AGNE.
'How mad and bad and sad it was--
But then, how it was sweet!"--BROWNING.
II.--FOR MR. GLADSTONE.
"Et longa canoros
Dant per colla modos."--VIRGIL.
III.--FOR THE NEW BISHOP OF LICHFIELD.
"Gaiter.--A covering for the leg."--ENGLISH DICTIONARY.
IV.--FOR A TENNIS-PLAYER, IMPRISONED BY BAD WEATHER.
"They also serve who only stand and wait."--MILTON.
* * * * *
AT ST. JAMES'S HALL.--Hair PADDY REWSKI is a pianofortist up to the
time and tune of day. Knowing that _L'Enfant Prodigue_ is now all
the go, he keeps himself up to date by performing the Musical Prodigy
Son's, I mean MENDELSSOHN'S "Songs without Words;" and this so
effectively, that the last wordless song he was obliged to repeat, and
much obliged the audience by repeating. Then the good fellar played
_La Campanella_, Which I prefer to _Gentle Zitella_, The Princess
LOUISE, &c., were there, and "&c." was really looking uncommonly well
considering the heat. Bravo, PADDY REWSKI! Ould Ireland for ever!
* * * * *
OFF TO MASHERLAND.
(_By Our Own Grandolph._)
(FIRST LETTER--A.)
1.--_From Paddington to the first comma is a comparatively slight
stop._
Left Paddington. Was compelled to leave Paddington, as train started
from that station. "The Great Western!" What boundless ideas are
suggested by this title, &c., &c. (_This part I'll send to Daily
Graphic._)
REASONS FOR THE JOURNEY.
Well, never mind my reasons. I had made up my mind to go. That's
enough. "_Marlbrook s'en va t'en guerre," mais_ as MARLBROOK Junior I
may say, "_Je reviendrai."_ Politics to the winds! or, colloquially,
Politics be blowed! I'm off to TOM TIDDLER'S ground. Nice fellow,
TIDDLER. Knew him years ago. He is now a Limited Company, "TIDDLER &
Co."
[Illustration]
THE COMPOSITION OF THE PARTY.
Well, you know what it was once upon a time. There was A BALFOUR--beg
pardon, should say, THE BALFOUR--and DRUMMY WOLFFY, and _De_ GORSTIBUS
_non disputandum_ ("no arguing with GORST"), and self. As good a
quartette, though I say it who shouldn't, as ever sat down to a
concerted piece, with myself as First Fiddle. But now--"Where am dat
barty now?"--I don't know if I quote correctly; quoting correctly is
not my _forte_. "Dat barty," suggests WOLFF; he was the "barty" of our
party, in the merry days of old. Now--none of 'em here, and I with
my ink-stand before me, a pencil, a pen, n
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