And the bold Frank, betrayed and broken, drew
    One shuddering gasp of agony and sank,
    When thy long-mustered legions rank on rank
  Hemmed the fair, fated City of men’s love,
  Then thy star culminated, shone above
    All but the few fixed beacon-lights, which owned
    A new compeer.  Long steadfastly enthroned
  In German hearts, and all men’s reverence,
  Suddenly, softly thou art summoned hence,
  To the great muster, full of years and fame! 
  How thinks he, lord of a co-equal name,
    Thine ancient comrade in war’s iron lists,
  Just left, and lone, of the Titanic Three
  Who led the Eagles on to victory? 
    Calmest of Captains, first of Strategists. 
  BISMARCK must bend o’er thy belaurelled bier
  With more than common grief in the unbidden tear!

* * * * *

JOKIM AND JOHN.—­The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER is following Mr. JOHN HOLLINGSHEAD’s example.  The latter started “No fees” for Play-time, and the former advocates “No fees” for School-time.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  A PROP OF THE DRAMA.

“WHAT, BACK ALREADY, ARCHIE!  WAS IT A DULL PIECE, THEN?”

“DON’T KNOW.  DIDN’T STOP TO SEE.  JUST LOOKED ROUND STALLS AND BOXES, AND DIDN’T SEE A SOUL I KNEW!—­SO I CAME AWAY.”]

* * * * *

ROBERT AT THE CHILDREN’S FANCY BALL.

Well, I’ve said it afore, and now I says it agane, as I don’t bleeve as sich another both bewtifool and elligant site is to be seen in all the world, as is to be seen at these anniwersary yearly festivals in our nobel Egipshun All at the honoured Manshun House.

Of course I don’t no what sort of intertainement was held there when the aincient Egipshuns had it, or weather they ewer was there at all—­for I ain’t much of a hantiquery; but, from what I’ve seen of some on ’em at the British Mewseum, I should think as there werry peculyar style of dress was not much sooted to such occashuns.

[Illustration]

I thinks, upon the hole, as the children’s dresses on this speshal ocashun “beat the record,” as the runners and jumpers says, both for illigance and wariety, and, shoud I atemt to describe ’em, where on airth shoud I begin!  But, as I must begin sumwheres, I hopes as I shan’t awake the biling jealousy of all the other mothers present when I says as I gives the Parm Tree to the two rayther youthfool Beef Eaters.  As for the number of Angels and Fairys, with most lovly wings, they was so numerus, and so bewtifool, that ewen I, a pore Hed Waiter, coudn’t help the thort, that they was a giving me my first glimpse of Pairodice.  Then again I noticed as the grashus and hansum LADY MARESS—­who I should ha liked to ha seen putting herself at the hed of them all, and leading em all round the bewtifool All—­had most kindly inwited a few poor creetures, such as nusses, and charity Gals, and plow boys, and setterer, just to let ’em see what they may sum day cum to be, if so be as they is all good.