rolling or staying it.

In vain "Blood and Iron," with foes that environ
Your sceptre, smart Press-man, or Socialist spouter,
May struggle together; you hold them in tether,
Or so you proclaim, you, whom foes call "the Shouter."
The pose is imposing, if ere the scene's closing,
The "Little Germania Magnate" gets beaten;
Well, put at the worst, Sir, you are not the first, Sir,
Who playing the Thraso has humble-pie eaten!

* * * * *

"DINNER FORGET."--Lord RANDOLPH is coming home by a Union Company's
Steamer. The distinguished Unionist is to have a special cook to
attend to him. Does this mean that he returns as a Special COOK's
Tourist?

* * * * *

AN ELECTION ECHO.

GLADSTONIAN LAMBERT,
Of course, as he should,
This last bye-election
Considered was good.
But Unionist BULLER
Has said, on reflection,
That to him it seemed rather
A Good-Bye election!

* * * * *

NEW WORK.--_A Merry England in a Cat's Cradle_, by the Author of
_Across England in a Dog-Cart_.

* * * * *

A VERY REVOLTING PLACE.--Brazil.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE LITTLE GERMANIA MAGNATE;

OR, TRYING TO SWAY THE SCEPTRE.]

* * * * *

[Illustration: JONES, SHOOTING IN NEW BOOTS, IS KNOCKED OUT SIX MILES
FROM HOME, AND ACCORDINGLY IS TOLD OFF TO "MARK" FOR THE PARTY. WIND
N.N.E., VERY FRESH. THERMOMETER 28 deg..]

* * * * *

OUR FINANCIAL COLUMN.

I have been forced by the enormous increase of my business to take
larger offices, and to engage two hundred additional clerks to carry
on my immense correspondence. I merely mention this as it may be
satisfactory to my countless well-wishers. But of course the old
address--"CROESUS: London" will still find me. I publish below a
selection from the letters received during the week.

(1.) SIR,--You informed me in a private communication, that the Patent
Spills Manufacturing Co. stock was a splendid investment. Acting on
this, I bought. From that moment, Spills have fallen steadily. Kindly
explain.

Yours,

INDIGNANT.

[To this I can only answer, that the complaint is ludicrous, and
preposterous. If you had bought on the day I advised, and sold out ten
minutes afterwards, you would have realised a handsome profit of one