been stopped by the Government; they are
running as fast as ever. There are two bands, playing morning, afternoon,
and evening. The _Casino Samie_ is as lively as ever, or, as my waggish
acquaintance at once expressed it, in that vein of humour for which he is
so specially distinguished, "The Samie old game," and to sit out in the
garden, with a fragrant cigar and coffee, before retiring for the night, is
indeed a calm pleasure, or would be but for the aforesaid waggishness, of
which more anon.

* * * * *

Soldiers about everywhere, Boulangering. Up in the hills is a splendid
echo. This morning, having caught the very slightest cold, I went up into
the mountains to get it blown away. Suddenly I sneezed. Such a sneeze! It
reverberated all over the mountain like the firing of a battery. Again!
again! These sneezes nearly shook me off the rock, and sent me staggering
on to the _plateau_ below. The effect must have been alarming, as the third
sneeze fetched out the military, horse and foot, at full gallop, and the
double. _L'ennemi? C'etait moi!_ They scoured the mountain sides, but I did
not sneeze again. I have a sort of idea that my sneeze upset the entire
preconcerted arrangements for a review. The Boulangerers retired--so did I.

* * * * *

'Tis the hour of _douche_. RICHARD, the attendant, will be there to give it
me. _Douche-ment, douche-ment._ Gently does it! O RICHARD, O _Mon
Roy-at_!... _Au revoir!_

* * * * *

Mrs. R. went to see the _premiere_ of a new piece about which there had
been considerable excitement in the theatrical world. "It was quite a
novelty for me," said the good lady to a friend; "every literal person was
there of any imminence, and my nephew, who is connected with papers
himself, told me that the stalls were full of crickets. He pointed them all
out to me. Most interesting."

* * * * *

[Illustration: "LE MONDE OU L'ON S'AMUSE."

_Miss Ponsonby de Tomkyns_ (_just out_). "OH, PAPA! SUCH AN _EXQUISITE_
CONCERT IT WAS AT LADY MIDAS'S! THE DUCHESS WAS THERE, AND THE
MOWBRAY-MASHAMS, AND LORD AND LADY WROTTENHAM, AND COUNT EDELWEISS, AND
CAPTAIN DE COURCY, AND SIR MAINWARING CARSHALTON AND HIS WIFE, AND--IN FACT
EVERYBODY ONE CARES TO MEET."

_Mr. P. de T._ "INDEED! AND WHO PLAYED AND SANG?"

_Miss P. de T._ "WHO PLAYED AND SANG? WELL--A--A--REALLY, DO YOU KNOW, I