FACES."]

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE ABOVE SQUAD, CONTAINING AN EX-CONTORTIONIST, HAS
JUST RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTION:--"AT THE COMMAND 'BACKWARD
BEND,' PLACE THE HANDS ON THE HIPS AND BEND BACK AS FAR AS POSSIBLE."]

* * * * *

MORE EYE-WASH.

Whene'er I see some high brass-hatted man
Inspect the Depot with his ribboned train,
When all seems spick and absolutely span
And no man spits and nothing gives him pain,
I think what blissful ignorance is theirs
Who only see us on inspection days,
And wonder, could they catch us unawares,
Would they be still so eloquent of praise?

They think the soldiers are a cleanly type,
For all their brass is bright with elbow-fat,
Burnished their bayonets and oiled their hyp;
Do they suppose they always look like that?
They see the quarters beautiful and gay,
Yet never realise, with all their lore,
Those bright new beds were issued yesterday
And will to-morrow be returned to store.

They doubtless say, "Was ever drill so deft?
Were ever rifles so precisely sloped?
Observe that section change direction left
So much, much better than the best we hoped;"
But little know with what grim enterprise
For week on week that clever-looking crew
Have practised up for their especial eyes
The sole manoeuvre they can safely do.

And I could tell where many a canker gnaws
Within the walls they fancy free from sin;
I know how officers infringe their laws,
I know the corners where the men climb in;
I know who broke the woodland fence to bits
And what platoon attacked the Shirley cow,
While the dull Staff, for all their frantic chits,
Know not the truth of that distressing row.

These are the things I think they should be taught,
But, since I know what ages must elapse,
What forms be filled, what signatures be sought,
Ere I have speech with such exalted chaps,
I here announce that they are much misled,
That they should see us when we think them far,
Should steal upon us, all unheralded,
And find what frauds, what awful frauds we are.

* * * * *

"I was astonished that not a Londoner raised a cheer for the
fine Bankers' Battalion of the Fusiliers which marched
through the City to-day. We are really absurdly shy."
_"Quex Junior" in