* * * * *

    “In Nepal His Highness shot what is believed to be the record tigress. 
    She was a most magnificent specimen, with a total length of 9 feet 7
    inches—­her body alone measuring 9 feet 5 inches.”—­Indian Paper.

The record, of course, consisted in the brevity of her two-inch tail.

* * * * *

From Smith Minor’s Scripture-paper: 

“Abraham was the man who was very keen to go into the land of Israel but he did not obey the word of the Lord, and the Lord’s punishment to him was to forbid him to go into this land.  There he sat on the heights of Abraham looking down on this land.”

And crying “Wolfe, Wolfe!”

* * * * *

GOLDWIRE AND POPPYSEED.

(A Chinese Poem.)

    I make a bow; and then
    I seize my brush (or pen)
  And paint in hues enamel-bright
  Scenes of Cathay for your delight.

    Two buzzards by a stream,
    So still that they might seem
  Part of a carving wrought in bone
  To decorate a royal throne.

    Two lovers by a mill,
    A picture sweeter still: 
  Will Chen-ki-Tong in this pursuit
  Evade Pa-pa’s avenging boot?

    Lotus and mirror-lake
    AEsthetic contact make;
  No interfering dragon wags
  His tail across their travelling bags.

    Blue terraces of jade;
    Sherbet and lemonade
  Regale the overloaded guests;
  They loose the buttons on their chests.

    Birds’-nests and shark-fin soup: 
    I join the festive group;
  My simple spirit merely begs
  A brace of fifteenth-century eggs.

    Pa-pa with heavy whip
    Waits near the laden ship. 
  The cloud that hides the ivory moon
  Is singularly opportune.

    Clamour of gilded gongs
    And shout of wedding songs. 
  I do not fail to notice that
  The ophicleides are playing flat.

    Peacock and palanquin,
    Lacquered without, within. 
  This is the jasmine-scented bride
  Resting her fairy toes inside.

    Joss-sticks and incense sweet. 
    The perfume of her feet
  Creates around her paradise. 
  I also find it rather nice.

    A Chinese tale, you know,
    Works upward from below. 
  The sense of mine is none the worse
  If taken backward, verse by verse.

* * * * *

    “Frederick ——­, 14, was summoned for failing to display a white front
    light on a bicycle and pleaded guilty.

    Policewoman ——­ stated the facts, and was fined 5s.”—­Local Paper.

Most discouraging.

* * * * *

    “Florists by the thousand for cutting.  They are also nice for borders
    round grass-plots, along hedges, round shrubs, etc.”—­Dutch Bulb
    Catalogue.