PUNCH VOL CVIII
The Double Event
1894. — 1895.
London.
PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE, 83 FLEET STREET,
Also sold by all booksellers
1895
LONDON:
BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO. LD., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.
PREFACE
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
June 29, 1895.
A Midsummer Day-dream, and its waking Sequel.
It was the luncheon-hour at Lord's. Likewise it was exceeding hot, and Mr. Punch, after an exciting morning's cricket,was endeavouring to cool himself with an iced tankard, a puggreed "straw," and a fragrant whiff.
"Willow the King!" piped Mr. Punch, pensively. "Quite so! A merrier monarch than the Second Charles isWilliam (Gilbert) the very First! And no one kicks at King Willow, even in these democratic days. The verdant, smooth-shavenlawn, when wickets are pitched, is your very best 'leveller'—in one sense, though, in another, what stylish RichardDaft calls 'Kings of Cricket' ('by merit raised to that good eminence'), receive the crowd's loyal and most enthusiastic homage.But, by Jove, the Harrow boys will want a new version of their favourite cricket song, if prodigy be piled on prodigy, likePelion on Ossa, in the fashion to which the Doctor during the first month of Summer in this year of Grace has accustomed us."
"The 'Doctor's' throne has never been disputed by anyone outside Bedlam," said a strong and sonorous voice.
Mr. Punch looked up, and perceived before him a stalwart six-footer in flannels, broad-belted at the equator, andwearing broad-brim'd silken stove-pipe.
"Alfred Mynn, quoting 'the Old Buffer,' or I'm a Dutchman," said the omniscient and ever-ready one.
"'And, whatever fame and glory these and other bats may win,
Still the monarch of hard hitters, to my mind, was Alfred Mynn;
With his tall and stately presence, with his nobly-moulded form,
His broad hand was ever open, his brave heart was ever warm'—
as Prowse sang pleasantly."
The Kentish Titan blushed—if Shades can with modesty suffuse. "You know everything, of course, Mr. Punch,"said he; "and therefore you know that the object of my visit is not to hav