ouse; and with little spice thrown in in the
shape of a revived morality scandal, the new Parliament promises to be a
hotch-potch of surprises. I myself take no side in politics, and am
glad to say that I have numerous friends in all parties. Perhaps it was
in consequence of this that I heard all sides of opinion, thereby
enabling me six months ago to weigh all my information correctly and
predict the result of the General Election--a Gladstonian majority of
between forty and forty-five votes--and to this opinion I have firmly
adhered in spite of the fluctuating prospects before the fight. Even on
Wednesday, the 6th inst., when the returns pouring in seemed to point to
a Government majority, I stuck to my prophecy.

"I am now receiving from my friends (more especially from my Liberal
friends) congratulations upon my perspicacity, and, although I am no
Schnadhorst, I must now regard myself in the light of a Parliamentary
prophet. Having in that capacity chanted my incantations and calculated
the number of square feet of Irish linen in one of Mr. Gladstone's
collars to be in inverse ratio to the dimensions of his Mid-Lothian
majority, and having by abstruse computations discovered the hitherto
unknown quantity of Sir William Harcourt's chins, I can safely predict
that there will be another General Election within the space of
thirteen months, and that the result of the same will be the return of
the Unionists with a majority of fifteen.

"Yours truly,

"HARRY FURNISS.

"Garrick Club, London, July 19."

[Illustration: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FROM TOBY'S PRIVATE BOX.]

The regret I felt was not caused by any failure of my prediction
contained in the last paragraph in that letter, but that the whole of it
was taken seriously. Editorial leaders appeared in the principal papers
all over the kingdom. Letters followed, discussions took place, and
politicians referred to it in their speeches. "Mr. Harry Furniss has
taken the public into his confidence, as one who is thoroughly
acquainted with Party politics, though he takes no personal interest in
them. Men who can thus truthfully describe themselves are excessively
rare, as far as we know. It is usually the person who does not
understand politics who takes no interest in them. A man who understands
politics, but does not concern h