p, or I
shall be off, or lose the pole!

_Sm-th_ (_shoving his hardest_). All right! Shove it is!! Hold on,
G-SCH-N,--_I'm_ here!!!

_Rude Boys_ (_from the bank_). Yah--Boo! Better git out and walk, and
let _hus_ pole that punt for yer?

* * * * *

[Illustration: ALL ADRIFT!

W.H. SMITH. "HOLD ON, GOSCHEN. _I'M_ HERE!!"]

* * * * *

CHILD'S CHIT-CHAT.

(_POSSIBLY WRITTEN FOR PROPOSED INSERTION IN CERTAIN OF MR. PUNCH'S
FEMININE CONTEMPORARIES._)

Dearest LENA,--We are now back from Herne Bay, where, staying at Mrs.
----'s[1] Boarding House, we met some of the smartest people. If ever
you visit this delightful watering-place, mind you look Mrs. ---- up.
She is a most charming creature, and the _poulet roti au sauce pain_
at the _table d'hote_, is simply charming. Her terms, considering the
company you meet, are very reasonable. Now, I know you want to learn
all about my new gowns. Well, the Pater insisted that I should send
to the ---- Clothing Company, of ----, for patterns. He says (dear
old boy!) that we should "patronise British Industry." I got, amongst
other delightful notions, the cleverest idea possible in stripes, and
intending to be very economical, bought a paper pattern from ---- in
---- Street. Well, I turned out, all by myself, a most stylish frock,
which ISABELLE says suits me to the ground. But the task exhausted
both my intelligence and industry. The rest of the materials I took
to Madame ---- of ---- Street, and she is simply making them lovely!
I think I told you that Madame ---- is supplying most of the dresses
that will be worn at JESSIE JONES' (you know, the daughter of Lady
JONES) wedding. Lady SMITH will look simply superb in rhubarb-tart
satin, and the Countess of COLHOLEBOROUGH has a wonderful gown made of
squash-beetled coloured velvet slashed with green, that is sure to be
the talk of the Row until the end of the Season!

Of course, we have been to all the Private Views. We miss the
Grosvenor very much, for the New is scarcely a substitute. However, I
saw several smart people at the latter place--some of them ladies of
title, my dear. At the door I found standing one of ----'s, of ----
Street, victorias. They are very nice, and, as they can be bought on
the three years' hire system, most convenient. The pictures at the
Academy struck me as rather dull this year. Of course, everybody
is much struck with Mr. FILDES' "_Do