in thy time,
Shall voice them also, not in jest, and swear,
Though men may wound Truth, that she will not die,
But pass, again to come; and, then or now,
Utterly smite foul Falsehood underfoot,
Till, with PUNCH, all men hail her for their Queen!

* * * * *

CLIMATIC NOMENCLATURE FOR THE NEW YEAR.

(_SUGGESTED BY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF THE BRITISH SEASONS._)

Spring = The Clog Days.
Summer = The Dog Days.
Autumn = The Bog Days.
Winter = The Fog Days.

* * * * *

ATRABILIOUS LIVERPOOL.--The City Council of Liverpool--notwithstanding
the generous urgings of its more important members--refuses to bestow
the "honour of" the freedom "of that City" upon its illustrious
if--from their point of view--errant son, Mr. GLADSTONE. As Madame
ROLAND _ought_ to have said:--O "Freedom," what liberties are taken
(with common sense and good feeling) in thy name!

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE COMING OF NINETY-TWO

_TO THE MODERN MERLIN, MR. PUNCH._

"AND DOWN THE WAVE, AND IN THE FLAME WAS BORNE
A NAKED BABE, AND RODE TO PUNCH'S FEET,
WHO STOOPT, AND CAUGHT THE BABE, AND CRIED, 'THE YEAR!
HERE IS AN HEIR FOR NINETY-ONE!'"--_Adapted from Tennyson's "Coming
of Arthur."_]

* * * * *

TO JUSTICE.

(_IN JANUARY._)

[Illustration]

Just take a look round, most respectable Madam;
New Year's Day is an excellent time for the task,
When serious thoughts come to each son of Adam
Who dares to peep under Convention's smug mask.
Your sword looks a little bit rusty and notched, Ma'am;
Your scales now and then hang a trifle askew;
A lot of your Ministers need to be watched, Ma'am!
_Punch_ isn't quite pleased with the prospect--are you?
If one could but take a wide survey, though summary,
Of _all_ the strange "sentences" passed in one year
By persons called "Justices"--(yes, it _sounds_ flummery)
Justice would look like Burlesque, Ma'am, I fear.
Excellent subject for whimsical GILBERT,
But not a nice spectacle, Madam, for me.
Long spell of "chokee" for prigging a--filbert
(Given, you bet, by some rural J.P.);
Easy let-off for a bogus "Promoter,"
Helping the ruin of hundreds for gain;
Six months for stealing a turnip or "bloater,"
Ditto for bashing a wife on the brain:
Sentences cut to one-twelfth on appeal