flying fish!"

* * * * *

"A cabinet Minister in the Casual Ward," was the heading of an article
in the _D.T._ last Friday, and it turned out to be all about the
Richie and the Poorie.

* * * * *

THE BEHRING SEA QUESTION.--Some delay at present, but immediately
after signing we shall commence "sealing."

* * * * *

THE FORCE OF EXAMPLE.

(_A STORY OF ADVENTURE NOT IN THE LEAST LIKELY TO BE TRUE._)

"Do you see what RITCHIE has been doing?" asked the Secretary of State
for War of one of his colleagues.

"If you mean visiting the Casual Wards, after attending a meeting
in the East End of London, I do," replied the Home-Secretary. "An
excellent idea, no doubt, suggested by that old story of the Amateur
Casual, which appeared some twenty or thirty years ago in the columns
of an evening paper."

"But don't you think it is playing it a little low?" suggested the
First Lord of the Admiralty.

"Well, I don't know," returned the Autocrat of the W.O. "After all,
there is nothing like personal experience."

And then all three were silent, lost in profound consideration.
Shortly afterwards they bade one another adieu, declaring that they
had greatly enjoyed their Cabinet Council.

It was some hours later that a soldier, wearing the uniform of the
Guards, appeared at the Wellington Barracks, and requested that he
might be permitted to undertake a spell of "sentry go." He was not
known by the Non-commissioned Officer on duty, but as his papers
appeared to be correct, permission was given him to act as substitute
for Private SMITH, who was next on the roster.

And about the same time a person, wearing the garb of a convict, made
his way to one of Her Majesty's Prisons, and requested an interview
with the Governor. His garb obtained for him immediate admission to
the precincts of the gaol.

"Well, my man," said the Governor, when his visitor appeared before
him; "what do you want?"

"If you please, Sir," replied the person in the garb of a convict, "I
shall be very much obliged if you will permit me to have an hour or so
at oakum-picking."

"Absolutely impossible," replied the Crown Official, "such luxuries
are only allowed to individuals who have been properly introduced to
us by a Judge and Jury."

"I fancied," returned the wearer of the felon's garb, "that an order
from the Home-Secretary would smooth all difficulti