Read Ebook: Punch or the London Charivari Volume 104 January 28 1893 by Various Burnand F C Francis Cowley Editor

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For a Byronic Exam.

"AGAIN WE COME TO THEE, SAVOY!" .--It is rumoured that the separation, on account of incompatibility of temper, between a certain distinguished Composer and an eminent Librettist has come to an end. Its end is peace--that is, an Operatic piece. They have met; the two have embraced, and will, no doubt, live happily ever afterwards, on the same terms as before, with the third party present, whose good offices it is pretty generally understood have brought about this veritable "Reunion of Arts."

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

Few things so annoying to me, personally, as the romancer speaking of his chief puppets as "our friends." This LAWRENCE FLETCHER is perpetually doing. Now his heroes are not "my friends," for, when I read, I am strictly impartial, at all events, through two-thirds of the book, and, if I learn to love any one or two of them, male or female, I should still resent the author's presuming to speak of them as "our friends." To do so from the first is simply impudent presumption on the part of the author, as why, on earth, should he assume that his creations--his children--should be as dear to us as they are to him?

No--"Our friends," so used, is a mistake.

The influence of RIDER HAGGARD is over the whole book, but in two instances the author has been unable to resist close imitation, nay, almost quotation of a well-known Haggardism, and so he writes at p. 130:--

"Just then a very wonderful and awful thing happened."

And at p. 197:--

"When suddenly, and without an instant's warning, a most awful thing happened."

Both variations on a Haggardism, and both equally spoilt in the process of transferring and adapting.

One sentence, the utterance of a Zulu chief, is well worth quoting, and it is this:--

"But empty hands are evil things wherewith to face a well-armed spook."

"The well-armed spook" is a joy for ever.

Here is something that this novelist having written may well lay to heart,

"Now," quoth the Baron, meditatively, "if purity of English, with or without a white skin, is the unmistakable mark of a 'British subject,' then it follows that Mr. LAWRENCE FLETCHER is of some nationality other than British. At least, such is the logical conclusion arrived at by his humble but critical servant,

"THE BARON DE B. W. 'B. B.' "

"All's Well that Ends Well."

YOUNG ABBAS thought to catch Lord CROMER napping. Perhaps he'll not again try weasel-trapping. E'en HOMER sometimes nods. 'Tis true--of HOMER; But ABBAS thinks 'tis not--as yet--of CROMER!

MRS. R. has read that the Christy Minstrels are turned into a Limited Company, but, before subscribing for shares, she wants to know if she would have to black her face? But what she objects to most is, that the principal performers rattle their own bones!

THE MAN FROM BLANKLEY'S.

A STORY IN SCENES.

NOTICE.--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception.

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