not always have an eminent statesman, or an old friend, to carp
at--wearied with what MR. GLADSTONE gently called the "freshness" of MR.
CONNOODLE, fresh as dew from the mountain--the reporters, we say,
suddenly shut up their note-books, and retired into their own apartment.
The tongues of the Irish orators faltered, they looked up piteously at
the long row of empty benches, murmured that it was unreasonable that
the reporters should think that eleven hours and a half of talk was as
much as the journals for which they work could conscientiously
republish, and the profitless squabble was brought to a speedy close.
_Mr. Punch_ cordially approves of the remedy, and suggests that on
another and a similar occasion it be tried a little earlier.

* * * * *

SOLDIERS AFLOAT.

A few more such showers as we have had lately, and the Camp at Chobham
will become a flotilla.

* * * * *

MRS. MAGNALL'S HISTORICAL QUESTIONS

(_As they should be written for Young Ladies_).

A history of England for young ladies remains yet to be written. The
usual ingredients of a reign cannot be interesting to the youthful
female mind. Battles, with the number of killed and wounded; party
feuds, with the names of the ministers who succeed one another in place;
the slow march of public events, and the men who march slowly with them;
the eternal round of diplomatic and political relations--which, as they
never marry, are the last relations a lady cares for; these, we say, are
not exactly the subjects that would engage the sympathies or the
attention of a young girl. What romance, what possible interest is there
in any one of them? No! we would change all that, and have our English
History written in a style popular, easy, and graceful, and alluding
only to such subjects as ladies understand, or can best appreciate.

Our proposal, however, will be at once apparent by the nature of the
following questions, which we have extracted from a History supposed to
be written according to our sensible plan;--

HISTORICAL QUESTIONS FOR LADIES.

(_Taken principally from the Reign of_ QUEEN VICTORIA.)

What do you mean by the "Crush-Room of the Opera;" and why is it so
called?

When did _gigot_ sleeves go out of fashion, and did such sleeves have
anything to do with the popular French phrase of "_Revenons a nos
Moutons?_"

What do you mean by "Crochet Work"? and can you set the pattern for