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From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
There was a parody in Will-o’-the-Wisp, March 20, 1869, entitled “The Abbess and the Maid” concerning a law suit which attracted much attention at the time, but is now forgotten. It commenced:—
“Will you walk into my convent?” said the abbess to the maid.
“’Tis the prettiest little cloister ever nestled in the shade.”
Another long political parody in The London Figaro, August 7, 1886, commenced:—
“Will you come into our Chamber?” said the Marquis to “Grand Cross”
“’Tis a finely gilded chamber” (so went on the Tory Boss.)
Another appeared in Punch, June 30, 1888, soon after Mr. W. E. Gladstone had given his vote in favour of Watkin’s scheme for the Channel Tunnel. Two verses may be quoted:—
The Watkin Spider and the Gladstone Fly.