Mr. Punch's Life in London 20 – Anonymous · Verses Across
Literature · Humor
Mr. Punch's Life in London 20Punch'S Country Cousin'S Guide
18
Literature · Humor
Mr. Punch's Life in London 20
Punch'S Country Cousin'S Guide
AnonymousEnglish
THE METROPOLIS IN THE MORTE SAISON
8 A.M.--Rise, as in the country, and stroll round the squares before breakfast, to see the turn out of cooks and charwomen. Ask your way back of the first policeman you meet.
9 A.M.--Breakfast. First taste of London milk and butter. Analyse, if not in a hurry. Any policeman will show you the nearest chemist.
10 A.M.--To Battersea Park to see carpets beaten. Curious atmospheric effects observable in the clouds of dust and the language of the beaters. Inquire your road of any policeman.
11 A.M.--Take penny steamer up to Westminster Bridge, in time to arrive at Scotland Yard, and inspect the police as they start on their various beats. For any information, inquire of the inspector.
12 P.M.--Hansom cab races. These can be viewed at any hour by standing still at a hundred yards from any cabstand and holding up a shilling. An amusing sequel may be enjoyed by referring all the drivers to the nearest policeman.
1 P.M.--Observe the beauties of solitude among the flowers in Hyde Park. Lunch at the lodge on curds and whey. Ask the whey of the park keeper.
2 P.M.--Visit the exhibitions of painting on the various scaffoldings in Belgravia. Ask the next policeman if the house painters are Royal Academicians. Note what he says.
3 P.M.--Look at the shops in Bond Street and Regent Street, and purchase the dummy goods disposed of at an awful sacrifice.
4 P.M.--See the stickleback fed at the Westminster Aquarium. If nervous at being alone, ask the policeman in waiting to accompany you over the building.
5 P.M.--Find a friend still in town to give you five o'clock tea in her back drawing-room--the front of the house being shut up.
6 P.M.--Back to the park. Imagine the imposing cavalcades in Rotten Row (now invisible), with the aid of one exercising groom and the two daughters of a riding-master in full procession.
7 P.M.--Wake up the waiters at the Triclinium Restaurant, and persuade them to warm up dinner for your benefit.
8 P.M.--Perambulate the Strand, and visit the closed doors of the various theatres. Ask the nearest policeman for his opinion on London actors. You will find it as good as a play.
9 P.M.--A Turkish bath may be had in Covent Garden Theatre. Towels or programmes are supplied by the policemen at the doors.
10 P.M.--Converse, before turning in, with the policeman on duty or the fireman in charge of the fire-escape. Much interesting information may be obtained in this way.
11 P.M.--Supper at the cabmen's shelter, or the coffee stall corner of Hyde Park. Get a policeman to take you home to bed.
Benevolent Old Gentleman. "Poor little thing! Is it hurt?"
[But it was only the week's washing.
]
Q. WHAT is the best sort of cigar to smoke in a hansom?
A. A Cab-ana.
THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE.--It must have belonged originally to an omnibus, for it is continually "taking up" and "putting down" people.
Groom (whose master is fully occupied with unmanageable pair which has just run into rear of omnibus). "Well, anyway, it wasn't the guv'nor's fault."
'Bus Conductor. "No--it was your fault, for letting 'im drive!"
"THE WAY WE BUILD NOW."--Indignant Houseowner (he had heard it was so much cheaper, in the end, to buy your house). "Wh' what's the--what am I!--wha' what do you suppose is the meaning of this, Mr. Scampling!"
Local Builder. "'T' tut, tut! Well, sir, I 'spects some one's been a-leanin' agin it!!"
GETTING HIS ANSWER
Important Old Gent (from the country, who thinks the lofty bearing of these London barmaids ought to be "taken down a bit"). "Glass of ale, young woman; and look sharp, please!"
