Men humanity are preaching, and philanthropists elate
  Point out he who injures horses shall be punished by the State;
  Dogs are carefully protected, likewise the domestic cats,
  Possibly kind-hearted people would not draw the line at rats: 
  If all that be right and proper, why then persecute and kill us? 
  Lo! the age’s foremost martyr is the vilified Bacillus!

* * * * *

WALK UP!

As far as Vigo Street, and see Mr. NETTLESHIP’s Wild Beast Show at the sign of “The Rembrandt Head.”  Here are Wild Animals to be seen done from the life, and to the life; tawny lions, sleepy bears, flapping vultures, and eagles, and brilliant macaws—­all in excellent condition.  Observe the “Lion roaring” at No. 28, and the “Ibis flying” with the sunlight on his big white wings against a deep blue sky, No. 36.  All these Wild Animals can be safely guaranteed as pleasant and agreeable companions to live with, and so, judging from certain labels on the frames, the British picture-buyer has already discovered.  Poor Mr. NETTLESHIP’s Menagerie will return to him shorn of its finest specimens—­that is, if he ever sees any of them back at all.

* * * * *

IN OUR GARDEN.

[Illustration]

It has occurred to me in looking back over these unpremeditated notes, that if by any chance they came to be published, the public might gain the impression that the Member for SARK and I did all the work of the Garden, whilst our hired man looked on.  SARK, to whom I have put the case, says that is precisely it.  But I do not agree with him.  We have, as I have already explained, undertaken this new responsibility from a desire to preserve health and strength useful to our QUEEN and Country.  Therefore we, as ARPACHSHAD says, potter about the Garden, get in each other’s way, and in his; that is to say, we are out working pretty well all day, with inadequate intervals for meals.

ARPACHSHAD, to do him justice, is most anxious not to interfere with our project by unduly taking labour on himself.  When we are shifting earth, and as we shift it backwards and forwards there is a good deal to be done in that way, he is quite content to walk by the side, or in front of the barrow, whilst SARK wheels it, and I walk behind, picking up any bits that have shaken out of the vehicle. (Earth trodden into the gravel-walk would militate against its efficiency.) But of course ARPACHSHAD is, in the terms of his contract, “a working gardener,” and I see that he works.

At the same time it must be admitted that he does not display any eagerness in engaging himself, nor does he rapidly and energetically carry out little tasks which are set him.  There are, for example, the sods about the trees in the orchard.  He says it’s very bad for the trees to have the sods close up to their trunks.  There should be a small space of open ground.  ARPACHSHAD thought that