eer
At meal-times unrepressed,
I laugh a laughter rude and loud;
My little jokes I crack;
The parlour-maid with mirth is bowed--
Oh, bring my Butler back!

Yes! bring that paragon to me--
'Tis true he drank my wine;
But, as I found it disagree,
I don't so much repine:
'Tis true we missed a little plate
When _he_ gave _us_ the sack.
But "all things come to them that wait"--
Oh, bring my Butler back!

That gorgeous grace, that smile severe,
That look of Lords and Barts,
These are the charms that most endear
His image to our hearts.
The standard of my broken life
With him has gone to rack,
And, if it were not for my wife,
I'd bring my Butler back!

* * * * *

FINE, OR REFINE?

[An Educational Journal recently suggested the formation of
a "Guild of Courtesy," with especial view to refining the
manners and language of the youth of the working classes.]

Hail, noble Guild! By all means drive
Expletives from our highways;
They are the ruin of our roads,
The byword of our byways!

And rowdies too--to teach them grace
A philanthropic art is;
_These_ subjects for the Guild may well
Be called the "Guildy parties"!

The lumbering horse-play of the streets,
Can we its spirits soothe?
Will blarneying do? Or can "the Rough"
Be "taken with the smooth"?

And there's the working girl: can we
From yells and rompings wean her?
For the demeanour of a Miss
Is oft a mis-demeanour.

O worthy Guildsmen! Take in hand
_All_ ages and _all_ classes!
Show how to hearts Good Manners' arts
Supply the freest passes.

Do not such terms as these of hope
Your undertaking rob--
The "common people"--"lower class,"
"The vulgar," and "the mob"?

And there's our worship of the purse;
'Gainst _it_ pray have a tilt
Oh, gild our manners! But take care
They are not silver-gilt!

* * * * *

ALL AT SEA.--The KAISER is reported to be so delighted with his visit
to the Isle of Wight, that he proposes to repeat the journey next
year. Fond of military display, if he goes to Hyde he will be
appropriately accompanied by an escort of German Mounted Marines.

* * * * *

[Illustration: INTERNATIONAL AMENITIES.

_Count Peter van Strubel_ (_just arrived in England, in time for
Her Grace