I once in hour of wicked wrath Slew one fourth of this great earth's race. I fled o'er plain and mountain path, But ne'er could that crime efface. In any clime may I be seen, Of rustic form or city made. I oft conceal a weapon keen; Am found in many a street parade. To arctic regions cold and drear I once did journey years ago. My faith was strong, nor was there fear Of floating berg or deadly floe (5). I read the verses to a group of passengers, and one gentleman, a friend of the musician (6) who never could compose without his diamond ring, laughed so immoderately that he tripped over a spare mineral (7) that can box, and broke his leg. The physician (8) who first made use of chloroform was summoned, and in short order had the tonic plant (9) used in chills. I reached Cairo in the month (10) of the gate, and spent five days in studying the Great Sphinx and its near-by temple. While exploring the latter I found a secret passage to the Sphinx itself, and there, in a square excavation, on a massive altar of the stone (11) that is dainty lay a huge black stone carved to represent the insect (12) worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. On it was this inscription, which, deciphered, reads thus: "I am older than the Earth. I was born in Space. Once I was Fire. Now I am Stone. Yet no man ever quarried me. I have journeyed to the Sun, yet the Earth is now my tomb" (13). After much difficulty I secured the stone for the museum (14) which contains the Elgin marbles, together with treasures from the Petrified City (15) and the City of Zenobia (16). I then sailed for England, reaching Cockagne (17) in March. One day, as I was passing the Old Lady (18) of Threadneedle Street, I saw a strange bronze-green sign-board which read, "ANTIQUES." Being interested in antiques I crossed the street and entered the shop. An enormous claymore (19) hung by the door, and at a black-oak desk which had once belonged to Old Noll (20) sat a little weazened man of kindly look. As I entered he laid down a copy of the Vinegar Bible (31) which he had been reading, and rose to greet me. "As I live!" he exclaimed. "You remind me of the Man (22) of Blood. Where do you hail from?" "O, I have been visiting old worlds and new," I replied. "Here are two busts," he went on. "They are of the Laughing Philosopher (23) and the Weeping Philosopher (24), and the contents of these cases are worth having. If you can answer my descriptions, they are yours. Others have tried--and have failed." He handed me the following rhymes: My _first_ was used in Shakespeare's time To exorcise the evil one. My _second's_ life is spent in toil; Reward it never yet has won. The wondrous beauty of my _whole_ May well be praised in poets' verse. To purchase it would much reduce The contents of the longest purse (25).