Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, CompleteVarious
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
The lovely pupils were first seen returning from their morning walk in
double file, hearts beating and ribbons flying; for they encountered at
the door of the school three yeomanry officers. The military being very
civil, the eldest of the girls discharged a volley of glances; and
nothing could exceed the skill and precision with which the ladies
performed their eye-practice, the effects of which were destructive
enough to set the yeomanry in a complete flame; and being thus primed
and loaded for closer engagements with their charming adversaries, they
go off.
The scholars then proceed to their duties in the interior of the
academy, and we find them busily engaged in the study of The Complete
Loveletter [pg 108]Writer. It is wonderful the progress they make even
in one lesson; the basis of it being a billet each has received from the
red-coats. The exercises they have to write are answers to the notes,
and were found, on examination, to contain not a single error; thus
proving the astonishing efficacy of the Bernardian system of Belles
Lettres.
Meanwhile the captain, by despatching his subalterns on special duty,
leaves himself a clear field, and sets a good copy in strategetics, by
disguising himself as a fruit-woman, and getting into the play-ground,
for the better distribution of apples and glances, lollipops and kisses,
hard-bake and squeezes of the hand. The stratagem succeeds admirably;
the enemy is fast giving way, under the steady fire of shells (Spanish-
nut) and kisses, thrown with great precision amongst their ranks, when
the lieutenant and cornet of the troop cause a diversion by an open
attack upon the fortress; and having made a practicable breach (in their
manners), enter without the usual formulary of summoning the governess.
She, however, appears, surrounded by her staff, consisting of a teacher
and a page, and the engagement becomes general. In the end, the yeomanry
are routed with great losstheir hearts being made prisoners by the
senior students of this Royal Military Academy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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