Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, September 2nd, 1893Various
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, September 2nd, 1893
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
The Emperor NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE expressed his satisfaction that he
should have been allowed to take the lead in this matter. It reminded
him of old times, when he took the lead in everything. ("_Hear,
hear._") He represented, he supposed, "Biographies in General,"--as he
had not much sympathy with British worthies. He wished bygones to
be bygones (_"Hear, hear"_), but he must say that the conduct of Sir
HUDSON LOWE was---- (_Interruption._) Well, he did not wish to press
the matter further. ("_Hear, hear._") There was no doubt that unless a
man wrote his autobiography he was always misrepresented. (_Cheers._)
It was high time that some control should be put upon the publication
of the lives of those who had joined the majority. He had much
pleasure in proposing the following resolution: "It is the opinion
of this meeting of Shades assembled in council in Elysium that steps
should be taken to prevent the dissemination of false information
about their prior existences."
Sir WALTER SCOTT said that it gave him great pleasure to second a
resolution moved with such admirable discretion by his imperial and
heroic friend the last speaker. He had the greater satisfaction in
doing this as it might lead to a new and amended edition of his own
"_Life of Napoleon_."
A Shade, who refused to give either his name or address, begged to
oppose the motion. In his opinion modern biographies were a great deal
better than work of the same kind of an earlier date. ("_No, no._")
But he said "Yes, yes." It was now quite the fashion to whitewash
everyone. He would testify that he recently read a biography of
himself without recognising the subject. Since then his self esteem
had increased a hundred fold. (_Laughter._) He thought it would be a
great mistake to interfere. They had much better leave things as they
were.
Mr. WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE (who was received with applause) asked
permission to offer a practical suggestion. Although he was a poet,
he was also a man of business. (_Laughter._) He spoke smarting under
a personal grievance. It was common knowledge that only a short while
ago the bulk of his works was declared to have been written by Bacon.
(Cries of "_Shame._") However, it was no use to pass resolutions
unless they could carry them into effect. He would therefore move
an amendment to the resolution already before them, to the following
effect: "That to carry out any arrangement that may be considered
necessary, those present pledge themselves to subscribe a crown
a piece." He proposed this under the impression that, granted the
requisite funds, it would be possible to communicate with the mundane
authorities.
Sir ISAAC NEWTON had much pleasure in seconding the amendment. He
might add, that it was quite within the resources of science to do all
that was required. He would explain in detail how it could be done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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