to be feared from their "blows." However, so far, the men
with Ulsterior views have been patted on the back by the _Times_, and
"approbation from Sir HUBERT STANLEY is praise indeed." Yet, had the
meeting been of Nationalists! "But," as Mr. KIPLING's phrase goes,
"that is another story." For, from the _Times_ leader-writer's point
of view, "that in the Orangeman's but a choleric word which in the
Nationalist is rank blasphemy." However, the steam is let off through
the spout, and by the time the Nationalist's dream of Home Rule is
realised, all efforts to the contrary on The part of gallant little
Ulster will probably be "_Ulster vires_."

* * * * *

ADVICE GRATIS.--DEAFNESS. (To "EXPERIMENTALIST.")--Yours seems a
peculiar form of this painful complaint. We cannot understand why you
should feel "as if wind were always coming from your left ear." Try
blowing into the ear with the bellows three times a day. It may drive
the wind back. For the "fulness, throbbing, &c.," we should advise
ramming a good-sized darning-needle as far as it will go into the
orifice. After that--or even before--it might be best to consult a
competent medical man.

* * * * *

[Illustration: EARLY MISGIVINGS.

_Newly-Married M.P._ "BY JOVE, TEN O'CLOCK! I _MUST_ GO DOWN TO THE
HOUSE, IF ONLY TO FIND SOMEONE TO PAIR WITH."

_His Wife._ "OH, DARLING, I THOUGHT YOU AND I HAD PAIRED FOR LIFE!"]

* * * * *

"WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK;"

OR, MANOEUVRING FOR A HOLD.

Ye who have read in HOMER's mighty song
How sage ULYSSES, AJAX towering strong,
Met at the funeral games on Trojan sands,
With knotted limbs and grip of sinewy hands,
To wrestle for the prize, attend, draw near,
And a new tale of coming tussle hear!

When great ACHILLES called them to the lists,
Those men of massive thews and ponderous fists,
"Scarce did the chief the vigorous strife propose,
When tower-like AJAX and ULYSSES rose.
Amid the ring each nervous rival stands
Embracing rigid with implicit hands."
Now Greek meets Greek again, but wrestling now
Is not as on old Ilion's shore, I trow;
Not now the olive crown, the long-wool'd sheep,
Is prize; 'tis Power they strive to win and keep.
By diverse dodges and by novel "chips,"
Subtler "approaches," and more artful "grips,"
The rival champions strive to lock and fell,
Gallia's devices, found to