The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98,
January 25th, 1890, by Various

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Title: Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98, January 25th, 1890

Author: Various

Editor: Francis Cowley Burnand

Release Date: December 31, 2009 [EBook #30818]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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PUNCH,

OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

VOLUME 98.

JANUARY 25, 1890.

* * * * *

UNTILED; OR, THE MODERN ASMODEUS.

"Tres volontiers," repartit le demon. "Vous aimez les tableaux
changeans: je veux vous contenter."

_Le Diable Boiteux._

[Illustration]

XVII.

"'The Humours of the Town!' Archaic phrase,
Breathing of BRUMMEL and the dandy days
Of curly hats and gaiters!
'Humours' seem rarer now, at least by night,
In this strange world of gilt and garish light,
And bibulous wits and waiters."

So I. The Shadow smiled. "There's food for mirth
In every nook of the sun-circling earth
That human foot hath trodden.
Man, the great mime, must move the Momus vein,
Whether he follow fashion or the wain,
In ermine or in hodden.

"A City of Strange Meetings! Motives strong
Why men in well-dressed multitudes should throng,
Abundant are and various.
Strongest, perhaps, the vague desire _to_ meet;
No animal as Man so quick to greet,
So aimlessly gregarious.

"In Council, Caucus, Causerie, there's an aim
Which many know and some might even name;
But see yon motley muster,
Like shades in Eblis wandering up and down!
Types there of every 'Show Class' in the Town
Elbow and glide and cluster."

I see long rooms, _en suite_, with lofty walls,
And _portieres_ sombre as Egyptian palls;
I hear the ceaseless scuffle
Of many trim-shod feet; the thin sweet sound
Of stricken strings which faintly echoes round
Those draperied vistas muffle.

_Susurrus_ of a hundred voices blent
In the bland buzz of cultured chat; inten