quipment the limbs of the Law.
With their helmets and rifles, and pouches complete,
(May I quote from the ladies), they "really looked sweet."
The Colonel, the Major, and all their attendants,
Appeared not as counsel, since all were defendants;
And no soldierly spirit could equal the Bar's,
When Themis, its goddess, was mated with Mars.

No more shall they charm us; harsh Fate with her shears
Has severed the thread of the Law's Volunteers.
And, whatever the cause was, 'twas certainly true
That these fee-less defenders at last were too few.
So now they're absorbed, and, no longer the same,
They lose by attachment their being and name.
And the old Devil's Own, from their discipline loosed,
Have gone to their owner; _i.e._, they're _re-duced_.

* * * * *

ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPOKE.

(_In the House and out of it._)

The Parliamentary Committee appointed to consider the best mode of
reporting in the House, have decided that it will be advisable to
allow Members to have an opportunity of revising their speeches after
they have been "taken down" verbatim. The result of this suggestion
will probably be as follows:--

[Illustration: "Spoke? Rather!"]

MR. SYMPLE-STUTTER'S SPEECH.

(_Verbatim Report._)

Mr. SPEAKER, Sir, What I mean to say, I venture to think is that the
British Empire--yes Sir--that is what I venture to think, and _I_ am
a young Member. For I do not believe--no not now--or in fact, when
otherwise. For envy and malice are together. I venture to think that
sometimes the British Empire. Yes Sir, for the enemies are at our
gates with the past and the future. When the sun sinks--not that it
follows--at least so I venture to think. You may believe me, Sir,
that it is farthest from my thoughts when the British Empire and the
sinking sun which I venture to think is--in point of fact the setting
sun, and I venture to think the British Empire, and that is I venture
to think was my proposal in the past--which has the terrors of the
present from generation to generation.

(_Revised Report._)

Mr. SPEAKER, Sir, at a time like the present--when the enemies of the
Empire are clamouring at our gates, when envy walks hand-in-hand
with malice, and our fate is in our own hands--we should be bold and
resolute. It is not for a young Member like myself to point out the
course that we should pursue, but I venture to think that, by ignoring
the terrors of the pa