The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 98 June
7, 1890, by Various

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Title: Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 98 June 7, 1890

Author: Various

Editor: Sir Francis Burnand

Release Date: July 30, 2010 [EBook #33292]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI

VOLUME 98, JUNE 7TH 1890

_edited by Sir Francis Burnand_

VOCES POPULI.

AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

IN THE VESTIBULE.

[Illustration]

_Visitors ascending staircase, full of enthusiasm and
energetic determination not to miss a single Picture,
encounter people descending in various stages of mental
and physical exhaustion. At the turnstiles two Friends meet
unexpectedly; both being shy men, who, with timely notice,
would have preferred to avoid one another, their greetings are
marked by an unnatural effusion, and followed by embarrassed
silence._

_First Shy Man (to break the spell)._ Odd, our running up against one
another like this, eh?

_Second Shy Man._ Oh, very odd. (_Looks about him irresolutely, and
wonders if it would be decent to pass on. Decides it will hardly do._)
Great place for meeting, the Academy, though.

_First S. M._ Yes; sure to come across _somebody_, sooner or later.

[_Laughs nervously, and wishes the other would go._

_Second S. M. (seeing that his friend lingers)._ This your _first_
visit here?

_First S. M._ Yes. Couldn't very well get away _before_, you know.

[_Feels apologetic, without exactly knowing why._

_Second S. M._ It's _my_ first visit, too. (_Sees no escape, and
resigns himself._) Er--we may as well go round together, eh?

_First S. M. (who was afraid this was coming--heartily)._ Good! By
the way, I always think, on a first visit, it's best to take a single
room, and do that thoroughly. [_This has only just occurred to him._

_Second S. M. (who had been intending to follow that plan himself)._
Oh, _do_ you? Now, for _m