Visitors of all grades of society linger long before these narrow cells, and I have often seen them rap with their knuckles the Newgate bell, which never fails to respond with a soft mellow resonance, reminding one of the time-honoured couplet, deeply inscribed upon it: Ye people all who hear me ring Be faithful to your God and King. CHAPTER L Tussaud’s in verse--Tom Hood’s quatrain--“Alfred among the Immortals”--A refuge for Cabinet Ministers--Two dialogues--“This is fame!” On very many occasions Madame Tussaud’s has been the subject of prose and verse in the public Press. I have already given a few extracts. Here are other quotations, some of which will surely raise a smile. [Illustration: TOM HOOD Tom Hood was one of the first of a long line of authors and editors who paid tribute to Madame Tussaud’s.] Tom Hood, the prince of punsters, honoured us with the following quatrain: The stillborn figures of Madame Tussaud, With their eyes of glass and their hair of flax, They only stare whatever you ax, For their ears, you know, are nothing but wax. _Punch_ has always been very fond of honouring us with quips and sallies regarding portraits that seemed to merit such good-humoured attention. The dapper and debonair late Poet Laureate, Mr. Alfred Austin, had not long been added to the collection when our genial jester coruscated as follows: [Illustration: ALFRED AUSTIN Poet Laureate 1896-1913.] ALFRED AMONG THE IMMORTALS. THE POET LAUREATE IS ON VIEW AT MADAME TUSSAUD’S. “Let them gibe, let them jeer, Let them snigger and sneer At my dramas, my lays, and my odes! Others know my true worth-- ’Mid the great ones on earth, They’ve enshrined me at Madame Tussaud’s.” A more recent contribution from a light versifier runs: There’s a refuge, if Cabinet duties cease, Where Ministers anxious to rest--with _Peace_-- May do so. Political stars who are on the wane In a popular Chamber may wax again _Chez_ Tussaud. Here is another quotation from _Punch_: There once was a Madame called Tussaud Who loved the grand folk in _Who’s Who_, so That she made them in wax, Both their fronts and their backs, And asked no permission to do so. One thing is to be noted about the last two quotations: the writer gives the right pronunciation to the name Tussaud, whereas other “poets” often make it rhyme with “swords”--a common error. There was a picture in _Moonshine_, in which a policeman was separating two quarrelling errand boys. “Now then, you boys!” said the officer. Young Pat: “Shure an’ it’s all him. Hitting me, an’ I’ve got a uncle a Mimber of Parliament, I have.” Young John: “And what of that? Why did he cheek me? I’m as good as him. I’ve got an uncle in Madame Tussaud’s.”