A Special Labor Day Message from Mr. Punch

Hullo! It’s me—Punch. Here, I been learnin’ a lot ‘bout America since I moved here. Seems they got some holiday called “Labor Day” where nobody works. Seems a trifle silly to me. I ‘sposed that on a day called Labor Day people would labor, but that ain’t the case. So, ‘cause it’s “Labor Day” weekend, me professor and the Bertie Dog are sittin’ in the front parlor lookin’ at that big flat box what plays pictures. It’s playin’ somethin’ called “The Flying Nun” what seems to be ‘bout a cleric what floats ‘round on her stupid hat. See, this is why Henry VIII didn’t like Catholics.

So, I ‘spose it’s up to me to Stalk the Belle Époque today. Coo! Who knows that that means? Well, I guess I can figure it out. Here’s some stuff like what me professor likes.

The Victoria & Albert Museum

Here’s some shiny buttons. They’re made out of diamonds. Joseph likes diamonds, I ‘spose since he shows you pictures of ‘em every day. These buttons come from the Eighteenth Century and are made of gold, silver and diamonds. There were a lot more of ‘em once. I reckon they got lost in the washing. These two are left and someone made earrings out o’ ‘em. That seems clever. I guess it was clever enough to get ‘em in the Victoria & Albert Museum. That’s where they are now.

Enough of that. Now, let’s look at things I like.

Here’s a puppet head. I like this. Poor puppet’s just a head now. Ain’t got a body. Sad, really. But, it’s a nice head. It’s old. It were made in the Eighteenth Century just like them earrings up there. Only this is made of wood and paint—like me! She’s known as “Mother Shipton” and was part of the puppet play, “Mother Shipton and the Downfall of Cardinal Wolsey” which were performed by a bloke named Martin Powell. This lives in the V&A, too, but it’s not in the same room as them earrings.  She's so pretty.  Nice nose.  Lovely chin.

Oh! Here’s somethin’ else I like. It’s related to me. It’s a painting by Clayton Clarke from the Nineteenth Century. It shows a Punch & Judy Man settin’ up his fit-up. With him is his bottler. The bottler is the fella what gets folk to come and watch the show. Sometimes he plays an instrument like what this fella in the painting is doing—a flute. I never played a flute, but me lips don’t open. All the better.

Let’s see what else. Me professor wants me to tell ya that we got all sorts of new things comin’ up at Stalking the Belle Époque startin’ on Tuesday. We got diamonds and paintings and fans and clocks and puppet-stuff and all sorts of things. Plus, me story, Punch’s Cousin, will be back with new Chapters. That poor fella what thinks he’s me. He’s got troubles—Voodoo and evil folk what want to steal babies. Coo!

Wait! Here’s one more thing. It’s the front cloth from a Nineteenth Century puppet theatre what comes from Sicily. It’s got a clown on it. He’s kinda scary. I love him! It, too, is in the V&A. What don’t they got there?

That’s all for now! Enjoy your holiday, you lazy Americans. And, to me chums in the U.K., keep on laboring like you always do! Someone’s got to!

That’s the way to do it!

Slaps and Hisses…

Mr. Punch