["It is a good omen for the future of agriculture that the upper
classes are beginning to take a practical interest in it."--_A Morning
Paper._]
_Extracts from the "World," June, 1900._
Despite the unfavourable weather, Lady TIPTON'S garden-party
on Wednesday was a great success. Strawberry-picking was the principal
amusement, and some well-known performers were present. Miss
DE MURE, as usual, beat all her rivals, but the Bishop of
PULBOROUGH was only half-a-basket behind. Like most of her
friends, Lady TIPTON has now converted all her croquet and
tennis lawns into fruit-beds.
* * * * *
LORD GRAYSON is entertaining a large party of friends for
bird-scaring this week. Starlings are somewhat scarce this year, but
sparrows are very plentiful and strong on the wing. Some capital sport
was enjoyed over these well-known fields last week, and the host (who
used a blunderbuss manufactured by Messrs. MURDEY) is credited
with having frightened away about 5000 brace in a single day.
* * * * *
_Truth_ is quite wrong in stating that the Marquis of COOMBE
intends to sell his well-known potato-patch in Hammersmith. On the
contrary, he has just laid down two dozen new plants. It is true,
however, that several of the smartest people are growing onions instead
of potatoes this year.
* * * * *
As the show-season will soon be with us again, it may be well to remark
that the committees should make certain of the genuine character of
the exhibits. It would be disgraceful were there to be any repetition
of such a scandal as occurred last autumn at a leading exhibition,
when it was discovered that the apples belonging to a certain lady
of title, to which the prize already had been awarded, owed their
brilliant appearance to the fact that her Grace had tinted them with
water-colours.
* * * * *
The Inter-'Varsity ploughing competition takes place at Lord's on
Friday. The Cambridge men are perhaps the favourites at present, but,
though they have undoubtedly done some fast times, their furrows are
apt to be very erratic. Still, under Farmer HODGE'S able
coaching, they may be expected to improve greatly in the next few days.
* * * * *
Some of the papers have been making merry over the attempts to
start butter-making clubs among the poorer classes. It is true that
butter-making has been considered hitherto almost exclusively a rich
man's recreation; but I do not see why the hard-working labourer, who
has been toiling at golf or polo all day, should not be allowed to
amuse himself with this healthy pastime in the evening, just as much as
his superiors in social station.
* * * * *
_À propos_ of butter-making, I hear that a testimonial is to be
presented to Mr. AYLESBURY, who has now captained his county
team for some years. Of his all-round skill it is needless to speak; he
is a useful change churner, and he had far the highest patting average
last season.
* * * * *
HOW TO SPEND A HAPPY DAY!--Luncheon, dinner, and breakfast
baskets provided for travellers by the Great Wheel at Earl's Court.
Also all requisites for making up fairly comfortable beds in any one of
the compartments. Address Wheel and Woa Co., E. C. S. W.
* * * * *
"MR. SPEAKER!"
"Hats off, strangers!"--_Policemen passim._
[Illustration: Mr. Speaker Gully.]
Now the new House of Commons is complete, and Members are preparing
to meet for their first Session, the question of who is to be Speaker
comes to the front. _Mr. Punch_ is pleased to observe the growing
conviction in both political camps that there really is no question on
the subject. Had Mr. GULLY performed the duties of Speaker
with merely average capacity, the House of Commons, mindful of its
highest traditions, would have been slow to celebrate a party victory
at the polls by dispossessing him in favour of a nominee of the new
majority. His marked success happily makes such action more than ever
improbable.
His position was made exceptionally difficult by the circumstances
of the day. Elected by a narrow majority, he succeeded the greatest
Speaker of modern times. The fierce light that beats on the Speaker's
chair was intensified by the inevitable contrast between the new
occupant and the stately figure long familiar to the House. From
the first Mr. GULLY wisely refrained from even approach to
imitation of the manner of Mr. PEEL. That was a thing apart,
like the bow of Ulysses. The new Speaker was simply himself; and the
House of Commons, the keenest, swiftest, fairest judge of character in
the world, was delighted to find in him perfect equanimity of temper, a
judicial mind, unfailing readiness in emergency, and a quite surprising
knowledge of the intricacies of procedure.
During his brief tenure of office Mr. GULLY was more than
once suddenly faced by a knotty point that might reasonably have been
expected to baffle a 'prentice hand. Never on these occasions has he
failed. Such rare aptitude displayed at the outset of a career promises
the fullness of perfection when, strengthened and sustained by the
unanimous vote of a new Parliament, the Speaker resumes his work.
* * * * *
NEW WORK.--Messrs. MACMILLAN have just published
_The Theory and Practice of Counter-Irritation_, by H. C.
GILLIES. One example of this could easily be given by anyone in
a hurry, who couldn't get attended to at the Stores, or _vice versâ_
by a counter-jumper at a linendraper's, whose temper was more than
ordinarily tried by some extra-shilly-shallying customer.
* * * * *