Simple SIMON?  Well, that’s not as clear as it looks. 
  The typical noodles of nursery books
  Were podgy and chubby, or lanky and pale,
  And—­they tried to drop salt on poor dicky-bird’s tail!

  A fat boy in tight breeks with a palpable bait
  May look a great fool; but I guess we must wait,—­
  Before we bemock him as crass and absurd,—­
  To see—­what effect it will have on the Bird!

  The trial’s well timed, and the bait looks “not bad;”
  The Boy may “know his book,” though he’s only a lad. 
  Birds sometimes fall victims to Boys on the prowl,
  And the Voter Bird is not the wariest fowl.

  The Voter Bird shortly must show what he’s worth
  He may be the stupidest dicky on earth,
  Predestinate victim to salt-pinch or net;
  But then he may not,—­and he is “not caught yet!”

* * * * *

AN AUTOCRAT’S ASPIRATION.—­Pan-Slavism for Holy Russia, and Pan-Slav(e)ism for the rest of Europe.

* * * * *

LAND AND BRAIN.

(A PAGE FROM A VADE MECUM FOR POLITICAL ECONOMISTS.)

    Question.  Can you tell me how long an Author has a right to the
  profits arising out of his literary labours?
    Answer.  Forty-two years, or the term of his natural life plus
  seven years further, whichever may be the longer.
    Q. And should Lord MONKSWELL’s Copyright Bill, which has
  been read a First Time in the House of Peers, become law, will not
  this right be extended to thirty years after the death of the Author?
    A. It will, to his great advantage.  The same measure contains
  other valuable provisions to secure to the Author the just profit of
  his brain-work.
    Q. But will not these advantages be purchased at the price of a
  loss to the general good?
    A. Very likely—­the community will suffer for the benefit of the
  individual.
    Q. In like manner a Patentee, who invents a most useful article,
  enjoys (for a consideration) a monopoly of its sale, does he not?
    A. For fourteen years.  This enables him to recoup himself for
  the thought and labour he has employed in the most useful article’s
  construction.
    Q. If Author and Inventor were allowed an absolute monopoly of
  the profits arising out of their brain-work, it would be immoral?
    A. No doubt, as the individuals would benefit at the cost of the
  community.
    Q. Why should a butterman, then, have an absolute right in the
  sale of his butter?
    A. Because butter is butter, and brains are merely brains.
    Q. And would it not be for the benefit of the community if the
  landowner of a freehold were deprived of his rights after a term of
  years, and his holding be given to the public?
    A. Oh dear, no!  Land, as RUDYARD KIPLING would say, “is
  quite another story!”