Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, July 8, 1914Various
General
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, July 8, 1914
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
Mr. Bloshclick, who lately won the South-West Devon Singles
Championship at Sidmouth, is not a native of Antananarivo, as has been
stated, but is, we are informed, of Zulu origin.
We regret to report that Mr. Wail met with an unfortunate accident at
Broadstairs ten days ago. As a spectator at the annual Lawn Tennis
Tournament he was demonstrating to a group of experts the methods which
Mr. Wilding ought properly to employ in making his lifting forehand
drive, when he struck himself a violent blow on the head, partly
severing the right ear. This is the second time Mr. Wail has met with
the accident, but we are glad to hear that he is making a satisfactory
recovery.
* * * * *
Illustration: _Tramp_ (_suddenly appearing at riverside camping
party_). "BEG YER PARDON, GUV'NOR, BUT COULD YER LEND ME A BATHIN'
SUIT?"
* * * * *
"Cigarette Makers (Female), round and flat."--_Advt. in "Daily
Chronicle."_
Who makes round cigarettes (or flat) should herself be round (or flat)
respectively.
* * * * *
"WANTED.--Anything old to do with the Church or Church Services;
preference given to examples with dates or inscriptions."
_Advt. in "The Challenge."_
We were just going to offer our Vicar, but he has no inscription on him.
* * * * *
PLATITUDES: THE NEW GAME.
It is based on "Bromides" and any one can play it. The least educated
has a chance of winning and an Oxford degree is no bar to success--quite
the reverse, in fact; indeed I have known dons....
This is how it is played. Two people are seated in easy-chairs, for it
has been found that you cannot be too comfortable for this game; any
discomfort is apt to excite the mind, to disturb the grey matter, to
interfere with that complete repose which is so essential a feature of
the contest. These two are the players. They indulge in small talk and
the smaller talker wins. The object of each player is to make such
inanely conventional remarks that his opponent is reduced to silence.
For example you are sitting next to a bishop, and it falls to you to
start the conversation. Of course you don't say anything like "How sad
about this Kikuyu business." No, you open like this. "Are you fond of
dancing?" you say. The bishop will reply coldly, "It is many years since
I danced." You sigh and murmur, "Ah! the dear old days!" I cannot
imagine what his lordship will say next.
Of course the conversation in Platitudes must be connected and coherent.
There is no use repeating "Wollah wollah, gollah gollah, ASQUITH must
go, We want eight," or things of that sort. And you must not make mere
blank statements like "The number of cigars annually imported into the
U.S.A. is 26,714,811," unless they can be introduced deftly into the
conversation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account