op. For his
enterprise in reviewing Reviews, and gallantry in storming Magazines.

Mr. MACDOUGALL. The Order of the Free Pass. For services to Morality.
Mr. O'BRIEN. The Order of Retreat. For a short period.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A WAY OF PUTTING IT.

_Author_. "DO YOU LIKE MY VERSES?"

_Pompous Critic_. "OH, IMMENSELY! I OBSERVE THAT THE EXIGENCIES OF
RHYME HAVE OCCASIONALLY LED TO A FELICITY OF EXPRESSION WHICH--WHICH
ALMOST COMPELS ONE TO ASSUME THE ORIGINAL EXISTENCE OF IDEAS!"]

* * * * *

AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE FRIEND'S REPLY.

I thought your lines a great success,
(You always did write rather neatly)
Although I must at once confess
I can't agree with you completely.

Of course I recollect quite well
How long we sat and smoked together,
And how our conversation fell
(As fall it will) upon the weather.

Our prospects then seemed bright and fair,
(Our language certainly got stronger)
We built our castles in the air,
And by degrees our drinks grew longer.

Yes--in the game of law BEN wins,
And many guineas in he's picking,
But have you heard his wife has twins,
And both of them alive and kicking?

And pompous JOE, now JOE, M.P.,
Is doubtless pleased at growing raucous
Through speaking, since he's proud to be
The Member for a Tory Caucus.

Yet I'm afraid for his poor brain,
That such success will surely turn it,
For every speech means so much strain,
Since off by heart he has to learn it!

And mazy JACK, whose chance in life,
We all of us considered shady,
_Has_ married money (_and_ a wife);
But tell me--do you know the lady?

DICK's dinners, too, I'm quite aware,
Are noted--yet he's far from steady,
Whilst TOM's fine house in Belgrave Square
Is mortgaged, so they say, already.

Life, after all, is surely more
Than guineas, Belgrave Square, or dinners.
Life is a race--but yet, before
You curse your luck, _are_ these the winners?

* * * * *

And so, old friend, content I jog
Along, amidst life's hurry-skurry,
And smoke my bird's-eye, sip my grog,
Without a care or thought to worry.

* * * * *

VOCES POPULI.

ON THE ICE.

SCENE--_The Serpentine. On the bank, several persons are
having their skates put on; practised S