latest thing in female head-wear is said to be the "Minerva"
Hat._)

Forgive me if my nerves were somewhat shaken;
Pardon me if my pulse went pit-a-pat
When I observed your tiny head had taken
To a "Minerva" hat.

Love at my heart's closed door, with loudest knockings,
Won his admittance as I gazed on you
Garbed in the gear of her, of all blue-stockings,
The most superbly blue.

For you seemed nobler far in form and feature;
In wisdom, too, I deemed you now divine,
And, though I felt myself a worthless creature,
I swore to make you mine.

I said, "I'll win this goddess. Though the siege is
Long, I shall learn her wisdom if I can,
Until in time she throws her nuptial aegis
Over her Super-man."

And then you spoke, in accents all too human,
Glanced at me coyly from beneath your casque;
My vision vanished, and I saw the woman
Behind that heavenly mask.

And straight I felt (so flippant was your mien) a
Pain as I mused on Pallas and her fowl,
And left the phantom of a faked Athena,
A disillusioned Owl.

* * * * *

Love's Labour Lost.

"The Newcastle Fire Brigade were called upon last night to deal
with an outbreak at----, where Mr. J. G---- carries on business as
a firelighter manufacturer. Before much damage had been done, the
firemen were able to extinguish the flames with chemicals."

_Newcastle Daily Journal._

Once again we see how the economic instinct clashes with the artistic
temperament.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A POINT TO POINT IN IRELAND.

_Owner of Rank Bad Horse (who has given the mount to a stranger)._
"BEGORRA, I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS A FRIEND OF YER HONOUR'S! TELL HIM TO GET
DOWN OFF THAT HORSE! SHURE, I THOUGHT HE WAS ONLY A ---- SAXON."]

* * * * *

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

(_By Mr. Punch's Staff of Learned Clerks._)

A reflection that I could not resist after reading _Love the Harper_
(SMITH, ELDER) was that the Boy appears in this volume as a very
indifferent performer upon his instrument. For the muddle into which he
plunged the amatory affairs of the inhabitants of Downside was terrible.
Downside was a quiet delightful village, as lovingly described by Miss
ELEANOR G. HAYDEN, but the number of misplaced attachments it contained
seemed, as _Lady Bracknell_