PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

VOL. 102.



April 9th, 1892.




BOAT-RACE DAY.

_The Reader will kindly imagine that he has crossed Hammersmith Bridge,
and is being carried along by a jostling stream of sightseers towards
Mortlake. The banks are already occupied--although it still wants half
an hour to the time fixed for the start--by a triple row of the more
patient and prudent spectators. On the left of the path, various more
or less_ Shady Characters _have established their "pitches," and are
doing their best to beguile the unsophisticated._

_First Shady Character_ (_presiding over a particoloured roulette board
with a revolving and not unmanageable index_). Three to one any colour you
like! Fairest game in the world! I'm a backin' I'm a layin'.... Pop it on,
you sportsmen! (_Two_ Sportsmen--_a couple of shop-boys_--"_pop it on_,"
_in coppers_.) Yaller was your colour--and it _is_ a yaller cap, sure
enough! _I_'m a payin' this time. Try it again! (_They do._) Blue's your
fancy this turn, my lord. And green it _is_! Good ole Hireland for ever!
Twenty can play at this game as well as one! Don't be afraid o' yer
luck--'ave another go. _Red_ did you put your coppers on? And it's _yaller_