l decree to her a divorce from the supposed author of
her sufferings. She will then set up for a short time as an object of
universal pity, but, meeting a bluff and burly widower, she will accept
him as her second husband. After having wearied of her constant recital
of her former misery, this husband will begin to neglect and ill-use her
in good earnest. Under the tonic of this genuine shock, her spirits may
revive; and it is as likely as not that she will enjoy many years of
mitigated happiness as the wife of a real tyrant.

* * * * *

MORE NOVELTIES.--Sir,--The Fasting Man seems to have been a great
success. Why shouldn't he be succeeded by The Stuffing Man, The Eating
Boy, and The Talking Man. The last of these would be backed to talk
incessantly on every possible subject for forty days. In the Recess,
what a chance for Mr. GLADSTONE, or, indeed, for any Parliamentary
orator, who, otherwise, would be on the stump! Instead of his going to
the Country, the Country, and London, too, would come to him. Big
business for Aquarium and for Talking Man. Then there would be The
Sneezing Man, The Smoking Man, The Singing Man, The Drinking Man, and so
forth. It's endless. I only ask for a per-centage on gate-money, and I
place the idea at the disposition of the Aquarium.

Yours,

THE OTHER MAN.

* * * * *

YET ANOTHER QUARTERLY.--_Subjects of the Day_--sounds like an Algerian
publication--is a quarterly review of current topics. The motto of this
new quarterly review of Messrs. ROUTLEDGE'S is "_Post Tenebras Lux_"
which, being freely translated, means, "after the heavy reviews this
comes as a little light reading!" Ahem! the subject of No. 1 is
Education, and to study the essays in this volume will keep any reader
well occupied till the appearance of No. 2.

* * * * *

THE LEGEND OF THE BRIAR-ROOT.

(_Suggestion for companion subject to "The Briar Rose," by E.
Burne-Jones, A.R.A., now exhibiting at Messrs. Agnew & Sons' Gallery,
Bond Street._)

[Illustration:

THE BRIAR-WOOD PIPE. EFFECT ON THE SMOKERS.

The fateful odour fumes and goes
About the angle of the Nose.

THE BED-ROOM.

They smoked and smoked a pipe a-piece:
Thus did their drowsiness increase.

SHORT CUT THROUGH THE GARDEN.

The Maidens thought the pipe to fill:
They smoked, and now they all lie still.

THE NOSE BOWER. _LA BELLE PIPE-EN-