rapture I feel when I learn
That its name is the Blimp.

Who gave it its title, and why?
Was it old EDWARD LEAR from the grave?
Since Jumblies in Blimps would be certain to fly
When for air they abandon the wave.
Was it dear LEWIS CARROLL, perhaps
Sent his phantom to christen the barque,
Since a Blimp is the obvious vessel for chaps
When hunting a snark?

And to-day, in the first-fruits of joy,
I scarcely believe it is true
That Blimp is a word we shall one day employ
As lightly as now Bakerloo;
And my reason refuses to jump
To the fact that a man, not an imp,
Can flash through the other and land with a bump
From a trip in a Blimp.

* * * * *

"It needs no very profound knowledge of the politics of
South-Western Europe to surmise that neither Rumania nor
Greece would lend military assistance of this kind without
being promised something in return.--_Manchester Guardian_.

But a rather more profound knowledge of the geography might be useful.

* * * * *

THE OLD INVINCIBLE.

It is late in the day to draw attention to Mr. Punch as a prophet.
Everyone knows that his eyes have always discerned the farthest
horizon. None the less it is pleasant now and again to succumb to the
temptation of saying "I told you so," and especially when it is the
finger of a friendly reader that points the way to the Sage's triumph.
Were we in the habit of quoting from past numbers, as many of our
contemporaries do, we should print the following paragraph from the
issue of September 2nd, 1871:--

"A REAL DANGER.

"'According to _Le Havre_, about forty Prussian officers in
mufti leave Dieppe every morning for England, their object
being to visit the military establishments of Great Britain.'

"Here at last is an actual invasion! Prussian officers landing on
our defenceless shores, on the transparently flimsy pretext of making
themselves acquainted with our military establishments, at the rate
(excluding Sundays) of 240 a week, or in this present September, of
1,080 a month, or, amazing and terrifying total, of 12,520 a year! We
commend this startling announcement to the attention of the Cabinet
(Parliament, unfortunately, is not sitting), the Commander-in-Chief,
the War Office, the Commanders of all Volunteer Corps, the Author of
'The Battle of Dorking,' _Sergeant Blower_, and _Ch