(_MODERN VERSION BY A GRATEFUL COOK'S TOURIST._)
[Mr. THOMAS COOK, originator of the great "Personally
Conducted" Tourist and Excursionist System, died on Monday the
18th July, aged 84 years.]
"Remote, unfriended, melancholy slow,
Or by the lazy Scheldt, or wandering Po?"
Nay, gentle GOLDSMITH, it is thus no more,
None now need fear "the rude Carinthian boor,"
The bandit Greek, the Swiss of avid grin,
Or e'en the predatory Bedouin.
Where'er we roam, whatever realms to see,
Our thoughts, great Agent, must revert to thee.
From Parthenon or Pyramid, we look
In travelled ease, and bless the name of COOK!
Eternal blessings crown the wanderer's friend!
At Ludgate Hill may all the world attend.
Blest be that spot where the great world instructor
Assumed the _rôle_ of Personal Conductor!
Blest be those "parties," with safe-conduct crowned,
Who do in marshalled hosts the Regular Round;
Gregarious gaze at Pyramid or Dome,
The heights of Athens, or the walls of Rome,
Then like flock-folded sheep, are shepherded safe home.
"Let observation, with extensive view,
Survey mankind from China to Peru."
By all means, yes, or even further fare,
And Afric's forest huge and poisonous Pigmies dare.
But, to avoid the lonely traveller's pain,
From Ludgate Circus drag the well-linked chain;
As Amurath to Amurath succeeds,
So COOK to COOK! THOMAS's grandiose deeds
What Tourist may forget? The great one's gone,
But his vast enterprise shall still march on.
What THOMAS started, is pursued by JOHN.
Peace to the dust of the Great Pioneer,
"Great COOK is dead, long live Great COOK!" we cheer.
* * * * *
DARK DOINGS.--Mrs. MARTHA RICKS, the emancipated black slave, who came
all the way from Liberia to pay Her Gracious MAJESTY a morning call,
may be now known as "The QUEEN's Black Woman," or as a companion
silhouette to "SALISBURY's Black Man." Of course she will go back
laden with valuable presents, quite a wealthy old lady, or "_Ricks
Pecuniarum_."
* * * * *