Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, September 9, 1893Various
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, September 9, 1893
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
_Tuesday._--BURNIE burning with curiosity to know whether 'tis true,
as boldly rumoured, that Duke of CONNAUGHT has been appointed to
chief command of Army at Aldershot? If so, on what grounds?
CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN with strategic brevity answered that appointment
had been made in accordance with principle of selection of the
fittest. House, moderately full at moment, received the explanation
with much less enthusiasm than might have been expected. This
encouraged gentlemen below gangway to persist in divers enquiries
designed to illustrate, and perchance establish, C.-B.'s position.
ALPHEUS CLEOPHAS joined in hunt; particularly anxious to know what
experience in real fighting the new Commander had enjoyed? "He was
in command of brigade in Egyptian expedition," said C.-B., making an
involuntary sword-pass at ALPHEUS.
"Yes," persisted that matter-of-fact person; "but will the right hon.
gentleman tell us how near or how far away from the real fighting the
Duke of CONNAUGHT stood?"
No authentic record being in archives of War Office, SECRETARY OF
STATE declined to commit himself to reply. Later, in Committee,
ALPHEUS staggered Civil Lord of the Admiralty with enquiry as to
steam-launch built at Portsmouth dockyard for Duke of CONNAUGHT "at
the expense of the people." "What has become of that launch?" ALPHEUS
asked, fixing ROBERTSON with gleaming eye, as if he suspected he might
have it concealed somewhere about his person. ROBERTSON tremblingly
answered that he knew nothing about it. ALPHEUS not by any means
mollified; means to bring up whole subject in Committee on Army
Estimates.
_Business done._--Over four millions voted on Navy Estimates by some
twenty or thirty Members representing House of Commons.
_Wednesday._--Mr. G. made fine speech to-day, moving Third Reading of
Home-Rule Bill. Benefited immensely by compression; only an hour long;
but full of meat and matter. Long grown accustomed to these supreme
efforts of Perennial Youth. A series this Session which, in respect of
eloquence, vitality, and force, will stand comparison with any equal
number delivered in what was (erroneously it now turns out) regarded
as his prime.
More interesting as an episode was the reappearance on the
Parliamentary stage of a DISRAELI. CONINGSBY has sat in House for full
Session; wisely abstained from imprudence of young Member of to-day,
who takes the oath at four o'clock and catches the SPEAKER'S eye
at ten. Now, in these closing days of Session, on seventy-ninth day
debate Home-Rule Bill, CONINGSBY modestly thinks "the time has come
when they _shall_ hear me."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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