PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.LORD SALISBURY. "HALLO!"M. LE PRÉSIDENT. "HALLO!"LORD SALISBURY. "YOU THERE?"M. LE PRÉSIDENT. "ALL THERE!"LORD SALISBURY. "CAN YOU SUGGEST ANENTRÉEFOR DINNER?"M. LE PRÉSIDENT. "HOMARD AU GRATIN,—AND, BY THE WAY, HOW ABOUT NEWFOUNDLAND AND LOBSTER QUESTION?"LORD SALISBURY. "NOT BY TELEPHONE, THANK YOU!!!"[Telephone between London and Paris opened, Monday, March 23rd.]
LORD SALISBURY. "HALLO!"
M. LE PRÉSIDENT. "HALLO!"
LORD SALISBURY. "YOU THERE?"
M. LE PRÉSIDENT. "ALL THERE!"
LORD SALISBURY. "CAN YOU SUGGEST ANENTRÉEFOR DINNER?"
M. LE PRÉSIDENT. "HOMARD AU GRATIN,—AND, BY THE WAY, HOW ABOUT NEWFOUNDLAND AND LOBSTER QUESTION?"
LORD SALISBURY. "NOT BY TELEPHONE, THANK YOU!!!"
[Telephone between London and Paris opened, Monday, March 23rd.]
SUFFERING ON THE 'SILVER STREAK.'SUFFERING ON THE "SILVER STREAK."THESE GENTLEMEN (AFTER A FEW HOURS' REST) DECLARED UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOUR OF THE PROPOSED CHANNEL TUBULAR RAILWAY.
In healthier times, when friends would meetTheir friends in chamber, park, or street,Each, as hereunder, each would greet.Tour level hand went forth; you claspedYour crony's; each his comrade's grasped—If roughly, neither friend was rasped.Such was the good old-fashioned oneOf honest British "How d'ye do?"I think it manly still—don't you?Butnow, when smug acquaintance hailsA set that would be "smart," but fails,Another principle prevails.The arm, in lifted curve displayed,Droops limply o'er the shoulder-blade,As needing some chirurgeon's aid:The wrist is wrenched of JONES and BROWN,Those ornaments of London Town;Their listless fingers dribble down:BROWN reaches to the knuckle-bonesOf thus-excruciated JONES;BROWN's hand the same affliction owns.At length his finger-tips have pressedThe fingers of his JONES distressed:Both curvatures then sink to rest.A sort of anguish lisped proceedsProm either's mouth, but neither heedsThe other's half-heroic deeds.Exhausted, neither much can say;Complacent, each pursues his way;And JONES and BBOWN have lived to-day.For both have sought by strenuous strainTo demonstrate, in face of pain,That friends they were, and friends remain.Ah, wonderful! Can Poets deemSelf-sacrifice a fading dream?Are salutations what they seem?Is BROWN some Altruist in disguise,And JONES an Ibsenite likewise,That thus they flop and agonise?—Or are the pair affected fools,Who catch by rote the silly rulesOf third-rate fashionable schools?
In healthier times, when friends would meetTheir friends in chamber, park, or street,Each, as hereunder, each would greet.
In healthier times, when friends would meet
Their friends in chamber, park, or street,
Each, as hereunder, each would greet.
Tour level hand went forth; you claspedYour crony's; each his comrade's grasped—If roughly, neither friend was rasped.
Tour level hand went forth; you clasped
Your crony's; each his comrade's grasped—
If roughly, neither friend was rasped.
Such was the good old-fashioned oneOf honest British "How d'ye do?"I think it manly still—don't you?
Such was the good old-fashioned one
Of honest British "How d'ye do?"
I think it manly still—don't you?
Butnow, when smug acquaintance hailsA set that would be "smart," but fails,Another principle prevails.
Butnow, when smug acquaintance hails
A set that would be "smart," but fails,
Another principle prevails.
The arm, in lifted curve displayed,Droops limply o'er the shoulder-blade,As needing some chirurgeon's aid:
The arm, in lifted curve displayed,
Droops limply o'er the shoulder-blade,
As needing some chirurgeon's aid:
The wrist is wrenched of JONES and BROWN,Those ornaments of London Town;Their listless fingers dribble down:
The wrist is wrenched of JONES and BROWN,
Those ornaments of London Town;
Their listless fingers dribble down:
BROWN reaches to the knuckle-bonesOf thus-excruciated JONES;BROWN's hand the same affliction owns.
BROWN reaches to the knuckle-bones
Of thus-excruciated JONES;
BROWN's hand the same affliction owns.
At length his finger-tips have pressedThe fingers of his JONES distressed:Both curvatures then sink to rest.
At length his finger-tips have pressed
The fingers of his JONES distressed:
Both curvatures then sink to rest.
A sort of anguish lisped proceedsProm either's mouth, but neither heedsThe other's half-heroic deeds.
A sort of anguish lisped proceeds
Prom either's mouth, but neither heeds
The other's half-heroic deeds.
Exhausted, neither much can say;Complacent, each pursues his way;And JONES and BBOWN have lived to-day.
Exhausted, neither much can say;
Complacent, each pursues his way;
And JONES and BBOWN have lived to-day.
For both have sought by strenuous strainTo demonstrate, in face of pain,That friends they were, and friends remain.
For both have sought by strenuous strain
To demonstrate, in face of pain,
That friends they were, and friends remain.
Ah, wonderful! Can Poets deemSelf-sacrifice a fading dream?Are salutations what they seem?
Ah, wonderful! Can Poets deem
Self-sacrifice a fading dream?
Are salutations what they seem?
Is BROWN some Altruist in disguise,And JONES an Ibsenite likewise,That thus they flop and agonise?—
Is BROWN some Altruist in disguise,
And JONES an Ibsenite likewise,
That thus they flop and agonise?—
Or are the pair affected fools,Who catch by rote the silly rulesOf third-rate fashionable schools?
Or are the pair affected fools,
Who catch by rote the silly rules
Of third-rate fashionable schools?
They commanded her to rise early. She knew that the day's doings would be a terrible ordeal, but she came of a bold and sturdy race, and felt herself equal to any emergency. And so as the morning broke—as daylight crept through the foggy air—she prepared for the sacrifice. Yes, sacrifice; for was it not a sacrifice to barter away youth, pride, nay, life itself! And I had a hand in the matter! Ah, me—but away with vain regret!
I have been told since that they were hours and hours arranging her toilette. So long did it take that she was scarcely able to break her fast. She had, I believe, a cup of tea, and if rumour is to be credited, a couple of slices of thin bread-and-butter! Well, it is over now, and I can think of it almost without tears!
I called for her shortly after noon—for the lot had fallen upon me, and I was destined to attend her to her doom—she was very calm, and even smiled as I kissed her. She shivered a little as she sank beside me. I bade her to wrap her shawl more closely around her, and after she had complied with my command she seemed more at ease.
And now our conveyance had come to a full stop. We were surrounded by a sea of vulgar, hideous faces, grinning and mocking at us! My charge clung to me for protection. The laughter and the jeers increased tenfold. Then I cast her away from me roughly, whereupon followed yells mixed with savage laughter. She, poor girl, regained her composure, and gazed at the multitude with the dignity of an outraged queen. Andtheylaughed the more! Laughed the more!
At length we were set free, and made our way to a large apartment, where we were divested of our wraps, and left in costumes better adapted to late June than to early March, or mid-December. We were then ordered to advance. We were driven from one bitterly cold room to another, until we knew not whether the blood was circulating in our veins, or had frozen. We had many fellow-sufferers, and these poor creatures pushed against us, and fought with us. The great object of everyone was to get to the end of our journey!
She staggered bravely along, until at last they took away the yards of satin she carried round her arm, and spread it out behind. Then her name was uttered, or, rather, mispronounced. She sank on her knees; and, on regaining her feet, was hustled away, to follow a number of fellow-victims who had been treated with like indignity.
Once more there was the bitter cold. This time the draughts were met in that hall, and endured, until the conveyance arrived to move us on—she to stand for a couple of hours amidst gossiping friends, and I to go to bed.
But the seeds of death were sown! She never recovered the shock, and an addition to the inscriptions above the family-vault tells of her early decease!
And who was this poor girl? A homeless one, wandering the streets of London? or a political prisoner, on her way to Siberia? Neither! She was merely adébutante, attending her first (and last) Spring Drawing-room at Buckingham Palace!
NOTE (by Our Own Noodle).—Father Buonaparte, at the Olympic, judging from the account of it in theTimes, seems to consist of "a part" for our WILSON BARRETT, the remainder being skeletonish, or "boney."
'MATTHEWS AT HOME.' (NEW VERSION OF AN OLD ENTERTAINMENT.)"MATTHEWS AT HOME." (NEW VERSION OF AN OLD ENTERTAINMENT.)
Somebody once said that ultimately the Solar System would probably become a branch of the General Post Office. The present Postmaster-General is obviously of opinion that that state of things has already come about.
Somebody once said that ultimately the Solar System would probably become a branch of the General Post Office. The present Postmaster-General is obviously of opinion that that state of things has already come about.
To rule a realm as limitless as space,With the great G.P.O. as Central Sun,RAIKES is the man. Of Great Panjandrum race,He's Autocrat and Oracle in one.The Universe indeed were no great shakesWithout RAIKESRexfor Ruler.VivatRAIKES!!!
To rule a realm as limitless as space,With the great G.P.O. as Central Sun,RAIKES is the man. Of Great Panjandrum race,He's Autocrat and Oracle in one.The Universe indeed were no great shakesWithout RAIKESRexfor Ruler.VivatRAIKES!!!
To rule a realm as limitless as space,
With the great G.P.O. as Central Sun,
RAIKES is the man. Of Great Panjandrum race,
He's Autocrat and Oracle in one.
The Universe indeed were no great shakes
Without RAIKESRexfor Ruler.VivatRAIKES!!!
House of Commons, Monday, March16.—House of Commons really looked to-night as if it meant fighting. No lack of matter for quarrel. Even before public business was reached, Orders bristled with Motions raising controversial points. Lord CHUNNEL-TANNEL, that man of peace, was to the fore; his Bill, extending Manchester. Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway into LondonviaLord's Cricket Ground, down for Second Reading. That redoubtable Parliamentary Archer BAUMANN also on alert. Has taken under his personal charge the social and material welfare of Metropolis; at one time HARRY LAWSON, on other side of House, disputed supremacy of position with him. But, as SARK says, BAUMANN has immense advantage of making Liberal speeches from Conservative side.
"If," says SARK, "I had to begin my Parliamentary life again, I would sit for a Tory borough, and advocate Radical notions. If it were possible, I would, with such a programme, like to represent one of the Universities, Oxford for choice. There's a sameness about fellows who fret up from Liberal benches and spout Radicalism, or about men who talk Toryism from the Conservative camp. It's what was expected; what the House of Commons enjoys is the unexpected. GRANDOLPH knows that very well. If he'd come out as a Liberal, he wouldn't have been half the power he is. The secret of success in political life, my young friend, is to sit in darkness, and clothe yourself with light. The thing doesn't hold good in the converse direction. A man sitting on Liberal benches, and talking Toryism, will gain cheers from other side, but not much else. Look at HORSMAN in the past; look at JOKIM in the present. Certainly he is CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER; but, even with that, I suppose you wouldn't call him a political success?"
Cupid's Bowman.Cupid's Bowman.
SARK a little prosy and opinionated; otherwise a good fellow. Whilst his homily in progress ground considerably cleared. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Bill put oft till to-morrow; Kensington Subway Bill withdrawn; BAUMANN triumphant. Still remained public business; OLD MORALITY led off with proposal to take Tuesdays and Fridays for morning sittings and Opposition mustered in great force; Mr. G. present, glowing with his own eulogy on ARTEMIS. OLD MORALITY moved Resolution with deprecatory deferential manner; only desire was to do his duty to QUEEN and Country and meet the convenience of Honourable Gentlemen sitting in whatever part of the House they might find themselves. Evidently expected outburst of indignant refusal, long debate, and a big division. Some indignation, but little debate and no division. Everyone on Opposition Benches seemed to expect some one else to declare himself irreconcilable. When question put, a pause; no one rose to continue the successive brief speeches; before you could say JAMES FERGUSON, Government had, on this 16th of March, practically secured all working time for remainder of Session.
"I feel like CLIVE," said OLD MORALITY; "or was it WARREN HASTINGS? Anyhow I am amazed at my own moderation."
THE LORDS IN THE COMMONS.THE LORDS IN THE COMMONS.
Business done,—Morning Sittings arranged for rest of Session.
Tuesday.—"Lords" and Commons came in conflict to-day under novel circumstances. Lord TANNEL-CHUNNEL, pending settlement of question about making his Channel Tunnel, is promoting new trunk line of railway. Means to bring the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln line straight into London; terminus comes in by Lord's Cricket Ground; invades the sweet simplicity of St. John's Wood; artistic population of that quarter up in arms; shriek protest in Lord CHUNNEL-TANNEL's ear, and shake at him the angry fist. But TANNEL-CHUNNEL not a Baron easily turned aside from accomplishment of his projects. Squares Committee of "Lords"; impresses into support of his scheme representatives of all the big towns on the route; Manchester, Nottingham, Leicester, all cheer him on; Liberals, Conservatives, Dissentient Liberals, swell his majority. Second Reading of Bill carried by more than two to one.
"How's that, Umpire?" CHUNNEL-TANNEL asked, carrying out his bat. "Well played, indeed!" said the SPEAKER.
Seemed at one time as if blood would flow, and gore would stain the floor of House. BARNES and WIGGINS were in it, but what it was all about not quite clear. Something to do with a coal-truck. As far as could be made out from choked utterances of BARNES, there had at some remote period been a coal-truck despatched to London by the Midland route. Something happened to it; either it was delayed, or it arrived empty, or it didn't arrive at all. However, it was quite clear to BARNES that the time had come when a new line of railway giving direct access to London from the Midlands was an urgent necessity. WIGGINS observed to be wriggling in his seat during the BARNES oration. Made several attempts to catch SPEAKER's eye; at length succeeded; his suppressed fury was terrible to behold: his rage Titanic. He at least knew all about that coal-truck; though, as far as House was concerned, he did not succeed in lifting the mystery in which BARNES had enveloped it. Whether it was WIGGINS's coal, or merely WIGGINS's truck; whether WIGGINS happened to be in the truck when it went astray; or whether it was BARNES that was in it; or whether nothing was in it but the coal; or whether, coming back to an earlier point, there wasno coal in the truck when it did (or did not) arrive at St. Pancras: these were questions the House vainly pursued, withered, as it was, under the wrath of WIGGINS The only point clearly perceived was, that BIGGINS is a director of Midland Railway.
'About that Coal Truck?'"About that Coal Truck?"
In ordinary circumstances there are not to be found in House two more affable men than BARNES and WIGGINS. Amongst many other virtues, WIGGINS is, SARK tells me, one of the best judges of cigars in House, and is never without a sample in his case. It is sad to think that a man so gifted by nature, so favoured by fortune, should let his angry passions rise round a coal-truck. House, contemplating the episode, glad to shut it out by rushing off to Division Lobby.Business done.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Bill, Read a Second Time, by 212 Votes to 103.
Thursday.—House engaged in considering Lords' Amendments to Tithes Bill. Things as dull as usual; House nearly empty; walk about corridors through tea-room, newspaper-room, and library; almost deserted; in smoking-room came upon little group playing cards; three of them; SOLICITOR-GENERAL, CHABLES RUSSELL, and ASQUITH, LOCKWOOD looking on.
"I suppose," I said, "they're playing whist; why don't you make up the hand?"
"Whisht! it's not whist!" LOCKWOOD whispered, keeping his eye closely fixed on game. "It's Baccarat. (Ah! CLARKE! I saw you. Come, pay up. You did that very clumsily.) It's the Tranby Court case you know. I'm not in it, but my learned brethren here hold briefs on either side, and they say they are bound, in the interests of their clients, to master the intricacies of the game. I must say they have managed very successfully to subordinate their horror of gambling. RUSSELL, you know, has a positive distaste for any game of chance. But as he says, a Barrister must sometimes put his prejudices in his pocket. ASQUITH brings to the game a serious aspect that positively sanctifies it. As for EDWARD CLARKE, he's wonderfully nimble. He was tryingla poucettejust now when I called out to him. As everything turns upon this, my learned friends say they must make themselves acquainted with it. But I hope it won't lead to any breaking up of families. I'm told the Judges who are likely to be trying cases in London before Whitsuntide, impelled by a similar sense of duty, are also studying Baccarat. The L.C.J. is reported to have developed a wonderful talent. As a family man, and Recorder of Sheffield, I'm glad I'm not briefed in the case."
'Young Harry.'"Young Harry."
Business done.—Tithes Bill.
Friday.—Young HARRY LAWSON, with his beaver up, moved Resolution approving the opening for certain hours, and under special regulations, of the National Museums and Galleries, closed in London to the public on Sundays, made capital and convincing speech; supported by men like JOHN LUBBOCK, and, from Conservative side, MAYNE and ELCHO. Earlier in sitting, the voice of Whitechapel, Hoxton, Shoreditch, and Bethnal Green, had been heard by petition, praying for the boon. But dear old ROBERT FOWLER knows better what is good for the people. Opposed Motion. OLD MORALITY, who never goes into his picture gallery at Greenlands after midnight on Saturday, whipped up Government forces; Motion lost by 166 against 39.
Mr. BUNG, who had been watching Debate from Distinguished Strangers' Gallery, hugely delighted. "S'elp me," he said, "that'll stop their little game for this Parliament, at least. What do they mean hinterfering with honest tradesmen? If you go opening your bloomin' mooseums and picter galleries on Sunday afternoons,what's to become of ME?"
Business done.—Mr. BUNG's; and very effectively, too.
HAMPDEN, farewell! Ere this you may have foundThe World you swore was flat is really round.But many a man, with brains beneath his hat.Swears that the World is round, and finds it flat.
HAMPDEN, farewell! Ere this you may have foundThe World you swore was flat is really round.But many a man, with brains beneath his hat.Swears that the World is round, and finds it flat.
HAMPDEN, farewell! Ere this you may have found
The World you swore was flat is really round.
But many a man, with brains beneath his hat.
Swears that the World is round, and finds it flat.
Great ZEUS! was ever such a race since 1829,When WORDSWORTH, SELWYN, MERIVALE began the mighty line,First of the stalwart heroes who matched their straining thews,And on great Thames's tide have fought the battle of the Blues?Who writes of pampered softness? Confusion on his pen:Still is there pluck in England, and still her sons are Men.And still the lads go gaily forth in snow, or wind, or rain,With hearts elate to row the race, and spurt, and spurt again.A health to you, brave AMPTHILL; the cheering echoes far;For FLEICHER and the NICKALLS' lads—nobile fratrum par.A shout goes up for WILKINSON, the stalwart and the strong,For REGGIE ROWE, and dauntless KENT, who kept the stroke so long.For POOLE, the tidy bowman, and HEYWOOD-LONSDALE too;Thrice thirty cheers for all of them, that gallant Oxford Crew.Nor,—though the years speed onward, and others wield the oar,Though others race and win or lose where we have raced before;Though others, while we watch the sport, should play as we have played,And scorn us prosy greybeards—shall ELIN's glory fade?NOBLE, and LORD, and FRANCKLYN, they each shall have their cheer,And BRADDON, small, but quick of eye, who craftily did steer,And ROWLATT, and FOGG-ELLIOTT, and LANDALE, of the Hall,And FISON, sturdy Corpus man—we cheer and praise them all.Punchloves all sturdy men and true, by whom great deeds are done,And toasts and cheers with all his might the Crews of '91.
Great ZEUS! was ever such a race since 1829,When WORDSWORTH, SELWYN, MERIVALE began the mighty line,First of the stalwart heroes who matched their straining thews,And on great Thames's tide have fought the battle of the Blues?Who writes of pampered softness? Confusion on his pen:Still is there pluck in England, and still her sons are Men.And still the lads go gaily forth in snow, or wind, or rain,With hearts elate to row the race, and spurt, and spurt again.A health to you, brave AMPTHILL; the cheering echoes far;For FLEICHER and the NICKALLS' lads—nobile fratrum par.A shout goes up for WILKINSON, the stalwart and the strong,For REGGIE ROWE, and dauntless KENT, who kept the stroke so long.For POOLE, the tidy bowman, and HEYWOOD-LONSDALE too;Thrice thirty cheers for all of them, that gallant Oxford Crew.Nor,—though the years speed onward, and others wield the oar,Though others race and win or lose where we have raced before;Though others, while we watch the sport, should play as we have played,And scorn us prosy greybeards—shall ELIN's glory fade?NOBLE, and LORD, and FRANCKLYN, they each shall have their cheer,And BRADDON, small, but quick of eye, who craftily did steer,And ROWLATT, and FOGG-ELLIOTT, and LANDALE, of the Hall,And FISON, sturdy Corpus man—we cheer and praise them all.Punchloves all sturdy men and true, by whom great deeds are done,And toasts and cheers with all his might the Crews of '91.
Great ZEUS! was ever such a race since 1829,
When WORDSWORTH, SELWYN, MERIVALE began the mighty line,
First of the stalwart heroes who matched their straining thews,
And on great Thames's tide have fought the battle of the Blues?
Who writes of pampered softness? Confusion on his pen:
Still is there pluck in England, and still her sons are Men.
And still the lads go gaily forth in snow, or wind, or rain,
With hearts elate to row the race, and spurt, and spurt again.
A health to you, brave AMPTHILL; the cheering echoes far;
For FLEICHER and the NICKALLS' lads—nobile fratrum par.
A shout goes up for WILKINSON, the stalwart and the strong,
For REGGIE ROWE, and dauntless KENT, who kept the stroke so long.
For POOLE, the tidy bowman, and HEYWOOD-LONSDALE too;
Thrice thirty cheers for all of them, that gallant Oxford Crew.
Nor,—though the years speed onward, and others wield the oar,
Though others race and win or lose where we have raced before;
Though others, while we watch the sport, should play as we have played,
And scorn us prosy greybeards—shall ELIN's glory fade?
NOBLE, and LORD, and FRANCKLYN, they each shall have their cheer,
And BRADDON, small, but quick of eye, who craftily did steer,
And ROWLATT, and FOGG-ELLIOTT, and LANDALE, of the Hall,
And FISON, sturdy Corpus man—we cheer and praise them all.
Punchloves all sturdy men and true, by whom great deeds are done,
And toasts and cheers with all his might the Crews of '91.
Common Law.—"The tradition of ages shall prevail," save when it runs counter to the opinions of a leader-writer of a daily paper.
Equity.—(1). "No right shall be without a remedy," save when it is sentimentally suggested that somebody's right may be somebody else's wrong.
(2.) "Equity follows the law," at such a distance that it never comes up with it.
(3.) "Equity is equality," save when a man's wife is literally his better half.
(4.) "Where there is equal equity the law must prevail," in any view it pleases to take at the instance of the Lord Chancellor for the time being.
(5.) "Where the equities are equal the law prevails," in any course it likes to pursue.
(6.) "Equity looks upon that as done which is agreed to be done," especially when, after obtaining legal relief, the suitor ultimately finds himself sold.
Contracts.—(1.) "All contracts are construed according to the intentions of the parties," save where one of them subsequently changes his mind.
(2.) "The construction should be liberal" enough to suit the fancy of the Judge who enforces it.
(3.) "It should be favourable" to a long and angry correspondence in all the principal newspapers.
(4) "The contract should in general be construed according to the law of the country where made," but certainly not in particular.
(5.) "That testimony cannot be given to vary, but may to explain a written contract," save when someone suggests that this practice shall be reversed.
(6.) "He who employs an agent does it himself," unless it is considered advisable to take an opposite view of the matter.
Parent and Child.—"A father shall have the custody of his children," except when they get beyond his control and defy his authority.
Landlord and Tenant.—"A landlord has a right to receive his rent," if the tenant does not spend the money on something else.
Husband and Wife.—"A man has a right to the society of his wife." when she does not prefer to give her company elsewhere.
Birthright of an Englishman. (Popular traditionally but strictly speaking supplementary.)—"An Englishman's house is his castle," but only thepied à terreof the lawfully wedded sharer of his income.
OLD FATHER ANTIC.
QUEER QUERIES.—CLIMATE OF THE BRITISH ISLES.—As the Gulf Stream produces such an effect on the English climate, would it not be feasible to add to the heat of the water in some way—say, by erecting powerful furnaces somewhere on the south coast of Florida, or by turning the lava from a volcano in the neighbourhood of the Gulf into the sea? I am not a man of science, but I should be glad to hear your opinion of the scheme.—SUFFERER FROM COLD.
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.