entertainment could not be established. Ever ready to assist in carrying
out a valuable suggestion, _Mr. Punch_ begs to provide a _Scenario_ for
a modern _Maske:_--

SCENE I.--_The Exterior of the Castles of_ TORIUS _and_ GLADSTONIUS
_with a view of the Palace of Westminster, seen through the gateway.
Enter_ SESSIONIUS, _who looks about him and ponders_.

_Sessionius._ This should not be! Such a time as this puts down a
thousand pleasant schemes of summer! When a Bill, an Opposition, and a
Closure are met within the Hall of great St. Stephen's! Let the Ex-M.P.
bless the summer day, but Whigs, Rads, and Tories, needs must nod to the
Sessions Reign.

_Enter_ VACATIA.

_Vacatia._ Well, o'ertaken Session!

_Sessionius._ What's that I see? How dare you approach. D'ye mean to
give the lie to the prophets, who say I shall not be done until October?
Away, thou tempting fancy! Begone! Stay not a moment!

_Vacatia._ Nay, be not angry! In days gone by thou used to welcome me!
Why is it?

_Sessionius._ Do you not see I cannot move? With Irish Members and
Coercion Bills, I may stay here for ever!

VACATIA _weeps, and is appeased by_ TRIPPIUS, _who explains that they
can go unto the seaside by the Sunday trains. Then all go out. Then
enter the_ EXCURSIONISTS, _who sing strange songs in praise of wine and
tobacco. After a while the fun grows fast and furious, and the Scene
changes to_,--

THE GARDEN OF PARLIAMENTARY FLOWERS OF SPEECH.

_First song, wherein the_ SPEAKER _works a charm by which certain Irish
Members dance a measure with sticks, and striking the floor, then one
another's coat-tails, and, lastly, one another's heads. When this is
done,_ HARCOURTIUS _appears in the_ pavan, _or "peacock's strut," and
marches about. He disappears, and there is a Dance of Woodmen with
hatchets by the_ Gladstonian Family. _All this ends merrily with a view
of_ VACATIA _working a change as_ TRIPPIUS _introduces a View of a
possible Autumn Session_.

* * * * *

"What I want some fellow to tell me," said Mr. DUFFER, looking up from
an advertisement of a forthcoming sale at Aldridge's, "is--what the
dickens is the use of a _broken_ sporting dog?"

* * * * *

[Illustration: "A LA PORTE!"

_Wolff._ "MUST REALLY BE GOING NOW! HAD A DELIGHTFUL TIME OF IT. SPENT A
LOT OF MONEY, AND ENJOYED MYSELF AMAZINGLY. TA! TA!"

_Sultan._ "SO SORRY YOU'RE GOING. BY THE WAY, I'LL ATT