MR. PUNCH has--need he say it?--the profoundest admiration for the skill
and zeal of the great Healers who have conducted H.R.H. the PRINCE OF
WALES out of the region of bulletins. But he hopes that should any
member of the Royal Family again need medical advice (which good fortune
forefend for many a long day), no name belonging to a member of the
illustrious trio may be signed to the _affiches_. It was not for _Mr.
Punch_ to complain while bulletins issued, but now all else is
happiness, he makes his moan, or rather (as MR. ROEBUCK says Birmingham
is always doing) makes his howl. How many thousand idiots have sent _Mr.
Punch_ jests on the names of the Doctors, he cannot say, but the changes
have been rung, _ad nauseam_, on a "Jennerous diet," a "Lowe fever," a
"bird of good omen--a Gull," until----But not one goose was gratified;
ha! ha! Fire, not vanity, was fed. Still, _Mr. Punch_ has suffered; and
therefore he begs leave to suggest that all the three Doctors be raised
to the Peerage. They have richly deserved it, and so has SIR JAMES PAGET
(whose name happily does not help the small wits); but _Mr. Punch's_
comfort is the thing to be considered. N.B. He likes to give those who
are "blest in not being simple men" an occasional peep--as thus--at the
circumjacent world of donkeyism.
* * * * *
MRS. MALAPROP has lately been studying Latin, with success. But, as a
good Church-woman, she cannot hold with the rule _Festina lente_. She
disapproves of feasting in Lent.
* * * * *