Rural Labourer (surprised).  Why, don’t you know? There was only one collection and one delivery of letters daily! I couldn’t stand that, of course.  I expect I shall find more in Lunnon.  Good-day!

* * * * *

[Illustration:  LE KHEDIVE EST MORT!  VIVE LE KHEDIVE!

British Lion.  “I HELPED YOUR FATHER AND I’LL STAND BY YOU.”]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Cardinal Manning.]

BORN, JULY 15, 1808.  DIED, JAN. 14, 1892.

  One more great Voice gone silent!  Friends or foes,
  None well could watch that long life’s gentle close
      Without a softening thrill. 
  A valiant champion of the faith he held,
  No conflict ever his strong courage quelled,
      Or shook his steadfast will.

  Yet, were that all, some well might turn away
  With custom’s passing courtliness, to-day,
      And bid a cold farewell
  To the great priest, shrewd marshaller of men,
  Subtle of verbal fence with tongue or pen,
      Ascetic of the cell.

  But there was more; and many a hundred hearts,
  Who not in cleric conflict played their parts,
      Will mourn him well and long,
  Friend of the poor, apart from creed or clique,
  And ardent champion of the struggling weak
      Against the selfish strong.

  Toiler for Temperance, hastener on of Light,
  In many a fray where right’s at odds with might,
      Might’s foes will miss their friend. 
  Farewell!  It moves the common heart to hear
  The crowning of so glorious a career
      By such a gracious end!

* * * * *

THE SANITARY CONGRESS AT VENICE.—­Mrs. RAM’s Nephew was talking on this subject, when his Aunt was heard murmuring to herself, “I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs;” then she looked up, and repeating the last word, observed, “Well, it never struck me before, often as I’ve heard that line quoted.  But what an extraordinary thing to make a bridge of!  I suppose it was painted over first, because I know that’s how ‘size’ is commonly used.”

* * * * *

[Illustration:  The Irish Curate (to the New Vicar).  “THAT POOR MAN, SIR, HAS ALWAYS GOT A SKELETON JUST IN FRONT OF HIM THAT FOLLOWS HIM ABOUT WHEREVER HE GOES!”]

* * * * *

THE BOXING IMBROGLIO.

  Oh, SLAVIN, FRANK SLAVIN, you’d fain be a whacker
  Of SULLIVAN, JOHN, but you can’t find a backer,
  While SULLIVAN, biggest of Yankee big fellows,
  Blows froth all the time from his own patent bellows. 
  Well, fight if you must; I am sure you’ll fight fair;
  Bag his wind if you can, FRANK, but don’t beat the air.

* * * * *

ONLY FANCY!