Now for the rostrum! Follow my pointer, TOBY, with thy recording pencil. Listen, O World, with ears attent, and eyes "sequacious of the--Truth-teller!" I speak _urbi et orbi!_
First, the newly-elected County Council, Ladies and Gentlemen! RITCHIE'S colossal Civic Symposium! "RITCHIE'S Folly," some hasty assayers of innovations may have been tempted to term it. But _Punch_ is never hasty.
_Macbeth_ at the Lyceum and GLADSTONE in Naples! Later on, "Macbeth" IRVING visits the QUEEN--an honoured guest! The return of the dove--if the Brummagem Bruiser may be likened to the Bird of Peace. All, at any rate, welcome his wife, a true messenger of peace, let us hope, from across the Atlantic flood.
From West to NORTH--the "Nitrate King." Let us trust he'll prove a "True North" to the multitudes who trust _him_. Next the Teuton Titan on the (Colonial) War-Path! Formidable competitor; but even Titans trip at times, eh, Orion? From BISMARCK asking for Samoa to CHAPLIN "chucking" Protection _is_ a transit. Big 'uns both--of a sort? But BOULANGER, the pseudo-great General Boum, coming a cropper? _Guarda, e passa!_
The ingenious Japs at a new work of Art--scarcely native this time. We'll hope their "New Constitution" may shape as well as their cabinets, and wear better than their locks and keys. Pantomime child-peris turned out--_pro tem._, thanks be--of their Stage Paradise. "See me reverse!"
Two openings,--Parliament and the Parnell Commission. And then--sinister sequel to the latter!--the flight of the pitiful PIGOTT. A far pleasanter picture is the return of generous D'AUMALE to Chantilly. Scarcely less agreeable, to lovers of peace and of France, is the flight of the blatant firebrand BOULANGER. Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest!
Big brave boys these American Base-Ball players. Game _may_ be acclimatised here, but _they_ evidently thought our "climate" against them, and with reason. Loss of the _Sultan_,--_not_ the PADISHAH himself, worse luck! He would be _no_ loss. Cambridge winning "the classic race"! Bravo, Light Blue! Who mutters demur! Ah! you are a brunette, though a "fair" one, my dear, so _Punch_ pardons you. The sight of your Gracious QUEEN enjoying her Royal self in Portugal, will, perhaps, put you in a better temper, Miss.