ld
tell.
You'll be left in the ruck at the end, my young dandy,

_Rising Young Jockey._ Perhaps! Still the pencillers haven't,--as
yet--
Quite knocked the nag out with their furious fever
Of hot opposition. Some cool ones still bet
On his chance of a win.

_Grand Old Jockey_ (_contemptuously_). Ah, you're wonderful clever.
But we have got one in _our_ Stable, my lad,
Who can--just lick his head off!

_Rising Young Jockey_ (_drily_). Now have you indeed, WILL?
I fancy I've heard that before. Very glad
That your lot are in luck; and I hope you'll succeed, WILL,
But bless me! yours seems such a _very_ Dark Horse!
Oh! there, don't fire up so! Your word I won't doubt, WILL.
You say so, and one must believe you, of course;
But--_isn't_ it time that you _brought the nag out_, WILL?

* * * * *

[Illustration: A VERY "DARK HORSE."

OLD JOCKEY. "DON'T THINK MUCH OF HIS POINTS! WE'VE ONE IN OUR STABLE
CAN LICK HIS HEAD OFF!"

YOUNG JOCKEY. "_HAVE_ YOU? THEN WHY DON'T YOU _BRING HIM OUT_?"]

* * * * *

HISTORY AS SHE IS PLAYED!

_Questioner._ Why should M.V. SARDOU be called the Historian of the
French Revolution?

_Answerer._ Because in _Thermidor_ he has given an entirely new
version of the "Reign of Terror."

_Q._ Was the "Reign of Terror" very terrible?

_A._ Not very. At the Opera Comique it had its comic side.

_Q._ How was that?

_A._ For instance, _les tricoteuses_ were represented by comely,
albeit plump maidens, who seemed more inclined to dance round a
Maypole than haunt a scaffold.

_Q._ Were ROBESPIERRE, ST. JUST, and the rest, cruel and vindictive?

_A._ I should say not; and I found my conclusion on the fact that they
engaged an actor given to practical joking as an officer of the Public
Security.

_Q._ From this, do you take it that ROBESPIERRE must have had a subtle
sense of humour?

_A._ I do; and the impression is strengthened by his order for a
general slaughter of Ursuline Nuns.

_Q._ Why should he order such a massacre?

_A._ To catch the heroine of _Thermidor_, a lady who had taken the
vows under the impression that her lover had been killed by the enemy.

_Q._ Had her lover been killed?

_A._ Certainly not; he had preferred to surrender.

_Q._ Can you give me any idea of the component part of a revolutionary
crowd?

_A._ At the Opera C