IN THE HOME OF MYSTERY.

    A small canvas booth with a raised platform, on which a Young
    Woman in short skirts has just performed a few elementary
    conjuring tricks before an audience of gaping Rustics.

The Showman. The Second Part of our Entertainment will consist of the performances of a Real Live Zulu from the Westminster Royal Aquarium.  Mr. FARINI, in the course of ’is travels, discovered both men and women—­and this is one of them. (Here a tall Zulu, simply attired in a leopard’s-skin apron, a bead necklace, and an old busby, creeps through the hangings at the back.) He will give you a specimen of the strange and remarkable dances in his country, showin’ you the funny way in which they git married—­for they don’t git married over there the same as we do ’ere—­cert’n’ly not! (The Spectators form a close ring round the Zulu.) Give him a little more room, or else you won’t notice the funny way he moves his legs while dancin’.

    [The ring widens a very little, and contracts again, while
    the Zulu performs a perfunctory prance to the monotonous
    jingle of his brass anklets.

Melia (critically).  Well, that’s the silliest sort of a weddin’ as iver I see!

Joe. He do seem to be ‘avin’ it a good deal to ’isself, don’t ’e?

Showman. He will now conclude ’is entertainment by porsin round, and those who would like to shake ’ands with ’im are welcome to do so, while at the same time, those among you who would like to give ’im a extry copper for ’isself you will ‘ave an opportunity of noticin’ the funny way in which he takes it.

Spectators (as the Zulu begins to slink round the tent, extending a huge and tawny paw).  ’Ere, come arn!

    [The booth is precipitately cleared.

* * * * *

“WRITE Letter Days” should be the companion volume to Red Letter Days, published by BENTLEY.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  THAT IT SHOULD COME TO THIS!

Boy. “SECOND-CLASS, SIR?”

Captain. “I NEVAH TRAVEL SECOND-CLASS!”

Boy. “THIS WAY THIRD, SIR!”]

* * * * *

CONVERSATIONAL HINTS FOR YOUNG SHOOTERS.

THE SMOKING-ROOM.

The subject of the Smoking-room would seem to be intimately and necessarily connected with the subject of smoke, which was dealt with in our last Chapter.  A very good friend of mine, Captain SHABRACK of the 55th (Queen ELIZABETH’S Own) Hussars, was good enough to favour me with his views the other day.  I met the gallant officer, who is, as all the world knows, one of the safest and best shots of the day, in Pall Mall.  He had just stepped out of his Club—­the luxurious and splendid Tatterdemalion, or, as it is familiarly called, “the Tat”—­where, to use his own graphic language, he had been “killing the worm with a nip of Scotch.”