other of the Winds gave ear to the prayer of the poor
Princess AGRICULTURA, and imposed upon the Two Winds the punishment
they richly deserved, the sequel must show.
* * * * *
[Illustration: SIGNS OF BREEDING.
(_Vide Correspondence in the "Daily Telegraph_.")
_Little Binks agrees with Lord Byron that Breeding shews itself in the
Hands, and complacently surveys his own._
"BOSH!" SAYS BLOKER. "BREEDING SHOWS ITSELF IN THE EAR, AND NOWHERE
ELSE!"]
* * * * *
MORE MESSAGES FROM THE MAHATMA.
[Illustration]
1. I am KOOT HOOMIBOOG. There are more things in my philosophy than
were ever dreamed of in heaven or earth. You are POONSH. You are a
Thrupni but you are not a Mahatma. Be a Mahatma, and save your postage
expenses. But you must be discreet; and you must be exceeding vague.
A Mahatma is nothing if he is not vague. You must also be elusive. Can
you elude? It is no light matter to prove one's spiritual capacity by
materialising a cigarette inside a grand piano.
2. Your reply to my letter is soulless and sceptical. How _can_ you
ask me, O POONSH, what I am trying to get at? I ask nothing from you.
It would be to your advantage rather than mine if you printed my poem
on the Re-incarnation of Ginan Bittas, entitled _The Soul's Gooseberry
Bush_. And if you will only be a Mahatma, or a disciple, I will gladly
let you have the serial rights in that great work. What do you mean by
saying you do not want to find cigarettes in your neighbour's piano?
Think it over again, and you will see the beauty of it. You are a
Thrupni, but surely you have _some_ spiritual needs.
3. You say that you do not want my poem, and you ask me if I have no
further attractions to offer. I am KOOT HOOMIBOOG, and I have kept the
greatest attraction for the last. If you will only join us, you _may_
find a few newspapers who will discuss you. You may see the question
whether you are a fool or a knave debated in the correspondence
columns. Think of the glory of it!
4. What? you won't? Well; I _am_ surprised!
* * * * *
THE (EUROPEAN) WORLD AND ITS WIFE.--Europe--says an oracle--is "Wedded
to Peace." Possibly. And Europe, doubtless, does not exactly desire a
divorce. But Europe has to pay pretty heavily--in armies and fleets,
&c.--for Peace's "maintenance."
* * * * *
THE TRAVELLING COMPANIONS.
NO. VI.
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