ht.

* * * * *

"JACK SHEPPARD REVERSED."

This is the title of an amusing article in last week's _Saturday
Review_. It is not the story of JACK SHEPPARD once more done into
rhyme. The title so happily selected is thoroughly justified by the
doings of an eccentric and original burglar, who, broke _into_ a
prison! This certainly was JACK SHEPPARD reversed with a vengeance!
The hero of the escapade is said to be a tinted native of
Barbadoes--his portrait should be published as a companion to the
"penny plain" of his prototype as "twopence coloured."

* * * * *

CARDINAL MANNING'S PRECEDENCE.

It does not need heraldic lore
The Cardinal's place to find.
Of course he'll always come before
The ones who are behind.

* * * * *

THE PHAGOCYTE.

_(The Story of a Blood Feud.)_

[A microscopist has found an organism called the Phagocyte in
the blood, which pursues and devours the Bacilli.]

Strange the tale that Science tells.
Here are some devouring cells:
Ever watchful night and day,
They the vile Bacillus slay;
Wot we well he fears the bite
Of the guardian Phagocyte.

Hour by hour the fight goes on,
Till the silent battle's won;
Vainly do Bacilli shirk
When their deadly foe's at work;
Every microbe faints with fright
At the fearsome Phagocyte.

Should the Phagocyte not keep
Faithful ward, but go to sleep;
Then Bacillus, in high glee,
Works his will on you and me;
Danger would be ours to-night,
But for that same Phagocyte.

Such a tale of Science seems
Like the offspring of wild dreams;
Fiction surely, in good sooth,
Can invent no tale like truth.
Stranger story none could write
Than this of the Phagocyte.

The Astronomer descries
Worlds on worlds beyond our eyes;
'Neath the microscope weird things
Erst unseen whirl round in rings;
Hence it is that we indite
Stanzas to the Phagocyte.

* * * * *

[Illustration: "SHADOWED!"]

* * * * *

[Illustration: A SPECULATIVE OFFER.

_Driver._ "NOW, TOM, WHEN WE ARRIVE AT THE TURN, I'LL SELL YOU THE
DOG-CART FOR A SOV!"]

* * * * *

MR. PUNCH'S SWIM ROUND THE WORLD.

_(From his own Prophetic Log-book.)_

_Herne Bay._--The weather being extremely favourable, I jumped off
the end of