E-text prepared by Nigel Blower, Jonathan Ingram,
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PUNCH,
OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
Vol. 158.
May 12th, 1920.
CHARIVARIA.
We are pleased to note that the King’s yacht Britannia is about againafter being laid up since August, 1914.
Smoking and chatting periods have been introduced in some Massachusettsfactories. Extremists in this country complain that, while this systemmay be all right, there is just the danger that working periods mightalso be introduced.
We are pleased to report that the eclipse of the moon on May 3rd passedoff without any serious hitch. This speaks well for the policearrangements.
“Audiences at the music-halls,” writes an actor to the Press, “are moredifficult to move on Saturdays than on other days.” This is not ourexperience. On a Saturday we have often withdrawn without any pressureafter the first turn or two.
Sir L. Worthington Evans, says a contemporary, has been asked toinvestigate the mutton glut. What is wanted, we understand, is moreglutton and less mutt.
Mme. Landru, the wife of the Parisian “Bluebeard,” has been granted adivorce. We gather that there is something or other about her husbandwhich made their tastes incompatible.
It appears that Mr. Jerry McVeagh is of the opinion that the Home RuleBill is quite all right except where it applies to Ireland.
A visit to the Royal Academy this year again encourages us to believethat, though we may be a bad nation, we are not so bad as we arepainted.
According to a morning paper a commercial traveller who became violentlyill in the Strand was found to have a small feather stuck in the lowerpart of the throat. If people will eat fresh eggs in restaurants theymust be prepared to put up with the consequences.
The report that no inconvenience was experienced by any of thepassengers in the South London train which collided with a stationarygoods-engine now turns out to be incorrect. It transpires that a flappercomplains that she dropped two stitches in her jumper as a result of theshock.
A water-spaniel was responsible last week for the overturning of amotor-car driven by a Superintendent of the Police near Norton Villagein Hertfordshire. We understand that the dog has had his licenceendorsed for reckless walking.
According to a Manchester paper a new tram, while being tested, jumpedthe lines and collided with a lamp-post. It is hoped that, when it growsmore accustomed to street noises, it will get over this tendency tonervous excitement.
A serious set-back to journalism is reported from South Africa. Itappears that the Army aviator who flew from England to his home atJohannesburg, after an absence of four and a half years, deliberatelyarranged to see his parents before being interviewed by reporters.
In a London Police Court the other day a defendant stated that he was soashamed of his crime that he purchased a revolver with the intention ofshooting himself. On second thoughts he let himself off with a caution.
Apparently the clothing of the Royal Air Force is not yet complete.Large headings announcing an R.A.F. Divorce Suit appeared in severalpapers recently, although its design and colouring were not mentioned.
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