*

[Illustration: _Tailor (to yokel who has brought suit back)._ "WHAT'S
WRONG? DON'T THEY FIT?"

_Yokel._ "OH, AY, THEY _FIT_ ALL RIGHT, BUT (_pointing to
fashion-plates_) WOT'S USE O' THEY PICTURES IF YOU BAIN'T GOIN' TO BIDE
BY UN."]

* * * * *

ELFIN TENNIS.

Once in a fold of the hill I caught them--
All by my lone was I--
Out on the downs one night in Autumn,
Under a moonlit sky.

There on a smooth little green rectangle
Sparkled the lines of dew;
Over the court with their wings a-spangle
Four little fairies flew;

Skeleton leaves in their hands for racquets
(All in a ring around
Brownies and elves in their bright green jackets
Watched from the rising ground).

Then, as I crept up close for clearer
Sight of the Fairy Queen,
_Oberon_, throned on a toadstool near her,
Carolled out "Love fifteen."

Over a net of the fairies' knitting
(Fine-spun gossamer thread)
Smallest of tiny puff-balls flitting
Hither and thither sped.

So for a minute I watched them, shrinking
Low in the gorse-bush shade;
Then, like a mortal fool unthinking,
Shouted aloud, "Well played!"

Right in the midst of an elfin rally
Sudden I stood alone;
Far away over the distant valley
Fairies and elves had flown.

* * * * *

A D'ANNUNZIO DIALOGUE.

[From which will be perceived not only that telephonic communication
exists between Fiume and Lucerne, but also that there is an easy way
out of the difficulty with Greece if only the League of Nations will
utilise the instrument that lies to their hand.]

_D'Annunzio (testily)._ Hello, Lucerne! Hello! Is that the Greek KING?
Confound this buzz! Is that you, TINO?

_King Constantine._ Speaking.
What do you want? I'm packing up my grip.

_D'Ann._ D'ANNUNZIO speaks. Attend the trumpet's lip.
Snatching a few brief moments, CONSTANTINE,
Out of my business morning--eight to nine,
Composing epic poems; nine to one,
Consolidating our position in the sun
(Sweet Alexandrine!), breakfast, bath and post,
A raid or two on the Dalmatian coast,
Speeches, parades and promulgating laws
Which, being published to my followers, cause
Loud cries of