care how much
extortion was practised at the public-houses, for he wouldn't use them.

"I am, _Mr. Punch_, yours, &c.,
"PAPER-CAP."

* * * * *

A MUSIC-SELLER'S OPINION OF FRANCE.

"I can generally tell, Sir, the state of public opinion by the songs I
sell. In 1830 I sold thousands of _Parisennes_, I don't sell one now;
and I don't think we've been asked for a single _Marseillaise_ for these
last three years. It is the same with _Mourir pour la Patrie_--no one
cares for that now; and as for _Vive Henri Quatre_, not one copy has
left my shop, I should say, since the day when the DUCHESSE DE BERRI was
caught in a cupboard. The only song that is asked for at present is
_Partant pour la Syrie_, and we don't sell many of those. Ah! Sir, it is
a bad sign when the people don't sing! Many a revolution in France has
been caused by a song, and more than one throne has been upset from the
want of one!"

* * * * *

TABLE MOVING EXTRAORDINARY.

We learn from a gentleman who is in the habit of moving in the highest
circles, that the Table Movement party has lately derived great
encouragement from the fact that the Table Rock has been moved down the
Niagara falls.

* * * * *

THE PAPAL CUE.

The POPE has been ordered to play billiards for his health. Judging from
the specimens he has hitherto manufactured, we doubt whether his
Holiness will ever make a good canon.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE MODERN LANGUAGES TAUGHT IN ONE LESSON!

_German Professor (on "la Perche") to Italian ditto below._ "BE
STEADIER, BILL, WILL YER, OR I'M BLOWED IF I DON'T COME DOWN!"]

* * * * *

LARES AND PENATES FOR THE POTHOUSE.

High Art in British Sculpture is out of the question--except as, in the
case of the DUKE OF YORK'S image and that of NELSON, when the figure is
placed on the top of a tall column. This is in most instances by far the
best place for it; the generality of our statues being objects of such a
nature as to render it advisable that their view should borrow the very
largest amount of enchantment that can be lent thereto by distance.

The Sublime in plastic Art is hopelessly unattainable by JOHN BULL: he
has never yet been able to manage to pass the boundary which separates
it from the Ridiculous. We had better stick to the latter, wherein we
excel. To be