e usual Compliments! Of course, of course!
If we could only thrive on casual flattery!
But praise won't raise a troop of foot or horse,
Equip a squadron, Sir, or mount a battery.
Soft words won't butter parsnips--that's plain speech.
Circumlocution is so hard to teach!

Of course the boys behaved themselves right well,
"As usual," so you say with great propriety.
We've heard from many a military swell
And bland civilian, even to satiety,
Similar words; but if you think that praises
Will satisfy us, you _must_ think us "daisies."

Vulgar vernacular you'll please excuse,
Camp-language is not that of a Committee.
If folks conceive we muster to amuse
Cheap-trippers, or ourselves, it is a pity.
'Tis not for Easter sport we toil--and pay,
"Stone-broke to make a British holiday."

Pay! Yes, we're out of pocket, some of us,
More than we can, or than we will, afford.
Patriot spirit does not want to fuss,
But carpet-knight and ornamental Lord
Who for _their_ "work" are well remunerated,
Don't know our case; 'tis time that it were stated.

When good men are retiring, driven out
From service by extravagant expenses,
The virtues of the System you must doubt,
Or any Englishman who's in his senses.
If we are worth our salt, as you assure us,
Surely from pocket-loss you might secure us!

_Verb, sap._, Ask HAMLEY; he is "in the know,"
And he has tried--with some success--to teach you.
I know the usual fine official flow;
'Tis time the voice of rough sound sense should reach you.
A long, harsh dieting of stint and snubbing
For patriot youth is not nutritious "grubbing."

Reviewing the Review, you say nice things;
Well, if we've done our duty, do yours also.
Alternate verbal pats and scornful flings,
Are scarce good policy, or what I call so.
To do our duty is, of course, our pleasure,
But to be fined for doing it's hard measure.

To get ourselves equipped seems hard enough,
But lots of us are always out of pocket
By giving unpaid service! That's sheer stuff!
If this shocks Government, I _wish_ to shock it,
Because improvement hinges truth's success on;
And this, I think, is a sound Easter Lesson.

* * * * *

AN UNCHRISTIAN CAVEAT.

[AGNES LAMBERT was charged at Marylebone Police Court with stealing
a purse at a Confirmation service at C