NCE"
OR, PAS DE PANAMA.

The Minuet's cold and modish grace,
Delirium of the Carmagnole,
Fair France has known. How will she pace
_This_ frantic dance, and to what goal?
Beginning in triumphant sport,
She's tremulous now, with terror cold.
The whirl so dizzies, she breathes short;
The serpent spirals seem to fold
Laocoon-like about her limbs.
Tarantula-bitten victims so
Whirl madly. Shrinks her head and swims;
This is not glory's ardent glow,
But fever's hectic, herald sure
Of dread corruption, if unstayed.
Dance on the footing insecure
Of the keen edge of War's red blade,
Rather than this mad dervish spin,
Drunk with that poison-breath;
The music is the devil's din,
The dance--the modern Dance of Death!

* * * * *

Illustration: THE FRENCH "SERPENTINE DANCE;"
OR, PAS DE PANAMA.

* * * * *

LATEST FROM "THE GILBERT ISLANDS."--Sir ARTHUR SULLIVAN will probably
stay in these islands while writing his new Opera. If successful, these
islands will then be annexed by Manager D'OYLY CARTE under the style and
title of "The Gilbert and Sullivan Islands."

* * * * *

ON A NEW YEAR'S CARD.

["With kind regards and best wishes for 1893, from Mr. and
Mrs. T. BROWN-SMITH and family."]

FROM TOM! It's thirty years ago
Or more, since, destined to talk Tamil, he
Set sail for foreign lands. And so
To-day he boasts a wife and family.

Yes, TOM and I were chums at school,
The Matron--how we used to fool her!
We broke the very self-same rule,
We felt the very self-same ruler.

We gladly in those classic groves
Accepted all the Fates provided,
And even in our school-boy loves
We did not care to be divided.

Three years at Cambridge--where we spent
Our money, "linked in friendly tether,"
Three years that all too quickly went,
Then _we_ went down, and went together.

Next year 'twas TOM who went abroad;
He vowed that he'd be married--never!
But I was then engaged to MAUDE,
To MAUDE, who swore to love me ever.

Perhaps she kept her plighted word--
But, if she did, she chose as funny
A way as I have ever heard--
She married Some One Else and Money.

Maybe she did not feel inclined
To risk the bread-and-cheese and kisses,
Or else her calculating mind
Preferred "Her Ladyship