MR. PUNCH EXPLAINS.
[Last week Mr. Punch congratulated King HENRY'S "holy shade" on the Four-hundredth Anniversary of the Foundation of Eton College.]
To Mr. Punch's friends, who think he blundered,
In thinking Eton's years were just four hundred,
And acted quite in error when he paid
Congratulations to King HENRY'S "shade,"
A word of explanation now is due,
To show how what he stated then was true.
The word is this—that fifty years have now
Elapsed since Mr. Punch first made his bow;
And though since then with many friends he's parted,
Himself he is as young as when he started.
Just fifty years ago it now appears
That fair Etona claimed four hundred years.
Ungallant it had been if one had told her
That Mr. Punch kept young whilst she grew older!
Yet if it is indeed the Fourth Centenary
Or Jubilee the Ninth since holy 'ENERY
Became the founder of a Royal College—
Well, Mr. Punch prefers to have no knowledge.
He only does not know—has never known a
More worthy toast than "Floreat Etona!"