Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 105, November 18, 1893

SCENE— Editor's Room of The Mental Mirror of the Universe. TIME— An hour before publication. Editor and Chief-Sub. discovered in consultation .
Editor. Dear me, Mr. Payste, this is very annoying! Debate on Africa in the House to-night, and our leader-writer has sent in no copy! Why did you not communicate with me?
Chief-Sub. Well, Sir, as you were dining with the Duke, I did not like to disturb you, especially as I had arranged matters. I have got some one else to knock off the article.
Ed. Very good, and where does it come from?
Chief-Sub. I turned on the mentophone and found Lord Macaulay disengaged.
Ed. Of course he writes smartly enough, but I should have thought he was scarcely sufficiently well-up in the subject.
Chief-Sub. So he said, Sir: so we applied to Sir Walter Raleigh, who has sent in a good column.
Ed. His English, I am afraid, is a trifle old-fashioned.
Chief Sub. Well, yes, Sir; a little. But I gave it to one of our subs. who has made black letter a study, and between them they have turned out a very decent leader. Sorry to say the wire has broken down between London and the seat of the war, so we have no despatches.
Ed. Distinctly annoying! However, I think I can put myself in communication with our special. ( Takes a pen in his right hand, and commences writing. ) Well, what next?
Chief Sub. But shall I not disturb you?