The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities — David Hume — John Shaqi
The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
David Hume · en
However, as a matter of course, there will be a continual succession of
cheap trips under the influence of Crisp. Every Englishman, who can
afford to spend a week and a five-pound note in the pursuit of pleasure,
will be sure to go. For in addition to the "MAGNIFICENT SCENERY," "FREE
ADMISSION TO ALL THE PYRAMIDS," &c. &c., the advertisements will
doubtless assure us that in every town at which the train stops, a
professor will be engaged, so that whilst the travellers are swallowing
their soup, they may be crammed with a complete knowledge of the
language of the country—a process which will enable Englishmen to digest
Coptic and Oxtail at one and the same time.
This Railway will assuredly be the making of Egypt and the Egyptians. In
a very little time the Desert Sara will become as lively as Cremorne,
and its sands as much frequented by the ladies as those of Ramsgate
while the gentlemen are bathing. Villages will spring up in the bosom of
the country almost as rapidly as mustard and cress would in the bosom of
an Irishman. The sources of the Nile will afford beautiful spots for
picnics where parties bringing their own tea may be accommodated with
hot water; and the great Lake of Mæris will of course be thoroughly
repaired, and opened as a National Swimming Bath—warranted free from
Crocodiles.
[Illustration:
_Cheap Excursion Trains_—
]
Then the Pyramids will be just the very place for some Mustapha Bunn to
begin an operatic season in; the only thing required to be done will be
to fit up each Sarcophagus as a private box; get a monster band with a
mammoth ophicleide to play the Desert, and engage the celebrated vocal
statue of Memnon to sing a solo. What a splendid joke too for the clown
to let off on the first night of the Pantomime; when, after turning his
toes in, rolling his eyes, and thrusting his tongue out, he cries, "Here
we are again! Thirty centuries are a-lookin' down on us! Somebody's
a-coming!" This alone would fill the Pyramids.
Then again as a place for posters, the Pyramids would soon "shut up"
Waterloo Bridge. Noses and Son alone doubtless would engage one entire
side of Ptolemy's, whilst Jullien would cover Cyphreus with a monster
broadside.
Of course all caravans would be superseded, and camels only used for
picnics and penny rides at fairs. The once-renowned Ben Haroun ad Deen
will be waiting to comfort the hungry passenger, crying aloud as he
stands beneath the glorious Sphinx, "Allah is good!—Baked 'taturs all
hot!—and Mahomet is his Prophet. Here's your prime flowery sort!" Whilst
the once bloodthirsty Ben Hassan, as he leans against the bright gas-lit
Cleopatra's Needle, will lift up his voice with "May the Prophet bless
you. Ham sandwiches a penny."