, to learn daughter Cheddar cheesemaking for 1 + month, from March 25th; 25 cows; treated as family."--_Bristol Times + and Mirror_. + +A little less than kin and more than kine. + + * * * * * + + "Washington, Thursday. + + The representatives of thirty leading American railways have agreed + virtually to an embargo on eastern shipments of freight for export + until the present congestion on the eastern sideboard is + relieved."--_Evening Standard_. + +This is all very well for the Americans, but what we are concerned about is +the depletion of our own sideboard. + + * * * * * + +From an official advertisement in favour of tillage:-- + + "An acre of Oats will + feed for a week . . 100 people. + An acre of Potatoes . 200 " + " " of Beef . . 8 " "--_Irish Times_. + +We understand that Lord DEVONPORT accepts no responsibility for the last +statement. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: _Father_. "YOU'RE VERY BACKWARD. THERE'S NORMAN SMITHERS, +THE SAME AGE AS YOU, AND HE'S TWO FORMS HIGHER. AREN'T YOU ASHAMED?" + +_Hopeful_. "NO. HE CAN'T HELP IT--IT'S HEREDITARY."] + + * * * * * + +THE MAMMAL-SAURIAN WAR. + +A PARABLE OF GERMANY'S COLONIES. + + Long ages ere the Age of Man, + While yet this earthly crust was thinnish, + The War of Might and Right began, + Proceeding swiftly to a finish; + And this provides in many ways + An object-lesson nowadays. + + The Saurians, clad in coats of mail, + Shone with a most attractive lustre; + Strong claws, long limbs, a longer tail-- + They pinned their faith to bulk and bluster; + They laid their eggs in every land + And hid them deftly in the sand. + + The Mammals, small as yet and few, + Relying less on scales and muscles, + Developed diaphragms, and grew + Non-nucleated red corpuscles; + They walked more nimbly on their legs + And learnt the art of sucking eggs. + + The Saurians, spoiling for a fight, + Went off in high explosive fashion; + They lashed themselves to left and right + Into a pre-historic passion; + The Mammals, on the other hand, + Ate all their eggs up in the sand. + + Those precious eggs, a source of pride + On which the Saurian hopes depended, + Kept all their enemies supplied + With life by which their own was ended; + And where they fondly hoped to spread + The Mammals lived and throve instead. + + And so the Saurians passed from view, + Leaving behind the faintest traces, + No longer bent on hacking through, + Though looking still for sunny places; + Dwarfed to a more convenient size + They spend their time in catching flies. + + * * * * * + +THE NON-STOP LINGUIST. + + "To O.C. ... From ... Brigade. ---- Corps requires services of an + officer who can speak Italian fluently for four or five days." + + * * * * * + + "Under the auspices of the Women's Reform Club, a Ladies' Fancy Dress + Ball will be held at the Residential Club, Main Street. No Gentlemen. + No Wallflowers. Ladies may appear in mail attire."--_Bulawayo + Chronicle_. + +In their "knighties," so to speak? + + * * * * * + +ANOTHER IMPENDING APOLOGY. + + "Bosley and district churchmen have thus a gaol set before them which + it should be and, no doubt, will be their aim to reach as soon as + possible."--_Congleton Chronicle_. + + * * * * * + + "A few minutes later, with his suit-case in one hand and his + type-writer in the other, he let himself out at the + front-door,"--_Munsey's Magazine_. + +Another case of the Hidden Hand. + + * * * * * + + "Horse (vanner), thick set, 16 hands, 7 years, master 2 tons, reason + sale, requires care when taken out of harness."--_Birmingham Daily + Mail_. + +Any horse might be excused for kicking up his heels on getting rid of a +master of that weight. + + * * * * * + + "Furnished room wanted; preferable where chicken run."--_Enfield + Gazette_. + +Our landlady won't let us keep even a canary in ours. + + * * * * * + + "BARONY UNITED FREE CHURCH.--Special Lecture--'The Great War Novel, Mr. + Bristling Sees it Through.'"_--Glasgow Evening News_. + +Mr. WELLS ought to have thought of this. + + * * * * * + +HELPING LORD DEVONPORT. + +"Francesca," I said, "what are you doing to help Lord DEVONPORT?" + +"Lots of things," she said. "For one thing, we're living under his +ration-scheme, and we're doing it pretty well, thank you." + +"Yes, I know," I said; "I've heard you mention it once or twice. It seems +to consist very largely of rissoles and that kind of food." + +"Well," she said, "we must use up everything; and, besides, you'd soon get +tired of beefsteak if I gave it to you every day." + +"Tired of beefsteak?" I said. "Never. The toughest steak would always be a +joy to me." + +"I've come to the conclusion," she said, "that men really like their +eatables tough." + +"Yes, they want something they can bite into, you know." + +"But you can't bite into our beefsteak, now can you?" + +"Perhaps not," I said, "but you can't help feeling it's there, which is a +great help when you're being rationed." + +"That," she said, "may be all very well for a man, but women don't care for +that feeling. They like their food light but stimulating." + +"They do," I said, "and they prefer it all brought in on one tray and at +irregular hours. Lord DEVONPORT'S scheme is to them a sort of wicked +abundance. To a man it is--" + +"Plenty and to spare," she said. "Why, you won't have to tighten your belt +even by one hole. Now admit, if you hadn't known you were being rationed +you'd never have found it out." + +"I will admit," I said, "that if the privations we have suffered this last +week in the matter of beefsteaks and that kind of food are the worst that +can happen to us we shan't have much to complain of--but I should like a +chop to-night instead of a rissole." + +"You can call it a chop if you like, but it's going to be a cutlet." + +"Well, anyhow," I said, "we don't seem to be doing as much as we might for +Lord DEVONPORT." + +"You're wrong," she said; "I'm keeping hens in the stable-yard." + +"Hens? What do you know about hens?" + +"For the matter of that, what do you?" + +"That's not the question," I said, "but I'll answer it all the same. I know +that most hens are called Buff Orpingtons, and that they never lay any eggs +unless you put a china egg in their nest just to coax them along and rouse +their ambition. Francesca, have you put a china egg where our Buff +Orpingtons can see it?" + +"Frederick is looking after these domestic details. He seems to think that +if he goes to the hen-house every ten minutes or so the laying of eggs will +be promoted. Won't you go round with him next time?" + +"No," I said, "I've never seen a hen lay an egg yet, and I'm not going to +begin at my time of life. Besides, I've already said they never lay eggs +even when you don't watch them." + +"Wrong again," she said. "We got one egg this morning." + +"Francesca," I said, "this _is_ exciting. Did the happy mother announce the +event to the world in the usual way?" + +"Yes, she screamed and cackled for about a quarter-of-an-hour, and +Frederick came along and seized the subject of her rejoicing. You're going +to have it to-night, boiled, instead of soup and fish." + +"Isn't that splendid?" I said. "At this rate we shall soon be +self-supporting, and then we can snap our fingers at Lord DEVONPORT." + +"I never snap my fingers," she said. "No well-brought-up hen-keeper ever +does. Besides, it's our duty to help the Government all we can, so that +Lord DEVONPORT may have so much more to play with." + +"Why should he want to play with it?" I said. "He doesn't strike me as +being that kind of man at all." + +"I daresay he plays in his off-hours." + +"A man like that," I said, "hasn't any off-hours. He's chin-deep in his +work." + +"Anyhow," she said, "I should like him to know that we're pulling up the +herbaceous border and planting it with potatoes, and that we've started +keeping hens, and that we've already got one egg, and that when the time +comes we shall not lack for chicken, roast or boiled." + +"Francesca," I said, "how can you allude so flippantly to the tragedies +which are inseparable from the possession of Buff Orpingtons? In the +morning a young bird struts about in his pride, resolved to live his life +fearlessly and to salute the dawn at any and every hour before the break of +day. Then something happens: a gardener, a family man not naturally +ruthless, comes upon the scene; there is a short but terrible struggle; a +neck (not the gardener's) is wrung, and there is chicken for dinner." + +"Don't move me," she said, "to tears, or I shall have to countermand your +egg. Besides, I don't think I could ever make a real friend of a fowl. +They've got such silly ways and their eyes are so beady." + +"Their ways are not sillier nor are their eyes beadier than our Mrs. +Burwell's, yet she is honoured as a pillar of propriety, while they--no +matter; I hope the chicken when its moment comes will be tender and +succulent." + +"Hark!" said Francesca. + +"Yes," I said, "another egg has come into the world, and there's Frederick +rushing round like a mad thing with a basket, to find himself once more too +late. Never mind," I said, "I can have two boiled eggs to-night with my +chop,--I mean cutlet." + +"No," she said. + +"Yes," I said, "and you can have all the rissoles." + +R.C.L. + + * * * * * + +ON PROMOTION TO FIELD RANK. + + I remember a day when I felt quite tall + Because of a gift of five whole shillings; + I was Johnson major then, I recall, + And didn't I swank and put on frillings! + + Well, we know that children are parents of men; + And, now that I'm getting an ancient stager, + Here am I pleased with a crown again, + And signing myself as Johnson, Major. + + * * * * * + + "Experienced General disengaged 1st March, one lady; no washing; would + take England."--_Irish Times_. + +The advertiser should wire to KAISER, Potsdam. + + * * * * * + + "During the night an enemy raiding party in the neighbourhood of + Gueudecourt was driven off by our baggage before reaching our + line."--_Continental Daily Mail_. + +There is no end to our warlike inventions. First the Tanks, and now the +Trunks. + + * * * * * + + "The Tigris, immediately above Kut, runs South-East for about four + miles. Then there is a sharp bend, and its course is almost due South + for about the same distance. Then against the stream it goes due North + for about the same distance."--_Glasgow Citizen_. + +With the river behaving in this unnatural fashion General MAUDE deserves +all the greater credit for his success. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: _She_ (_referring to host_). "YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING +RATHER NICE ABOUT MR. THOMKINS-SMITH." + +_He._ "YES--I THINK IT MUST BE HIS WIFE."] + + * * * * * + +OUR BOOKING-OFFICE. + +(_By Mr. Punch's Staff of Learned Clerks._) + +_War and the Future_ (CASSELL), by Mr. H.G. WELLS, is not a sustained +thesis but just jets of comment and flashes of epigram about the War as he +has seen it on the French, Italian and British fronts, and has thought +about it in peaceful Essex. A characteristic opening chapter, "The Passing +of the Effigy," suggests that "the Kaiser is perhaps the last of that long +series of crowned and cloaked and semi-divine personages which has included +Caesar and Alexander and Napoleon the First--and Third. In the light of the +new time we see the emperor-god for the guy he is." Generalissimo JOFFRE, +on the other hand, he found to be a decent most capable man, without fuss +and flummery, doing a distasteful job of work singularly well. There is +some particularly interesting matter about aeroplane work, and the writer +betrays a keen distress lest the cavalry notions of the soldiers of the old +school should make them put their trust in the horsemen rather than the +airmen in the break-through. As for "tanks," he offers the alternative of +organised world control or a new warfare of mammoth landships, to which the +devastation of this War will be merely sketchy; but I doubt if he quite +makes his point here. And finally this swift-dreaming thinker proclaims a +vision which he has seen of a new world-wide interrelated republicanism +founded on a recognition of the over-lordship of God.... You put the book +down feeling you have had a long, desultory and intimate conversation with +a very interesting fellow-traveller. + + * * * * * + +Really, if Mr. ROBERT HICHENS continues his present spendthrift course, +whatever Board controls the consumption of paper will have to put him on +half rations. I believe that his literary health would benefit enormously +by such a regime. This was my first thought in contemplating the almost six +hundred pages of _In the Wilderness_ (METHUEN), and it persists, +strengthened now that I have turned the last, of them. Here is a direct and +moving tragedy of three lives, much of the appeal of which is lost in a fog +of superfluous words. Of its theme I will tell you only this, that it shows +the contrasting loves, material and physical, of two widely divergent types +of womanhood. Probably human nature, rather than Mr. HICHENS, should be +blamed for the fact that the unmoral _Cynthia_ is many times more +interesting than the virtuous but slightly fatiguing _Rosamund_. The former +is indeed far the most vital character in the tale, a figure none the less +sinister for its clever touch of austerity. Possibly, however, her success +is to some extent due to contrast; for certainly both _Rosamund_ and +_Dion_, the husband whom she alienated by her unforgiving nature, embody +all the worst characteristics of Mr. HICHEN'S creations. Perhaps you know +what I mean. Chiefly it is a matter of super-sensibility to surroundings, +which renders them so fluid that often the scenery seems to push them +about. It is this, coupled with the author's own lingering pleasure in a +romantic setting, that delays the conflict, which is the real motive of the +book, over long. But once this has come to grips the interest and the skill +of it will hold you a willing captive to Mr. HICHENS at his best. + + * * * * * + +Much as I have enjoyed some previous work by Baroness VON HUTTEN I am glad +to say that I consider _Magpie_ (HUTCHINSON) her best yet. It is indeed a +long time since I read a happier or more holding story. The title is a +punning one, as the heroine's name is really _Margaret Pye_, but I am more +than willing to overlook this for the sake of the pleasantly-drawn young +woman to whom it refers and the general interest of the tale. Briefly, this +has two movements, one forward, which deals with the evolution of _Mag_ +from a fat, rather down-at-heel little carrier of washing into the charming +young lady of the cover; the other retrospective, and concerned with the +mystery of a wonderful artist who has disappeared before the story opens. I +have no idea of clearing up, or even further indicating, this problem to +you. But I will say that the secret is so adroitly kept that the perfect +orgy of elucidation in the final chapter left me a little breathless. Of +course the whole thing is a fairy tale, with a baker's dozen of glaring +improbabilities; but I am much mistaken if you will enjoy it the less for +that. A quaint personal touch, which (to anyone who does not recall the +cast of _Pinkie and the Fairies_ on its revival) might well seem an +impertinence, produced in me the comfortable glow of superiority that +rewards the well-informed. But I can assure Baroness VON HUTTEN that she is +all wrong about the acting of that particular part. + + * * * * * + +As it is not Mr. Punch's habit to admit reviews of periodical publications, +I ought to say that the case of _The New Europe_ (CONSTABLE), whose first +completed volume lies before me, is exceptional. In thirty years' +experience of journalism I never remember a paper containing so much +"meat"--some of it pretty strong meat, too--in proportion to its size. In +hardly a single week since its first issue in October last have I failed to +find between its tangerine-coloured covers some article giving me +information that I did not know before, or furnishing a fresh view of +something with which I thought myself familiar. And I take it there are +many other writers--and even, perhaps, some statesmen--who have enjoyed the +same experience. Dr. SETON-WATSON and the accomplished collaborators who +march under his orange oriflamme may not always convince us (I am not sure, +for example, that _Austria est delenda_ may prove the only or the best +prescription for bringing freedom to the Jugo-Slavs of South-Eastern +Europe), but they always furnish the reader with the facts enabling him to +test their conclusions; and that in these times is a great merit. My own +feeling is that if they had begun their concerted labours a few years +earlier the War might never have happened; or at least we should have gone +into it with a much more accurate notion of the real aims of the Central +Powers, and a much better chance of quickly defeating them. The tragedies +of Serbia and Roumania would almost certainly have been averted. + + * * * * * + +I am unable to hold out much prospect that you will find _Frailty_ +(CASSELL) a specially enlivening book. The scope of Miss OLIVE WADSLEY'S +story, sufficiently indicated by its title, does not admit of humorous +relief. But it is both vigorous and vital. Certainly it seemed hard luck on +_Charles Ley_ that, after heroically curing himself of the drug habit, he +should marry the girl of his choice only to find her a victim to strong +drink. But of course, had this not happened, the "punch" of Miss WADSLEY'S +tale would have been weakened by half. Do not, however, be alarmed; the +author knows when to stop, and confines her awful examples to these two, +thereby avoiding the error of Mrs. HENRY WOOD, who (you may recall) plunged +the entire cast of _Danesbury House_ into a flood of alcohol. Not that Miss +WADSLEY herself lacks for courage; she can rise unusually to the demands of +a situation, and I have seldom read chapters more moving of their kind than +those that depict the gradual conquest of _Charles_ by the cocaine fiend, +and his subsequent struggle back to freedom. Here the "strong" writing +seemed to me both natural and in place; ever so much more convincing +therefore than when employed upon the love scenes. I have my doubts +whether, even in this age of what I might call the trampling suitor, anyone +was over quite so heavy-booted over the affair as was _Charles_ when he +carried off his chosen mate from a small-and-early in Grosvenor Square. +Fortunately the other parts of the story are less melodramatic, and make it +emphatically a book not to be missed. + + * * * * * + +Happy is the reviewer with a book which gives him so much delightful +information that he tries to ration himself to so many pages per day. This +is what I resolved to do with _In the Northern Mists_ (HODDER AND +STOUGHTON); but I could not keep to my resolution, so attractive was the +fare. These sketches are the work of a Grand Fleet Chaplain, and are packed +with wisdom from all the ages. If you haven't the luck to be a sailor you +will learn a lot from this admirable theologian about the men and methods +and the spirit of the Grand Fleet. His book fills me with pride; yet I dare +not express it for fear of offending the notorious modesty of the senior +service. So shy indeed is our Fleet of praise that I feel my apologies are +due to their Chaplain for my perfectly honest commendation of his book. But +he seems human enough to pardon the more venial sins. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: A CASE FOR RATIONING. + +"YOUR LITTLE DOG DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND THE WEATHER. I SUPPOSE HIS COAT KEEPS +HIM WARM." + +"I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT ALTOGETHER. YOU SEE, HE HAS RUM-AND-MILK WITH HIS +CUTLET EVERY MORNING BEFORE HE GOES OUT."] + + * * * * * + + "Peterborough's youngest investor was Herbert Trollope Gill, barely + three months old, who subscribed the whole of his life's savings. He + arrived at the bank with his mother, and there was poured out before + the astonished gaze of the officials four hundred threepenny + pieces."--_Weekly Dispatch_. + +We congratulate HERBERT on his patriotism and regret that it should have +compelled him to go into liquidation. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. +152, February 28, 1917, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PUNCH *** + +***** This file should be named 14639.txt or 14639.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/3/14639/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Keith Edkins and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |
