HE movements of Prince FERDINAND, as recently reported, appear to be
shrouded in some mystery. It was announced that his Mamma was about to
join him, and that a suite of apartments was being already prepared for
her reception at the Palace. No sooner, however, was this encouraging
piece of news published, than it was followed by a sinister rumour that
the Prince himself was about to hurry off from Sofia to Baco, one of his
country-seats on the frontiers of Hungary. As there is no mention of his
being accompanied by his _suite_, it is doubtful if, in going to Baco,
the Prince intended to take "returns." Naturally the Sobranje would like
to be assured that, in going to Baco, he was really only going there and
back, and did not mean, as the name of the place might suggest, to back
out of the situation altogether. But perhaps there may not be, after
all, any good foundation for the story of the proposed journey, in which
event all this disturbing talk of a visit to Baco will probably end, as
it naturally should, in smoke.

* * * * *

DEAR AT THE PRICE.--The farmers of Derbyshire have been meeting together
and trying to fix "the price of milk during the ensuing winter." Well,
the price that we in London pay for milk seems only too often to
be--scarlet fever. _That_ price requires regulating.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE "FINAL TABLEAU."

("A CONSUMMATION DEVOUTLY TO BE WISHED."--SHAKSPEARE.)]

* * * * *

[Illustration: PROBLEM. TO FIND THE LAW COURTS.

(_Sketched on the spot, Arundel Street, Victoria Embankment._)]

* * * * *

HOUSE AND HOME.

MY DEAR MONEYPENNY,

PRAY excuse one more refusal of your kind and seasonable invitation, so
often repeated, to come and stay with you at the "Sycamores." Believe
me, there is nobody in the world than yourself I had rather live with if
obliged to choose somebody. But to pass more than a few hours at a
stretch in anyone's house besides my own, is more than I can abide,
unless now and then for a night or so at an hotel, where I am not
expected to notice anybody, and nobody minds me except the waiters in
attendance, whom I am not ashamed of giving trouble. Besides, my dear
fellow, you have no idea of what my making myself at home in your
quarters as I do in my own would mean. Am in the first place, a very
late riser. If my mind is occupied with any pr