Title:  Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, January 7, 1914

Author:  Various

Release Date:  May 7, 2004 [EBook #12294]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of this project gutenberg EBOOK Punch, no. 146 ***

Produced by Malcolm Farmer, Sandra Brown and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team.

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

Vol. 146.

JANUARY 7, 1914.

[Illustration:  “The Monarch of the Glen:”  A new LAND-SEER.]

* * * * *

AMENDE DESHONORABLE.

    Heavily dragged the night; the Year
      Was passing, and the clock’s slow tick
    Boomed its sad message to my ear
      And made me pretty sick. 
   “You have been slack,” I told myself, “and weak;
      You have done foolishly, from wilful choice;
      Sloth and procrastination—­” Here my voice
        Broke in a squeak.

    And deep repentance welled in me
      As I mused darkly on my sin;
    Yea, Conscience stung me, like a bee
      That gets her barb well in. 
   “Next year,” I swore, in this compunctious mood,
     “I will be energetic, virtuous, kind;
      Unflinching I will face the awful grind
        Of being good.”

    I paused, half troubled by a thought—­
      Were my proposals too sublime? 
    Vowed I more deeply than I ought? 
      I glanced to see the time. 
    It was 12.10 A.M.  At once a thrill,
      A wave of manful resolution, sped
      Through all my being.  “Yes,” I bravely said;
        “Next year I will!”

* * * * *

A play of features.

    [Being Sir George ALEXANDER’S production of The Attack at
    the St. James’s.]

Scene—­Alexandre Merital’s house.

ACT I.

Daniel Merital.  My father is a wonderful man.  Leader of the Social Party in the Chamber of Deputies, noted among his colleagues for his absolute integrity, supported by the millionaire newspaper proprietor, Frepeau, whose motives, between ourselves, are not altogether above—­ Oh, are you there, Father?  I didn’t see you.  I’m just off to play tennis. [Exit.

Enter Renee de Rould.

Renee.  Mr. Merital, may I speak to you a moment?

Georges Alexandre Merital (with, characteristic suavity).  Certainly.

Renee, I love you.  Will you marry me?