No high-perched, privileged and proud possessor
    Of lineal vantage he;
  Of perorating witchery no professor,
    Or casuist subtlety.

  A capable, clear-headed, modest toiler,
    Touched with no egoist taint,
  To Duty sworn, the face of the Despoiler
    Made him not fear or faint.

  O’erworn, o’erworked, with smiling face, though weary,
    The tedious task he plied. 
  Sagacious, courteous, ever calm and cheery
    Unsoured by spleen or pride.

  As unprovocative as unpretentious,
    Skilful though seeming-slow;
  Unmoved by impulse of conceit contentious
    To risk success for show.

  O rare command of gifts, which, common-branded,
    Are yet so strangely rare! 
  Selflessness patient, judgment even-handed
    And spirit calmly fair!

  Lost to his friends their worth may now be measured
    By the strong sense of loss. 
  How “OLD MORALITY’s” memory will be treasured,
    Midst faction’s pitch-and-toss.

  But England which has instincts above Party
    Most mourns the Man, now gone,
  Who gave to Duty an allegiance hearty
    As that of WELLINGTON.

  Sure “the gaunt figure of the old Field-Marshal"[1]
    Would his successor praise;
  As modest, as unselfish, as impartial,
    Though fallen on calmer days.

  No glittering hero, but when England numbers
    Patriots of worth and pith,
  His name shall sound, who after suffering slumbers,
    Plain WILLIAM HENRY SMITH!

[Footnote 1:  LONGFELLOW’s “The Warden of the Cinque Ports.”]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  THE ETERNAL FITNESS OF THINGS.

“I WANT A NICE TIE, FOR A WEDDING.  CAN YOU RECOMMEND ME ONE?”

“CERTAINLY, SIR.  A—­ER—­PRINCIPAL GUEST, SIR?”]

* * * * *

A ROMANCE IN NUMBERS.

As we announced last week, the Gentlewoman proposes for publication “the most extraordinary novel of modern times”—­a tale which is to be written chapter by chapter, week after week, by well-known writers of fiction, without consultation with their collaborateurs.  We did the same thing years ago.  However, as the notion is still calculated to amuse and instruct our readers, we subjoin a short story, which has been written on the same terms by the entire strength of a paper—­political, sporting, and social.  It will be found below.

WHAT?  WHO?  AND WHICH?

(A JOINT STOCK MYSTERY.)

Political Writer commences.—­Yes, EUSTACE entered the House prepared to vote for the Government.  He knew that Lady FLORA had counted upon his vote in support of her father, the Duke, and the other Members of the Opposition.  But when did love outweigh duty?  EUSTACE knew that the prosperity of the entire country depended upon his views.  With the price of corn falling, with the Russian Bear on the prowl, growing nearer and nearer to our Afghan frontier, with the unsettled state of the South American Republics, he knew that only one course was open to him.