[Illustration: A YOUNG REPUBLICAN LITTLE LORD CHARLES: "Oh, _I'm_ going to be an _Omnibus Conductor_, when _I_ grow up." FAIR AMERICAN: "But your brother's going to be a _Duke_, isn't he?" L. L. C.: "Ah, yes; but that's about all he's _fit_ for, you know!"] [Sidenote: _Punch on the Duke of Cambridge_] No charge of courtiership, however, could be brought against _Punch_ for his treatment of the question of the retirement of the Duke of Cambridge in 1895 from the post of Commander-in-Chief. In "All the Difference" Lord Wolseley is shown saying to the Duke: "In September I have to retire from my appointment," and the Duke replies, "Dear me! _I_ haven't." The same idea is developed in some satirical verses glorifying the "Spirit of Eld," which was allowed to dominate the conduct of high affairs of State. But when the Duke did go in November, _Punch_ was more gracious. His "parting salute," put into the mouth of Tommy Atkins, forms a friendly gloss on what Lord Wolseley had said in his first Army order; and when the Duke died in 1904, _Punch's_ four-line tribute is a model of laconic and judicial appreciation:-- The years that saw old customs changed to new Still left his spirit changeless to the end, Who served his kindred's Throne a long life through And died, as he had lived, the soldier's friend. Modern Royal Annals are largely made up of "marriage and death and division," and laureates, unofficial as well as official, are largely concerned with the two former. The death of Prince Henry of Battenberg from fever incurred while on active service in Ashanti in 1896 enabled _Punch_ to pay decorous and not extravagant homage to the "servant of duty." He had a much better theme in the death of the Prince's brilliant and ill-starred brother Alexander, in 1893, and the verses are not unworthy of one who was too great a gentleman to be a successful adventurer:-- Europe's Prince Charming, lion-like, born to dare, Betrayed by the black treacherous Northern Bear! Soldier successful vainly, patriot foiled, Wooer discomfited, and hero spoiled! Triumphant champion of Slivnitza's field, To sordid treachery yet doomed to yield. An age more chivalrous you should have seen, When brutal brokers, and when bagmen keen Shamed not the sword and blunted not the lance. Then had you been true Hero of Romance.