May 10, 1893.
Mr. Punch's Vision at the Opening of the Imperial Institute.
This Spring's soft beauty is a joy for ever;
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass to forgetfulness; we still must keep
Fond memories of this Maytime, calm as sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on this May morning are we wreathing
A flowery band, to bind us round the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of patriot natures, Mammen-ridden days,
And Toil's unhealthy and o'erdarkened ways
Made for our mending: yes, in spite of all
This Mayday Vision moves away the pall
From our dark spirits!
Keats adapted to the occasion.
Thy pardon, Adonais, pray,
That on this memorable morning
We twist those lovely lines astray,
As modish maid, her charms adorning
A trail may twine of eglantine
Into the formal "set" of Fashion.
Yet wouldst thou gladly lend thy line
To present need; for patriot passion,
Love of the little sea-girt land,
Has ever fired our English singers.
Of England's fame, from strand to strand,
Their songs have been the widest wingers.
So, Adonais, this great day
Were "Welcome as the flowers in May!"
The "flowery band" of Keats's song
Our Empire's sons to-day are wreathing;
Long may it bind, and blossom long.
The May-flower's fragrance round us breathing
Is nothing sweeter than the thought
To patriot hearts of loyal union.
Together we have toiled and fought,
But gay to-day is our communion.
Britannia's helm is crowned with flowers,
Britannia's trident's wreathed with posies,
And Fancy sees in Flora's showers
Thistles and Shamrocks blent with Roses.
The Indian Lotus let us twine
With gorgeous bloom from Afric's jungles
Canadian Birch with Austral Pine.
Tape-bound Officialdom oft bungles;
Some blow too hot, some breathe too cold,
O'er-chill are some, and some o'er-gushing;
But the same blood-stream, warm and bold,
Through all our veins is ever rushing;
And so to all true hearts to-day
Comes "Welcome as the flowers in May!"
A Queen is with us, to evince
Imperial sympathy unfailing;
And pleasant to our genial Prince
This proof that all seems now plainsailing;
With his great purpose. Some sneered, "Whim!"
But general shouts now drown their sneering.
A special salvo's due to him
Amidst to-day's exuberant cheering.
Hail the Imperial Institute!
And hail the patient Prince promoter!
The man who's neither cynic brute,
Nor phrase-led sycophantic doter,
May echo that. Our patriot tap
Is old, well-kept and genuine stingo;
Not the chill quidnunc's cold cat-lap,
Nor crude fire-water of the Jingo,
But sound as good old English ale,
Full-bodied, fragrant, mild, and mellow.
To try that tap Punch will not fail,
Nor any other right good fellow.
A bumper of that draught to-day
Is "Welcome as the flowers in May!"
Weave on! And may that "flowery band"
Be surer bond than forged steel fetters.
Ho! Hands all round! Whilst hand-in-hand
We need not fear the fierce sword-whetters
Who'd make the pleasant earth a camp,
And stain blood-red the white May-flowers.
May echoes of no mailèd tramp
Disturb ye in your Spring-deck'd bowers,
Glad garland-weavers! Heaven bestow
"Sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing,"
One thing above all others know,
Ye who the earth-round band are wreathing,
To-day, to-morrow, any day,
You're "Welcome as the flowers in May!"
"Playing the Duse."—Mr. Horace Sedger announces the engagement at the Lyric of Mlle. Duse. The Manager must be prosperous; at all events, he is not going to the Duse, but the Duse is coming to him. And as to the Theatre—well, if it isn't a success, the Duse is in it!
"She answered 'Yuss'!"—The most recent and most important change of name is from "I MAY" to "I WILL."
