m in the dark streets_, as
some members of the fraternity have lately done in Manchester."

Really, _Mr. Punch_, who believes that in his time he has done no bad
service to the cause of real Democracy (by which he means a system for
the benefit of the many and not of the few), begs to say that these
utterances by the "Champion of Democracy," are more worthy of one of the
ruined clients of the _Sunday Times_, the Betting House Keepers (who may
now be properly termed vagabonds), than of a respectable journalist with
his faculties in order. Threatening decent people with strangulation
because they decline to assist imposture, is rather a strong argument.
Luckily, there be things called Policemen.

* * * * *

_PUNCH_ AND HIS PIPPINS.

The "immediate apple of our eye" is an American apple, which we happen
to have in our eye at the present moment. It is not an apple of discord,
but an apple which comes home to our very heart's core with its
assurances of friendship. A Correspondent, who signs himself "THE
AMERICAN ENTHUSIAST," has allowed his enthusiasm to take the very
sensible turn of a present of apples to _Punch_, who, while receiving
it, proceeds to cut it up; and, like some critics, shows his taste by
making mince-meat of it. We have perused the whole of the apples with
great satisfaction, and though we might find a spot here and there, the
blemish is only on the surface; for when we descend a little lower than
skin deep, we find the apple quite worthy of the appellation of the
American Prince of Pippins, which we hereby confer on it.

* * * * *

INTEREST FOR PRINCE ALBERT'S STATUE.

Give PRINCE ALBERT a Statue?--Yes, certainly, at the proper time; may it
not arrive for a thousand years! But when it does arrive, up with the
Statue; a Statue which shall have been merited by a highly useful life,
whereof the promotion of the cosmopolitan fair in Hyde Park will have
been one only among the remarkable acts. In the mean time, that the
memorial may be worthy of the hero, put the money already subscribed
towards it out to increase and accumulate; by which means, in addition
to the interest which our descendants will take in the work, we shall
also transmit to them compound interest that will help to pay for it.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A CASE OF REAL DISTRESS.]

* * * * *

Political Ins