in June. Presumably it is the same bird, and the lines,

"Thou wast not born for death, immortal bird;
No hungry generations tread thee down,"

must be taken as a remarkable instance of literary foresight, for
crowds of people have for years been trying in vain to trample the
brave bird down and have evidently been hungry, or they would never
have left so much sandwich-paper about.

Oh, and there is yet one more notable resident of Hampstead, as you
have doubtless just gathered, and that is myself, or will be if those
accursed----but another time, perhaps.

EVOE.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Conductor (to alighting passenger, who has rung
the bell several times)._ "THAT'LL DO, MY BANANA QUEEN. ONE RING IS
SUFFICIENT--NOT 'THE BLUE BELLS OF SCOTLAND.'"]

* * * * *

A PLEA TO THE EXCHEQUER.

Less gifted souls may seek an earthly mate;
Lonely for ever I am doomed to be,
For all my life to Art is dedicate;
Yea, Art for mine or (speaking English) me.

I've put away the commonplace delights
Of humbler folk to brood on things sublime;
Rapt and aloof I ever tread the heights,
Thinking great thoughts and getting words to rhyme.

Maidens have passed before me, but no bride
Among them all have I essayed to choose;
Sternly I've put the thought of love aside,
An austere poet "wedded to the Muse."

But now of one small guerdon I am fain
(A poet's solace for the love he lacks)--
That this may qualify me to attain
The married man's relief from income-tax.

* * * * *

Commercial Candour.

"AMAZING SHOE OFFER.

LAST SEVEN DAYS."

_Advt. in Daily Paper._

We know this kind of shoe.

* * * * *

"Parrot, splendid talker, South African grey, in
perfect condition; good reason for selling; does not
swear."--_Provincial Paper._

Tastes differ, of course; but personally we should not call this a
"good" reason.

* * * * *

THE TARTAR PRINCESS.

She was staying at a Finnish hydro near Helsingfors. I asked for her
on the telephone and her old mother answered.

"Is it you, Monsieur Anatole? Fancy ringing up so early--twelve
o'clock! Of course Tatiana is in bed. One can see you have been away
from your native country a long time. We left Petersburg three months
ago. Come and see us at a rea