This popular health resort is now filled to over-flowing. The
entertainments on the pier include animated photographs of a procession
to the Woking Crematorium, and other cheerful and interesting subjects.
The smells of the harbour may still be enjoyed to perfection at low
water.
The question of mixed bathing here has at length been set at rest by the
Town Council issuing an order that nobody is to bathe at all. A decision
so impartial as between the rival factions cannot fail to give
satisfaction to all except the captious. Professor De Bach, with his
performing dogs, gives an exhibition twice each day at the Pier
Pavilion.
Warm and sunny weather still continues in this favoured spot. People
wait half the morning for a bathing-machine and then look rather
disappointed when they get it. The Simperton- Swaggeringtons arrived
yesterday, travelling first-class from the junction, two miles off (up
to which point they had come third). This has excited some unfavourable
comment in the town.
Large numbers of tripp—visitors, I mean, continue to pour into the town
from Saturdays to Mondays, benefiting greatly by their small change. The
lodging-house keepers also derive considerable benefit from their (the
visitors') small change, especially when left lying about on the
mantelpiece. No one could complain of dulness here now, for as I write,
twenty-three barrel-organs, eleven troupes of nigger minstrels and four
blind beggars with fiddles are amusing and delighting their listeners on
the sands. The place is thoroughly lively, hardly an hour of the day
passing without at least two street rows between inebriated
excursionists taking place. The police force has been doubled, and the
magistrates have given notice that, for the future, they will give no
"option," and that all sentences for assaults in the streets will be
with hard labour.
First English Groom (new to Paris).
"And the French gent as he drives round the corner, he pulls up quick,
and calls out 'Woa!'"
Second ditto (who has been in Paris some time). "He couldn't have
said 'Woa!' as there ain't no 'W' in French."
First ditto. "No 'W' in French? Then 'ow d'yer spell 'wee'?"
Alarming appearance of a harmless guana just as he has
found a nice corner of Sydney Harbour for a sketch.
Mr. Townmouse takes lodgings for his family at a
farmhouse in a remote district. Delightful spot; but they weren't so
well off for butcher's meat as they could wish.
Farmer. "Now, if your lady 'ud like some nice pork—Oh! she does like
pork?—Well, then, we shall kill a pig the week arter next."
Traveller (benighted in the Black
Country). "Not a bed-room disengaged! Tut-t-t-t!"
Landlady (who is evidently in the coal business as well). "Oh, we'll accommodate you
somehow, sir, if me and my 'usband gives you up our own bed, sir!"
Professor Chatterleigh. "By George! I'm so hungry I can't talk!"
Fair Hostess (on hospitable thoughts intent). "Oh, I'm so glad!"
Indiscreet Sister. "Why, Harry, your legs are getting more
Chippendale than ever!"
Traveller. "I say, your razor's pulling most confoundedly!"
Local Torturer. "Be it, zur? Wull, 'old on tight to the chair, an'
we'll get it off zummow!"
First Artist (on a pedestrian tour). "Can
you tell which is the best inn in Baconhurst?"
Rustic (bewildered). "Dunno."
Second Artist (tired). "But we can get beds there, I suppose? Where
do travellers generally go?"
Rustic. "Go to the union moostly!"
Cotton-Man (fro' Shoddydale). "What dun yo' co' that wayter?"
Coachman. "Ah, ain't it beautiful? That's Grassmere Lake, that is——"
Cotton-Man. "Yo' co'n 'um all la-akes an' meres i' these pa-arts. We
co'n 'um rezzer-voyers where ah com' fro'!!"
Would the epigrammatic translation of "sede vacanti" as "Not well and
gone away for a holiday" be accepted by an examiner?
Winter Resort for Bronchially-affected Persons.—Corfe Castle.
Visitor. "And so you've never been to London! Oh, but
you must go. It's quite an easy journey, you know."
Gaffer Stokes. "Ah, Oi'd main loike to see Lunnon, Oi wud. Reckon Oi
must go afore Oi'm done for. Now which moight be their busy day there,
mister?"
To Intending Tourists—"Where shall we go?" All depends on the "coin of
'vantage." Switzerland? Question of money. Motto.—"Point d'argent
point de Suisse."
Scene—On the Quay. Ocean liner's syren fog-horn emitting short,
sharp grunts.
Little Girl. Oh, mamma, that poor ship must have a drefful pain in
its cabin!
Wasted Sympathy.—Scene—Interior of Railway Carriage. Lady (to
gentleman who has just entered and is placing one of his fellow
passenger's bags on the floor where there is a hot-water bottle). Oh!
Excuse me, sir, but, please don't put that near the hot-water
bottle. I've got a little bird in the bag.
Elderly Gentleman (who is an enthusiastic Anti-Vivisectionist and
prominent member of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
Good Heavens, madam! a bird in there! Please consider! How cruel! how
inhuman! how—— (gasps for words).
Lady. Not at all, my dear sir. It's a roast partridge, cold, for
lunch.
[Collapse of Enthusiast.
Unpleasantly Suggestive Names of "Cure" Places Abroad.—Bad Gastein.
Which must be worse than the first day's sniff at Bad-Eggs-la-Chapelle.
Rotatory Knife (and Fork) Machines.—Pullman dining cars.
The Line which is often Drawn.—The Equator.
Thorough but not Pedantic. (Overheard at the
Louvre.)—American Tourist (suspiciously). "Say, guide, haven't we
seen this room before?"
Guide. "Oh no, monsieur."
Tourist. "Well, see here. We want to see everything, but we don't want
to see anything twice!"
Captain Brown (narrating his trip to the
Continent). "Then, of course, we ran down to Granada, and saw the
Alhambra——"
Captain Jinks (untravelled athlete). "No!! What, have they got one
there too!!"
"Going to Paris to-morrow, Tom!"
"How's that?"
"My poor old governor's taken ill there!"
"Going by Dieppe or Boulogne?"
"Rather think I shall go via Monaco!"
Sympathiser. "Sorry you look so seedy after your holiday, old chap!"
Too Energetic Sight-seer. "Well, I am a bit done up, but the doctor
says that with rest and great care I may be well enough to have a
run-round as usual next year."
Gushing Young Lady (to Mr. Dunk, who has just returned
from Rome). "They say, Mr. Dunk, that when one sets foot in Rome for
the first time, one experiences a profound feeling of awe. The chaos of
ruined grandeur, the magnificent associations, seem too much for one to
grasp. Tell me, oh tell me, Mr. Dunk, what did you think of it all?"
Mr. Dunk (deliberately, after considering awhile). "Very nice!"
A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE.—Miss Tomboy. Mamma, I think those French women
were beastly rude.
Mother. You mustn't speak like that of those ladies, it's very wrong.
And how often have I told you not to say "beastly"?
Miss Tomboy. Well, they were rude. They called me a little cabbage
(mon petit chou). The next time they do that I shall call them old
French beans.