class="smcap">Robinson. Will you excuse me if I sing him to by-byes?" In olden days Briggs had a glorious baritone voice, and to hear him sing the Balliol Boating Song was a musical treat. I therefore readily agreed to stay and listen. "The Duckydoo is very particular," explained Briggs. "He will only go to sleep to his own ickle tune, The New Lullaby."

"Mummy has gone to the city,
Cutsaba—Cutsababoo!
But Mummy will think of her Pretty,
And buy him a little toy too.
Daddy will dandle the Darling,
And show him his beautiful toy.
Hushaby, Pet! Baby, don't fret!
Sleepery, Peepery Boy!

"Mummy is making the money,
Cutsaba—Cutsababoo!
To buy a new bonnet for sonny,
A jacket for Daddykins too.
Daddy will dandle the Darling,
And show him his beautiful toy.
Hushaby, Pet! Baby, don't fret!
Sleepery, Peepery Boy!"

Briggs had just reached the end of the second verse when his keenly sensitive ear caught the sound of a latchkey turning in the door. A look of terror crossed his face. "It's she! It's she!" he cried. "Oh, Robinson, if she finds you here! Oh, if you love me, fly!" I needed no second bidding. With a hasty grip of the hand I bade my friend farewell, and this is the last that has been seen of Briggs of Balliol.

THE MODERN MAID OF ATHENS.

John Bull (hesitatingly). "Maid of Athens, ere we 'part'——"     Maid of Athens (interrupting). "Think what you owe to Attic Art?."

[ the invitation of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, a large meeting of these interested in the British School of Art at Athens was held on July 9 in St. James's Palace. The Prince of Wales said: "I sincerely hope we may soon hear that the School has been placed in an assured position for ever."—Times Report.]

A LABOUR OF LOVE!

Benevolent Lady (who has with infinite trouble organised a Country Excursion for some overworked London Dressmakers). "Then mind you're at the Station at Nine to-morrow, Eliza. I do hope it won't Rain!"

"Rine, Miss! I 'owp not, to be sure! The Country's bad enough when it's Foine, yn't it, Miss?"

CUE FOR CANVASSERS.

(By a Cynic.)

["In all the doubtful constituencies the result may be regarded as depending largely upon the persuasion and argument brought to bear upon individual electors."—The Yorkshire Post.]

Persuasion? Argument? Very nice names
For Radical Caucusites, Primrose Dames,
And other retailers of party riddles,
Ex parte statements, and taradiddles!
Gregarious voters, of old bribes did you all;
Now argument deals with the "individual."
With the man—or his wife—you must seek occasion,
Canvasser clever, to try "persuasion."
To "argue" that Bloggs is the likeliest chap
To pour prosperity into your lap;
To "persuade" the Missus that that McQuirk
Will deprive her "man" of his beer and work!
Oh, sweet are the virtues, upon occasion,
Of moral (or even immoral) 'suasion!
When blankets run out and when money's all spent,
Then, then comes the value of "argument."
And if the "argument" takes the form
Of orders and jobs in a perfect storm;
And when "persuasion" the future gauges
A promise of liquor and higher wages;
Why, then the result is the same almost,
'Twixt you and me, and the (Yorkshire) Post!

A Daly Sacrifice to Shakspeare.—Again, thanks to the enterprise of Mr. Augustin Daly, one of Shakspeare's comedies is rendered resplendent with appropriate accessories. A Midsummer Night's Dream, furnished with new illustrations, and sparingly curtailed by necessary "cuts," becomes more poetical than ever. Miss Ada Rehan is a "dream" in herself, and Mr. Lewis, as an American playing in England, becomes "translated" every evening to the complete satisfaction of an appreciating and crowded audience. The play should run from Midsummer into Michaelmas.

A HENLEY BARCAROLLE.

(By a Parasyllabic Swain.)

My lovylade, I peg and bray
That you will pun my joint to-day;
And we will, dreaming o'er the stodge,
In some remote lackwater bodge.

We'll take a man Joe, bandoline,
And hick-cup, as we slop between
The bangled tanks—we'll sink and drip,
And strum the things on board our ship.

List to my lovesick, mew, and come
Far from the giddy, higgling gum!
Relaying hearses, we will croon,
And through each glowering hide we'll spoon!

Advertisement (in "Standard").—"Great Yarmouth. Small House. Close Aquarium and sea. Servant left." Who was there when "servant left"? Also why "close Aquarium and sea"? Perhaps easy but unwise to close the former, but quite impossible to shut up the latter.

"Good Bis"-ley. "Tell that to the Marines."—The United Services Cup was adjudged to the Marines at Bisley. In this competition the Marines were the best, "all told."

A Smoking Christian Concert.—In these smoking hot July days a Smoking Mission seems a good notion. Yet the Baccy-nalian missionaries may probably have to say, "We have pipe'd unto you, and you have not responded," except as long as the supply held out. Will there be distributed tracts entitled A Bird's Eye View of Heaven, A Short Cut to Truth, Returns to