JOKES OF THE PERIOD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 5304, 26 September 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

JOKES OF THE PERIOD.

♦ AN EPITAPH TO THE MEMORY OF THE 'W* SUAKIM-BERBERsRAILWAY, ' . It was curt, costly, arid inconvenient, Remarkable rather For the Uncertantiy of its Receipts Than for the Punctuality of its Passenger Service ; And, With a commendable fidelity to the instincts Of the Happy, Hale, and Hopeful Ministry Of which it was destined to be At one and the same time The transient joy and the everlasting incubus, It started with solemn energy of purpose , . To arrive ' Suddenly but light-heartedly At Nowhere in Particular. Thus, Having adequately fulfilled The double and important Purposeof Comforting the Contractor and Staggering the British Public, It was, To the silent embarrassment of Mr Gladstone, The reflective Surprise of the local Hysena, And the inexpressible delight of Lord Salisbury, Carted off bodily one Morning To the Quays of Cyprus, Where, Weather and Time kindly and assiduously It will, With the Intervention of the Marine-store Dealer, Sadly, quietly, but respectably Resolve itself by Natural Process Once more Into those Original Elements From which For the general credit of the British Government, It would, perhaps, have done better Never to have emerged. " —Punch.