II.

  The “Swanherd” showed a blue-peaked nose,
  And white against the cold white sky
  Shone many a face of those
  Who o’er the upper reaches swept,
  On swans and cygnets keeping an eye. 
  Dyers and Vintners, portly, mellow
  Chasing the birds of the jetty bill
  Through the reed clusters green and still;
  And through the osier mazes crept
  Many a cap-feathered crook-armed fellow.

  III.

  The lone Swan’s requiem smote the soul
  With the reverse of joy. 
  It spake of sorrow, of outfalls queer,
  Dyeing the floods once full and clear;
  Of launches wildly galumphing by,
  Washing the banks into hollow and hole;
  Sometimes afar, and sometimes a-near. 
  All-marring ’ARRY’S exuberant voice,
  With music strange and manifold,
  Howling out choruses loud and bold
  As when Bank-holidayites rejoice
  With concertinas, and the many-holed
  Shrill whistle of tin, till the riot is rolled
  Through shy backwaters, where swan-nests are;
  And greasy scraps of the Echo or Star,
  Waifs from the cads’ oleaginous feeds,
  Emitting odours reekingly rank,
  Drift under the clumps of the water-weeds,
  And broken bottles invade the reeds,
  And the wavy swell of the many-barged tug
  Breaks, and befouls the green Thames’ bank. 
  And the steady decrease of the snow-plumed throng
  That sail the upper Thames reaches among,
  Was prophesied in that plaintive song.

* * * * *

DOING IT CHEAPLY.

A re-action against the extravagance which marked the entertainments of the London Season of 1890 having set in, the following rules and regulations will be observed in the Metropolis until further notice.

1.  Persons invited to dinner parties will be expected to furnish their own plate and linen, and some of the viands and wines to be used at the feast.

2.  To carry out the above, a menu of the proposed meal will form a part of every card of invitation, which will run as follows:—­“Mr. and Mrs. ——­ request the honour of Mr. and Mrs. ——­’s company to dinner, on ——­ when they will kindly bring with them enough for twelve persons of the dish marked ——­ on the accompanying Menu, P.T.O.”

3.  Persons invited to a Ball will treat the supper as a pic-nic, to which all the guests are expected to contribute.

4.  On taking leave of a hostess every guest will slip into her hand a packet containing a sum of money sufficient to defray his or her share of the evening’s expenses.

5.  Ladies making calls at or about five o’clock, will bring with them tea, sugar, milk, pound-cake, cucumber sandwiches, and bread and butter.

6.  As no bands will be furnished at evening parties, guests who can play will be expected to bring their musical instruments with them.  N.B.  This does not apply to pianofortes on the premises, for which a small sum will be charged to those who use them.