so sweet--
Rat-tat-too!--
That it keeps him at work hands and feet!

How long? That remains to be seen,
Russian Bear;
But in spite of political spleen,
And Treaties and Fables, You _have_ turned the tables.
Such sight is not frequently seen.

You've slipped yourself out of your chains,
Russian Bear;
'Till hardly a shackle remains
In Black Sea or Bosphorus. This may mean loss for us,
Bruin cares not whilst he gains.

Treaties and protocols irk,
Russian Bear;
And therefore are matters to shirk.
Berlin and Paris, No longer must harass
This true friend of France--and the Turk.
Hrumph! hrumph!
Well, well, we shall see how 'twill work!

* * * * *

"HANGING THEOLOGY."--Readers of the _Times_ have been for some time
in a state of suspense--most appropriately--as to the result of the
correspondence carried on by Lord GRIMTHORPE & Co. under the above
heading. At all events the Editor of the _Times_ has been giving his
correspondents quite enough rope to ensure the proverbial termination
of their epistolary existence.

* * * * *

[Illustration: "TURNING THE TABLES."

("The success of a Russian Loan is not dearly purchased by a little
effusion, which, after all, commits Russia to nothing. French
sentiment is always worth cultivating in that way, because, unlike
the British variety, it has a distinct influence upon investments."
--_Daily Paper_.)]

* * * * *

"REVOLTED MORTIMER."

[Dr. MORTIMER GRANVILLE, in a letter to the _Times_,
attacks the logic and disputes the dogmas of the fanatical
Teetotaller, and carries the war into the enemy's country by
boldly asserting that "incalculable harm has been done to the
average human organism, with its functions, which we are wont
to classify as mental and physical, by the spread of teetotal
views and practices."]

Oho! Doctor MORTIMER GRANVILLE,
You are scarcely as bland as DE BANVILLE.
On the Knights of the Pump
Your assertions come thump
Like an old Cyclops' "sledge" on his anvil.

Fanatical logic _is_ "quisby";
Each crank in his bonnet has _his_ bee.
They swagger, dod rot'em!--
Like loud Bully _Bottom_
When playing the _Thraso_ to "_Thisby_."

Total abstinence purely pernicious?
Oh, Doctor, that's really delicious