Ah! snowy sheets and sweet lavender scent of the dear old days in my
      village home! 
  The breadths of linen a-bleach on the grass!  How little I thought that
      to this I’d come
  Grand ladies of old to their laundry looked, and the tubs were white,
      and the presses fair;
  Now we cleansers clean in the midst of dirt, in a dank, dark den, with
      a noisome air.

  Sometimes I dream till the clouds of steam take the shadowy form of a
      spectral thing,
  A tyrant terror that threatens our lives, whilst we rub and scrub, whilst
      we rinse and wring. 
  Well, cheer up, BET, girl, stiffen your lip, and straighten your back. 
      You have finished your grub,
  So to work once more; if our champions score, we may find a new end to
      this Tale of a Tub!

* * * * *

[Illustration:  A CURE FOR INFLUENZA.

Major O’Gourmand.  “SURE, ME DOCTHOR SAID A GLASS OR TWO OF DRY CHAMPAGNE’LL DO ME GOOD!  BEGORRAH, THE BOTTLE’S DRY ENOUGH BY THIS TIME!”]

* * * * *

STRIKING INTELLIGENCE.—­A PAGE FROM A LONDONER’S DIARY.

Sunday.—­Can scarcely believe the news!  What, no omnibuses!  A strike!  What shall we do?  Fortunately always go to church on foot, so no loss in that.  Then subsequent parade in the Park—­don’t require an omnibus for that, either.  At the end of the day, can say that, take one thing with another, state of affairs more comfortable than might have been anticipated.

Monday.—­Dreaded continuance of strike, but found, practically, little inconvenience.  Had to walk to the office, and enjoyed the promenade immensely.  Had no idea that a stroll along the Embankment was so delightful.  After all, one can exist without omnibuses—­at least, for a time.

Tuesday.—­Find that people who were at their wits’ end at the mere suggestion of a strike, are becoming reconciled to the situation.  Streets certainly pleasanter without the omnibuses.  Great, lumbering conveyances, filling up the road, and stopping the traffic!  London looks twice as well without them!  Tradesmen, too, say that the shops are just as well attended now as when the two great Companies were in full swing.

Wednesday.—­Can’t see what the omnibus people (both sides—­Directors and employes) are quarrelling about.  No matter of mine, and the Public are only too glad for a chance of a good walk.  Fifty per cent. better since I have been obliged to give up the morning ’bus.  Asked to-day to contribute something in support of the strikers.  Certainly not, the longer the strike lasts the worse for the Public.

Thursday.—­Really the present state of affairs is delightful.  I have to thank the deadlock for teaching me to patronise the river steamboats.  Pleasant journey from Vauxhall to the Temple for a penny!  No idea that the Thames was so pretty at Westminster.  View of the Houses of Parliament and the Embankment capital.