* * * * *

THEN AND NOW.

MR. PUNCH’S JUBILEE RETROSPECT.

    ["Punch and the Elections were the only matters which
    occupied the public mind on July 17, 1841.”—­Introduction to
    “Punch,” Vol.  I.]

  Fifty years ago, my Public, fifty years ago! 
  Faith, the years fleet swiftly onward, though sad hours seem slow. 
  Forty-One beheld my advent, Friend of Truth and Fun;
  From my sanctum still I greet you now in Ninety-One.

“Punch and the Elections!” Truly a compendious text.  With how many Burning Questions men to-day are vext!  Then the Whigs perceived their tether pretty nearly run, And—­they’re watching Bye-Elections now in Ninety-One.

  Then Lord JOHN was on the Treasury Bench, though ill at ease,
  Thence to be soon torn—­like Theseus;—­PEEL, the Hercules. 
  Now SMITH smiles a toothy smile in little JOHNNY’s place,
  White the Grand Old Hercules sits watching grave of face.

He remembers Forty-One!  Few, except Punch and him, Linger from those brave old days, now distant grown and dim!  He has reached his Jubilee, as Punch this year hath done.  Veterans both, we drink each other’s health in Ninety-One!

  Forty-One was fierce and fiery.  Young DISRAELI then
  Bravely buttered stout Sir ROBERT as the best of men. 
  Pheugh!  But in how short a time was BEN’s envenomed steel
  Destined to find rankling lodgment in the breast of PEEL!

  Now?  Well, there is jaunty JOSEPH poisoning his pint;
  Seeking in GRANDOLMAN’s mail some penetrable joint! 
  Heroes and ex-armour-bearers still keep up the fun;
  One-and-Forty saw it so, and so does Ninety-One!

Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD (who was he?  Let quidnuncs guess!) Moved Amendment relative to “Popular Distress.” Then his cure was Wider Suffrage. Now what would it be?  Land with little or no Rent, and Education Free?

  Then the Corn Laws cramped Free Trade; free Competition now
  Breeds the Sweater, harsh exploiter of the toiler’s brow,
  When brave PEEL achieved Repeal some deemed the task was done,
  But Commissions upon Labour sit in Ninety-One.

  SIBTHORP then amused St. Stephen’s; we have SEYMOUR KEAY,
  D’ORSAY then was wit and dandy, OSCAR WILDE have we. 
  And if wild FEARGUS O’CONNOR fashioned Land Schemes then,
  BURNS and MORRIS well can match him now with tongue or pen.

  Then TOM HOOD could sing that Song[1] which moved a world to tears,
  London Laundrydom on Strike now in Hyde park appears. 
  Ah! since Eighteen Forty-One much has been tried—­and done,
  But Punch finds no lack of labour e’en in Ninety-One!

  The HER MAJESTY, a Maiden Queen, fresh graced the Throne,
  Now her Royal Jubilee is full four years bygone. 
  He who has illumed her reign with wisdom, wit, and fun,
  Greets her loyally to-day as then, in Forty-One.