s
the billsticker's intention, as soon as he obtains an imperial grant, to
form a company of persons who spend large sums of money every year in
advertisements, and to cover the entire length of the wall with their
bills and posters, a larger price being, of course, charged for those
which will be posted inside than for those outside the wall, where
comparatively but few people will be able to see them. The bills will be
in English, or specially translated into Chinese, at the option of the
advertisers. In the event of China being thrown open to English
commerce--and there is, at present, every opening of such a fact--it
will be at once seen what "a desirable medium for advertisements" this
national posting-station will be. So favourably is the scheme
entertained by some of our leading advertisers, that already have 12,000
miles of that part of the wall, which runs through the most densely
populated districts of the Empire, been bespoken at an enormous rental.
The company will be announced in a few days, and it is expected that the
shares will be quoted on the 'Change at a heavy premium the very first
day. MR. BERNAL OSBORN has been heard to say, "that next to a celebrated
Marquis's property, it will be the largest hoarding in the world," and
there is no doubt it will be. All our puffing tailors, pill-merchants,
quack medicine-sellers, and Cambridge Sherry dealers, are actively on
the look-out. Professor Liebig's testimonial in favour of Bitter Beer is
already printed in all the Chinese dialects, only waiting to be pasted
up. We shall keep our eye upon the wall.

* * * * *

DEAR ENTERTAINMENT FOR DEAR CREATURES.

"MY DEAR PUNCH,

"There is no doubt that the prodigious expenses of hotels are--as I
overheard certain _gentlemen_ say--in a great measure owing to us
_confounded women._ We cause so many rooms to have to be kept up on our
account. Why can't we--as they further asked, with a _stronger_
expression--be content with a decent coffee-room, instead of requiring a
separate sitting apartment? Why? I asked myself the same question, and
being unable to answer it, I thought the next time I was out with
Charles I would go into the coffee-room and not be _confounded._ So the
other day when he took me to one of those inns which a letter I read in
the _Times_ calls a "Hotel of recreation", I insisted on our dining in
the public room. There were some gentlemen sitting there that we have
sinc