Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
Punch, or the London Charivari. Volume 93. August 27, 1887 By: Various |
---|
![]()
OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. VOLUME 93. AUGUST 27, 1887. THE PRICE OF SUPPORT. A Fragment of a coming Contemporary Romance. "Is it possible that Mr. GLADSTONE, not content with having allied
himself with the Parnellites, or with having endeavoured to sow
jealousies between the component parts of the United Kingdom, is at
last endeavouring to purchase the parliamentary support of the
South Eastern Railway? The idea seems almost too humiliating to be
entertained; but it is not easy to place any other interpretation
upon this new and startling announcement. Can it be conceived that
the safety of England ranks as nothing in his estimation when it is
brought into competition with the possibility of winning a few votes
from the interested supporters of a commercial enterprise?" Times. VOL. I. THE COMPACT. IT was on a sultry August evening in the memorable year 1887 that a
stranger, whose anxious gaze, now and again fixed on the entrance,
denoted the fact that he was awaiting the arrival of one of the Members,
crossed and re crossed the pavement of the Hall of the Reform Club with
a step that indicated a high condition of nervous trepidation. To the
casual observer he might have passed for a solicitor in an extreme state
of irritability. The Hall Porter, however, who had watched him narrowly,
had recognised him for who he was. He knew that the restless interloper,
who had several times peered into his carpet bag, and examined specimens
of Channel chalk, and had, when he thought no one was looking, hacked a
London, Chatham and Dover trains' bill with his penknife, was no other
than the famous Sir EDWARD WATKIN, the then Chairman of the
South Eastern Railway Company. He approached him. "He won't be long," he said, intuitively guessing the object of his
visit, and addressing him kindly. "Ha! hark! Here he comes!" He had
scarcely spoken, when a roaring cheer, borne on the sweet evening air,
broke the comparative silence of the street outside, and in another
minute a surging and struggling mob, who were shouting themselves
hoarse, had deposited safely from their shoulders, on the door step of
the Club, their great hero and idol, whom they had thus, as was their
wont, nightly carried in triumph from the House. The ex Premier, for indeed the buoyant bearing, the high shirt collar,
and the contagious enthusiasm of the new arrival proclaimed his identity
at once, dashed up the steps three at a time, and, waving a radiant
farewell of thanks to the crowd, bounded into the Hall, where, seeing
the stranger, he instantly seized him by the arm, and hurriedly led him
to a recess. "This is very good and genial of you, my dear Sir EDWARD," he commenced. The other eyed him cautiously. "You wanted to see me?" he rejoined,
sulkily. "Yes, indeed!" was the brisk reply. "I wished to tell you that, as you
had been wicked enough, ha! ha! to conceive the idea of uniting
England and France by a Tunnel, I had been wicked enough also to
determine to help you to do it. Ha! ha!" He laughed long and loud. His
interlocutor stared at him for a few moments aghast. Then he clutched
him. "You mean this?" he asked, growing pale with excitement as he spoke.
"You mean that you will vote for the Bill?" "Not only vote for the Bill, but make it a Government measure." As he
spoke he was interrupted by a commotion in Pall Mall. Some Junior
Members of the Carlton were by way of a practical joke, common enough at
this season, dropping a Unionist Liberal out of the first floor windows
into the area, and their merriment over the exploit resounded loudly
down the street. The ex Premier heard it and a wonderful smile played
upon his almost beautiful features. "You see, they are going to pieces
next door," he added exultingly, "I shall be in in a few weeks, nothing
can stop me; and then, I give you my word, you shall have your Tunnel." The other approached him. There was a curious look in his eye... Continue reading book >>
|
Book sections | ||
---|---|---|
Genres for this book |
---|
Essay/Short nonfiction |
Non-fiction |
eBook links |
---|
Wikipedia – Punch, or the London Charivari. Volume 93. August 27, 1887 |
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|