[Illustration: _May, 1884._ “Mrs. Micawber.” Mrs. M. (hysterically). “I never will do it! It’s of no use asking me! I never will desert Mr. Micawber!!” _David Copperfield_.] [Illustration: _January, 1885._ “Wait till the Clouds roll by!”] [Illustration: _February, 1885._ “Too Late!”] [Illustration: _April, 1885._ “Only his Play.” (!!!) “The Russian Government hope that this unlucky incident may not prevent the continuance of the negotiations. (Laughter.)”—Mr. Gladstone, quoting M. de Giers.] [Illustration: _May, 1885._ The Broken Covenant. “We cannot close this book, and say we will look into it no more.”—Mr. Gladstone’s Speech, April 27th.] [Illustration: _May, 1885._ Our Protean Premier! (As “The Angel of Peace,” in his Unrivalled Variety-and-Quick-Change Entertainment.)] [Illustration: _August, 1885._ The “Irrepressible” Tourist. BISMARCK. “H’m!—Ha!—Where shall I go next?”] [Illustration: _December, 1885._ The Waits.] [Illustration: _August, 1886._ The Grand Young Man!! SHADE OF “DIZZY.” “Dear me! Quite reminds one of old times!!”] [Illustration: _April, 1886._ Sink or Swim!!] [Illustration: _June, 1886._ “1885.” (A Playful Adaptation of Meissonier’s Famous Picture, “1814.”)] [Illustration: _November, 1886._ The Tempter. SPIRIT OF ANARCHY. “What! No work! Come and enlist with me—I’ll find work for you!!”] [Illustration: _April, 1887._ Salisbury Sisyphus. “Unending task!” ... * * * * * “Swift roll the years, and still the ceaseless round, The toilsome press up the precipitous ground, The sullen slow ascent, the swift rebound!”] [Illustration: _October, 1886._ “What of the Night?”] [Illustration: _December, 1887._ “Quite English, you know.” PRESIDENT CLEVELAND (to COLUMBIA). “Will you allow me to introduce this Young Lady?”] [Illustration: _January, 1888._ Bear or Bug-bear? “Thou com’st in such a questionable shape!”—_Hamlet._] [Illustration: _February, 1888._ In the Arena. The “Parade” before the Conflict.] [Illustration: _March, 1888._ Germany. March 9, 1888.] [Illustration: _March, 1888._ Consol-ation; Or, “A Fair Exchange no Robbery.” SWEET SIMPLICITY. “I AM sorry to part with him!” SHREWD BUT SEDUCTIVE SHEPHERD. “Nay, dear Child! What though this one be but indifferent fair to look on at present? He’ll last longer—and you will LEARN TO LOVE HIM!!”] [Illustration: _April, 1888._ What Next?] [Illustration: _May, 1888._ “Panic amongst the Pigs!”] [Illustration: _January, 1890._ Plain English! JOHN BULL. “Look here, my little Friend, I don’t want to hurt your little feelings—but, COME OFF THAT FLAG!!!”] [Illustration: _August, 1890._ From the Nile to the Neva. SHADE OF PHARAOH. “Forbear! That weapon always wounds the hand that wields it.” [Illustration: _March, 1890._