A Q.C., M.P.--the Long of it.A Q.C., M.P.—the Long of it.
A Q.C., M.P.—the Long of it.
Another Q.C., M.P.--the Short of it.Another Q.C., M.P.—the Short of it.
Another Q.C., M.P.—the Short of it.
Sir, last week the Members of the Associated Chamber of Commerce had the audacity to affirm that every Counsel should be placed in the same position as any other agent in respect of his legal obligation to do the best he could for his employer. In other words, these gentlemen are anxious to prevent Barristers from accepting briefs unless they are sure of appearing in Court to conduct the cases to which they refer. Really nothing would be more monstrous! It is alleged, Sir, that we with a dozen cases in hand cannot do justice to them all! That we pick and choose, exerting ourselves in those which interest us most, and confer most distinction upon us, and neglecting the rest! This is a very old cry, and a very unfair one. I have been for very many years a Member of the Bar, and can assure yon that, in my own professional career (which is a typical one), I have never been guilty of the abuses credited to us. The Representatives of the Associated Chambers of Commerce can know very little of the matter to which they are pleased to call attention by their superficial observations. I should like some of these Representatives to attend with me in the Royal Courts in Term Time, to mark us as we labour in the cause of our clients, and then to accompany me to the House of Commons, to watch us as we attend to our Parliamentary duties. Amongst our number, I would show him Mr.Waddy, unexhausted from impassioned appeals to the Jury, standing with Blue Book in hand, ready to use his mighty voice in defence of those liberties so dear to the heart of every Englishman. And when they were weary of admiring that gentleman, I would beg of them to regard Mr.Finlay, with his wig off and his gown discarded, giving gratuitous service to the best interests of the British Public. Their portraits should be hung up in every Chamber of Commerce, to remind our detractors that we have souls above fees, voices beyond the regulation of retainers! Moreover, I feel, Sir, that those who would attempt to degrade our social status by making us the peers of the commercial community are as short-sighted as they are ungrateful. It is said that we throw over our cases—that we do not appear when the names of our clients are reached in the Cause List! Has it ever occurred to these Associated Chambers that as litigation is admittedly to be avoided, the less law we give the Public the better? But I will not descend to an argument that should be kept in reserve when something infinitely stronger will serve my purpose better. From my name you will see that I can speak with authority. In that name I solemnly declare that I have never picked and chosen my cases, but have ever taken in all of them equal interest, and done to all of them equal justice.
I deny that, by running afterme, the Public has been guilty of an insane action. At least in the sense attached by Mr.Norwoodto the accusation. Further, I have yet to learn that the Public everhasrun after me. And if the Public has run after me, I absolutely and entirely contradict the absurd statement that it could get much better work done by others—at any rate for a third of the money!
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient Servant,(Signed)A. Briefless Junr.
Pumphandle Court, Temple.
Sketch of a Review. The March of Intellect.
Sketch of a Review. The March of Intellect.
A Secret Inheritanceis the title of Mr.B. L. Farjeon'slatest, and only not his best, Romance, because his others have all been as absorbingly interesting and as exciting as this. Yet because in this the author adheres strictly to the point, without any carpenters' scenes, of humour, which are distracting and irritating, I am inclined to set this down as the best of all Mr.Farjeon's,—in fact,—the best-by-Far-jeon. He is, for many reasons, better thanBoisgobey.
In an admirably got up and well-arranged Jubilee volume about PopeLeo the Thirteenth, byJohn Oldcastle, we find an item of information which may be advantageously recommended to Emperors, Empresses, Monarchs of all they survey, Princes, Lord Mayors, and Aldermen. It is "the Pope's dinner." Listen, "A few minutes suffices for its consumption." "He does not spend a hundred francs a month for his table." Not one pound a week! Not three shillings a day on his food, wine included! He dines "at two o'clock: his mid-day meal lasts not longer than half-an-hour, and is very frugal, consisting of soup, one kind of meat, two dishes of vegetables, some fruit, and, by the doctor's orders, a glass of claret." His supper at 9.30 consists of "soup, an egg, and some salad." Is there a Radical living who could tax the Pope's bill of fare as exorbitant?
The Red Spider, by the Author ofMehalah, &c., is theUn-read Spideras far as I am concerned, for I could not manage to get through it, and I did try.
Book Worm.
Deer Punch,
Az I speek, so I rite, az neerly az possibl. I hope that wunce popular soshial and intellectual recreashon meeting the "Spelling Bee," (sic) will soon be revived, with a difference. It may be expected to cum up agen under the name of a Fonetik Spelling B, and the auspices of the American Spelling Reform Associashun. A competishun in spelling English wurds acording to thare sound may divert superfishl hearers; but no dout menny of those who hav cum to scoff wil remane to spel.
The adopshun of fonetik spelling must tend to elevate the Masses in respect of orthografy to a level with the Classes, az it will enable the former to spel az they speek correctly, when they do speek so. But, for that matter the fonetik orthografy, wunce adopted, wil naturally be followd by an adaptashun of all the prezent rules of Grammer to popular uzage. Perhaps the aspirate wil be expeld from the Alfabet, and there wil be an end to the supersilius aristocrat's derizhun of the Peeple for dropping their h's.
However, an Act of Parliament mite be necessary to effect the rekwisit reforms of theQueen'sInglish if possibl.
If the Republic of Letters cood be persuaded to employ those of the Alfabet fonetically, a popular system of spelling wood soon prevale. At leest all ordinary parts of speech mite by common consent be ritten as pronounsd. But a certin difficulty wood perhaps be prezented by proper names. I am afrade my friends who spel their ownMarjoribanks,Ponsonby,Grosvenor,Poingdestre,DeCrespigny,Dalrymple, and others whom I could mention, wood almost as soon be hanged as pen fonetik signatures. As for myself, however, I hav no such objecshun. I happen to inherit a name of which the tradishonal orthografy isColquhoun. It is far too much of a mouthful to be pronounced az so spelt, and I, for my part, deferring all pride of pedigree to a great intellectual movement, do not hesitate to sine it, regardless of the double meaning it may convey to an American reeder,
Coon.
P.S.—Ben Jonson'ssignature is clearly fonetik. As forShakspeare,Shakespeare,Shakespear, orShakspere, he seems not to have known how to spel his own name.
"ICHABOD!"Scotch Wife(to her Gossip). "Ah dinna ken what's come ower the Kirk. Ah canna bide to see oor Menester spankin' aboot on yon Cyclopædy!"
Scotch Wife(to her Gossip). "Ah dinna ken what's come ower the Kirk. Ah canna bide to see oor Menester spankin' aboot on yon Cyclopædy!"
[The London Medical Schools open in the first week of October.]
In the dim days of chilly October,When leaves are grown ashen and brown,Let us hope to be steady and sober,The Medicals come up to town.They will study all lore anatomic,To ease future patients from pains;And must vow that no "Champion Comic"Shall win them from muscles and veins.With dissectingextensorandflexor,They'll find work enough for the knife;While aplexusof nerves a perplexerWill sometimes remain for all life.While that life as an "organisationIn action," if critics speak truth,Will remain the supremest attractionFor doctors in age or in youth.In the summer their studies botanicWill take them to flood and to field;Well we know that the structures organicSerene satisfaction will yield.They will gauge bothcorollaandcalyx,Till examinations are o'er.May they find, with the study ofsalix,They need wear the willow no more.ThenMateria Medica'scharming,They'll learn all about Oil of Rue,And ifTinct:Podophylli's alarming,They'll turn to their Squills and Tolu.In theHordeum DecorticatumThey'll find an old friend when they're ill;While theFerrumthat's dubbedTartaratumIs not quite the thing in a pill.Then our chemistry comes, and each symbolWill vary, it seems, every age,And the man has a mind that is nimble,Who conquers each intricate page.There's AgNO3as the NitrateOf silver as plain as can be,And anon comes the Sulphate and CitrateOf Iron, that's known as Fe.Very steep is the pathway to knowledge,As Medical Students will find;And we'll hope that they'll work, when at College,Or what they denominate "grind."And hereafter, amid the aromaOf weeds, they'll think tenderly stillOf the dear days before the diplomaThat gave them the "Licence to Kill!"
In the dim days of chilly October,When leaves are grown ashen and brown,Let us hope to be steady and sober,The Medicals come up to town.They will study all lore anatomic,To ease future patients from pains;And must vow that no "Champion Comic"Shall win them from muscles and veins.
In the dim days of chilly October,
When leaves are grown ashen and brown,
Let us hope to be steady and sober,
The Medicals come up to town.
They will study all lore anatomic,
To ease future patients from pains;
And must vow that no "Champion Comic"
Shall win them from muscles and veins.
With dissectingextensorandflexor,They'll find work enough for the knife;While aplexusof nerves a perplexerWill sometimes remain for all life.While that life as an "organisationIn action," if critics speak truth,Will remain the supremest attractionFor doctors in age or in youth.
With dissectingextensorandflexor,
They'll find work enough for the knife;
While aplexusof nerves a perplexer
Will sometimes remain for all life.
While that life as an "organisation
In action," if critics speak truth,
Will remain the supremest attraction
For doctors in age or in youth.
In the summer their studies botanicWill take them to flood and to field;Well we know that the structures organicSerene satisfaction will yield.They will gauge bothcorollaandcalyx,Till examinations are o'er.May they find, with the study ofsalix,They need wear the willow no more.
In the summer their studies botanic
Will take them to flood and to field;
Well we know that the structures organic
Serene satisfaction will yield.
They will gauge bothcorollaandcalyx,
Till examinations are o'er.
May they find, with the study ofsalix,
They need wear the willow no more.
ThenMateria Medica'scharming,They'll learn all about Oil of Rue,And ifTinct:Podophylli's alarming,They'll turn to their Squills and Tolu.In theHordeum DecorticatumThey'll find an old friend when they're ill;While theFerrumthat's dubbedTartaratumIs not quite the thing in a pill.
ThenMateria Medica'scharming,
They'll learn all about Oil of Rue,
And ifTinct:Podophylli's alarming,
They'll turn to their Squills and Tolu.
In theHordeum Decorticatum
They'll find an old friend when they're ill;
While theFerrumthat's dubbedTartaratum
Is not quite the thing in a pill.
Then our chemistry comes, and each symbolWill vary, it seems, every age,And the man has a mind that is nimble,Who conquers each intricate page.There's AgNO3as the NitrateOf silver as plain as can be,And anon comes the Sulphate and CitrateOf Iron, that's known as Fe.
Then our chemistry comes, and each symbol
Will vary, it seems, every age,
And the man has a mind that is nimble,
Who conquers each intricate page.
There's AgNO3as the Nitrate
Of silver as plain as can be,
And anon comes the Sulphate and Citrate
Of Iron, that's known as Fe.
Very steep is the pathway to knowledge,As Medical Students will find;And we'll hope that they'll work, when at College,Or what they denominate "grind."And hereafter, amid the aromaOf weeds, they'll think tenderly stillOf the dear days before the diplomaThat gave them the "Licence to Kill!"
Very steep is the pathway to knowledge,
As Medical Students will find;
And we'll hope that they'll work, when at College,
Or what they denominate "grind."
And hereafter, amid the aroma
Of weeds, they'll think tenderly still
Of the dear days before the diploma
That gave them the "Licence to Kill!"
Mr.Bright, backing up the Anti-Vaccination fanatics, says, "If honest parents object to have their children vaccinated, I would not compel them to submit." He would, in fact, substitute voluntary for compulsory vaccination. But what if voluntary vaccination for the few means involuntary small-pox for the many, Mr.Bright?
In Nuce.—Mr.Gladstone, adversely criticising Dr.Ingram'sHistory of the Irish Union, compares that gentleman to a buoy tossed about on the waves. Indeed, the ex-Premier's article may be thus compendiously summed upà laPaul Bedford:—"Idon'tbelieve you, my Buoy!"
Compiled for the Use of the Epping Deer-stalkers.
This wounded buck that is approaching us, painfully dragging its shattered hind-leg after it, must be the same creature we peppered, after such good sport, last Tuesday week.
Dear me, I did not know that our hunting-pack consisted of a mastiff, two poodles, three bull-dogs, a beagle, and a bloodhound.
Are these clumsy sportsmen, who blaze away without knowing what they are firing at, the "gentlemen" invited by the Verderer to assist him at the chase? Ha! I think, from the way he shakes his head as he makes off, that I must have hit that old buck nearly in the eye.
No, I am mistaken. I can clearly see now from the manner in which he is limping that I must have wounded the young deer badly in the ankle.
I wonder whether I shall find him lying down in a copse and dying some time next week.
My friends will certainly have to wait for their venison, for, strange to say, that is the seventeenth buck I have maimed this morning who has managed to drag himself off after being hit.
Fortunately the officers of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are engaged in Town.
While this lasts, however, there cannot be a doubt but that the quality of the sport is excellent.
I wonder whether the Conservators are really fully aware of what a regular good time of it I'm having.
LONDON QUITE EMPTY!"LONDON QUITE EMPTY!"Sketched in October—East by West.
Sketched in October—East by West.
"I know of no cure but for the Englishman (1) to do his best to compete in the particulars where the German now excels; (2) to try to show that, taken all round, he is worth more than the German."Mr. Gladstone on English Clerks and German Competition.
"I know of no cure but for the Englishman (1) to do his best to compete in the particulars where the German now excels; (2) to try to show that, taken all round, he is worth more than the German."
Mr. Gladstone on English Clerks and German Competition.
All very fine, O orator illustrious!But I as soon would be a Mole, or Merman,As a short-grubbing, horribly industrious,Linguistic German.A Clerk's a Clerk, that is a cove who scribblesAll day, and then goes in for cue, and "jigger,"And not a mere machine who feeds by nibbles,Slaves like a nigger.Learn languages? And for two quid a week?Cut barmaids, billiards, bitter beer and betting?Yah! that may suit a Sausage, or a sneak!Whistles need wetting.That is if they are genuine English whistles,And not dry, hoarse, yah-yah Teutonic throttles.I'm not a donkey who can thrive on thistles.No, that's "no bottles."I've learned my native tongue,—and that's a teaser—I've also learned a lot of slang and patter;But German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Sir,For "screw" no fatter?Not me, my old exuberant Wood-chopper!Levelmeto the straw-haired Carls and Hermanns?No; there's another trick would do me proper,—Kick out the Germans!OldBismarck's"Blood and Iron's" a receipt meantFor Sour-Kraut gobblers, sandy and sardonic;But for us Britons that Teutonic treatmentIs much too tonic.The cheek of 'em just puts me in a rage,Send 'em back home, ah! even pay their passage!Or soon, by Jove, we'll have to call our age,The German "Sauce"-age!
All very fine, O orator illustrious!But I as soon would be a Mole, or Merman,As a short-grubbing, horribly industrious,Linguistic German.
All very fine, O orator illustrious!
But I as soon would be a Mole, or Merman,
As a short-grubbing, horribly industrious,
Linguistic German.
A Clerk's a Clerk, that is a cove who scribblesAll day, and then goes in for cue, and "jigger,"And not a mere machine who feeds by nibbles,Slaves like a nigger.
A Clerk's a Clerk, that is a cove who scribbles
All day, and then goes in for cue, and "jigger,"
And not a mere machine who feeds by nibbles,
Slaves like a nigger.
Learn languages? And for two quid a week?Cut barmaids, billiards, bitter beer and betting?Yah! that may suit a Sausage, or a sneak!Whistles need wetting.
Learn languages? And for two quid a week?
Cut barmaids, billiards, bitter beer and betting?
Yah! that may suit a Sausage, or a sneak!
Whistles need wetting.
That is if they are genuine English whistles,And not dry, hoarse, yah-yah Teutonic throttles.I'm not a donkey who can thrive on thistles.No, that's "no bottles."
That is if they are genuine English whistles,
And not dry, hoarse, yah-yah Teutonic throttles.
I'm not a donkey who can thrive on thistles.
No, that's "no bottles."
I've learned my native tongue,—and that's a teaser—I've also learned a lot of slang and patter;But German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Sir,For "screw" no fatter?
I've learned my native tongue,—and that's a teaser—
I've also learned a lot of slang and patter;
But German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Sir,
For "screw" no fatter?
Not me, my old exuberant Wood-chopper!Levelmeto the straw-haired Carls and Hermanns?No; there's another trick would do me proper,—Kick out the Germans!
Not me, my old exuberant Wood-chopper!
Levelmeto the straw-haired Carls and Hermanns?
No; there's another trick would do me proper,—
Kick out the Germans!
OldBismarck's"Blood and Iron's" a receipt meantFor Sour-Kraut gobblers, sandy and sardonic;But for us Britons that Teutonic treatmentIs much too tonic.
OldBismarck's"Blood and Iron's" a receipt meant
For Sour-Kraut gobblers, sandy and sardonic;
But for us Britons that Teutonic treatment
Is much too tonic.
The cheek of 'em just puts me in a rage,Send 'em back home, ah! even pay their passage!Or soon, by Jove, we'll have to call our age,The German "Sauce"-age!
The cheek of 'em just puts me in a rage,
Send 'em back home, ah! even pay their passage!
Or soon, by Jove, we'll have to call our age,
The German "Sauce"-age!
We read in theDaily Telegraphof Sept. 30th the following:—
No salary.—A Widow Lady (39), well educated but not accomplished, will give her Services as Housekeeper in return for a comfortable HOME, and to be treated as one of the family, and the occasional use of a good hack, no need to have carried a lady before. Thoroughly understands the management of a gentleman's house, companionable, and ladylike appearance. Superior references.—Address, &c.
Is it the comfortable home which has "no need to have carried a lady before"? or the "family" of which the Advertiser desires to be one? We should imagine that this very masculine lady would be more likely to carry the family. Failing answers to her advertisement, she had better apply to a Circus for a post. "The occasional use of a good hack" would evidently be instead of salary. But she is much too modest. Why say she is "not accomplished" when she knows how to break in a horse? Any Rugby Football Club would give her "the occasional use of a goodhack."
Theatrical Index Wanted.—"The Way Out."
I must say they takerathera matter of course view here of my engagement. No one would suppose from their manner that there was anything at all unusual in a match between a Government official and a confectioner's assistant!Louise'sAunt, indeed, (whether sincerely, or from motives of policy, I hardly know,) does not conceal her regret that a certainRobert Ponkinghad not "spoken out" while he had the opportunity.Ponkingis a rising salesman in the trimming department of some upholstering business, and doing, I understand, extremely well. Still, I do flatter myself—but one can'tsaythese things, unfortunately!
A Cutter making for the Peer Head.A Cutter making for the Peer Head.
A Cutter making for the Peer Head.
An encounter—which, but forLouise'sexquisite common sense, might have been awkward—has just taken place. We metPonkingon the Pier. It struck me that the Aunt's surprise was a little overdone, but he was evidently unprepared forme.Louiseperfectly composed, however; introduced me as "her intended" (a triflebourgeoisthis, perhaps, but itisdifficult to know what to say—I felt it myself.)Ponkingallowed her to see he was fearfully cut up, and I am afraid she is reproaching herself a little, poor girl!
We have met him again; he has reached the saturnine and Byronic stage;Louiseremonstrated with him for smoking so many cigars, which she was sure were bad for him (hiscigars are bad for everybody else at all events!) and he replied gloomily that there was no one to carenowwhat he did, and oversmoking was as pleasant a way of leaving the world as most. I can see this is depressingLouise; she is not nearly so bright when alone with me as she used to be—she does not even take much interest in my Drama! I do my best to comfort her by declaring thatPonkingis only "posing," and has not the remotest idea of dying for love; but that only seems to irritate her—she has such a tender little heart.
As we are constantly meeting him about, I appeal to him privately to brighten up a little. He is much affected, says I must make some allowance for his position, and implores me not to forbid himLouise'ssociety altogether. He will make an effort to be gayer in the future, he promises me, the mask shall only be dropped in private. After all, he isAlf'sfriend, and an especial favourite of the Aunt's. If he does not recognise the propriety of going, I can't send him away—we must see something of him. I should be sorry for him myself—if only he were not such an underbred beast!
'Thou counterfeit'st a bark.'"Thou counterfeit'st a bark."Shakspeare.
"Thou counterfeit'st a bark."
Shakspeare.
There is certainly a decided alteration inPonking; he now affects the most rollicking high spirits—though why he should find it necessary to dissemble his grief by playing the fool all over the sands is more than I can understand. But he grinds piano-organs, and goes round with the tambourine; receives penny galvanic shocks, and howls until he collects a crowd; has "larks" with the lovebirds which pick out fortunes, and chaffs all the Professors of Phrenology, choosing, as the head-quarters of his exploits, any place where Louise and I happen to be, to whom he returns, with roars of laughter, to tell us his "latest." Then he plays practical jokes onme, chalking things on my back, and putting sand down my neck. It is all very well for him to plead that he does these things "to hide an aching heart,"—but if he hides it in this way, he won't be able to find it again—that's all! I can see, too, it disgustsLouise, who bites her lips a good deal, although, she says, it is "quite a treat to see how Mr.Ponkingis enjoying himself." I am afraid, for all that, that she thinks me a little too serious. Perhaps I am—I must prove to her that it is possible to rollick with refinement. But, somehow, I can never make her laugh asPonkingdoes.
I very seldom have a quiet hour with her now; her brother has persuaded her that she ought "to see more of what's going on," and "do as others do." Her wishes, are, of course, paramount with me—although I cannot see the enjoyment of going to the open-air Music-Hallquiteso often, nor did I come here to play "penny nap," on the sands all the afternoon. If, too,Louisemust speculate, she might "go nap" with more judgment, and I do strongly object to the ostentatious generosity with whichPonkingthrows away his best cards, rather than rob her of a trick—it is in theworsttaste, and yet I fear she is touched by it. In the evening several of us promenade the town arm in arm;Ponkinghas a banjo andAlfan accordion.Louisebegs me to go, to see thatAlfdoes not get into trouble—which may be necessary enough, but who will see thatIget into none?
It is unpleasant to be warned by a policeman not to make so much noise over the "Soy, oh, what Joy," ditty, and I don't know why he singledmeout—I was onlyhummingthe confounded thing! They generally come in and have supper with me, which Mrs.Surgecomplains bitterly about; she says the gentlemen stay so late, and are so noisy, and her room smells of smoke so next day. I am aware of that, because I have tositin it. I don't likePonkingat any time, but, if possible, he is rather more detestable in his sentimental moods, which generally come upon him after supper, when he informs me that the 'alo has departed from his life, and begs me, in broken accents, to allowLouiseto visit his tomb occasionally. If he were onlythere!
Uneven is the course."Uneven is the course.I like it not!"—Shakspeare.
"Uneven is the course.I like it not!"—Shakspeare.
To-dayLouiseappeared, for the first time, in a striped yachting-cap. I merely hinted, very gently, that, as she had never been on board a yacht in her life, and the cap did not even suit her, I preferred her ordinary style of head-dress, when she grew angry at once.Everybody, she informed me, was not of my opinion—Mr.Ponkinghad complimented her particularly—hangPonking!
I find myself constantly greeting and being greeted by Blazers. I am sureIdon't know how I have come to be acquainted with so many—they all ask me "How is myself," and, in answer to my polite, but scarcely warm, inquiries after their health, reply that they are "ter-rific"—which theyare!Ponkingwas asked byLouisethe other afternoon whether he was "ready for his tea;" and answered briefly, but emphatically, "Wait till I get'oldof it!"Louiseremarked afterwards that he was "so quick." I doubt very much whether she would say as much ofme. I am as fond of her as ever—in some respects, fonder—but I cannot help noticing these things—I cannot help seeing that Starmouth is not doing her any good.
Afternoon: on the Sands.—LouiseandAlfhave been scooping a pit. When it is dug, she says coquettishly that there is just room for me. I decline, a little curtly perhaps—but I really am surprised atLouise—such extremely bad style! Her Aunt, who is eating plums hard-by, says "some people seem to think themselves too grand for anything." I can hearAlfwhispering thatLouisewould not have to ask "poor oldPonk" twice.
Louisesays, pouting, that she shall not askmeagain. I can see I have hurt her feelings. After all, it is possible to betooparticular—there is no harm in it—countless couples around us are making themselves at least equally conspicuous. Somehow I never can be as firm withLouiseas I am with most people.... Ioughtto be comfortable, with her head resting upon my shoulder and my arm encircling her waist (sheinsists on this)—but, as a matter of fact, I catch myself remarking how very muchLouisehas caught the sun of late. And she has developed quite atwangwithin the last few days!
Coming with a Rush!Coming with a Rush!
Coming with a Rush!
Ponkinghas just come up; he has arranged with a photographer to take us all, just as we are, in a group. AsPonkingandAlfconsider it humorous to be taken in the act of making horrible grimaces, we promptly become objects of general interest. I shouldnotlike to be seen by any of the fellows at the office just now.
We are all posed—and a nice picture we shall make!—when, on the outskirts of the crowd, I see a slender stately figure, which does not seem quite to belong to Starmouth.
There is actually a sort of resemblance—but that is absurd! She notices the crowd, and as she pauses with a half-indifferent curiosity, I see her full face.... It is almost too terrible to be true—but I am under no delusion,—it isEthel Dering!
"Quite steady all, for one moment, please," says the photographer. If I could only bury my head in the sand like an ostrich,—butthatwould excite remark, I suppose, and, besides, there is no time!
Mrs.John Woodis not engaged with a sequel toEast Lynne, but withJohn Clayton.
Arthur Cecilwas not a favourite of QueenElizabeth; and she never received him at the Court in his life.
Wilson Barrettdoes not always make a speech after an earthquake.
And lastly it is not true that Mrs.James Brown-Potterwas instructed in her art by Mrs.Siddons, Mrs.Jordan, MissEllen Terry, Mme.Sarah Bernhardt, and MissMinnie Palmer.
finger pointing
NOTICE.—Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception.