Page:Punch and judy.djvu/62

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52
MORAL OF PUNCH'S PERFORMANCES.
[PUNCH.

the prize. It was no uncommon thing, among the showmen in eyre, to insert a scene of a street-row: for this purpose they introduce a watch-box with a Charley in it, fast asleep. Punch enters tipsy, overturns the "guardian of the night," and finally is taken to the watch-house. This incident is of "Tom and Jerry" origin, and was not used until those heroes figured in the pages of "Life in London." At various times, we have observed characters inserted from popular performances at our theatres: some of our readers may recollect a conference between Blue Beard and Punch, on the mutually interesting topic of a plurality of wives; and Morgiana from "The Forty Thieves," and Grimaldi from "Mother Goose," have danced together before us. We have been present at an interview between Punch and a person no less distinguished than Paul Pry, in which the latter received severe chastisement for "intruding," while the former was enjoying the delightful converse of one of his female acquaintances.