William Ernest Henley, poet, critic, dramatist, and editor was born at Gloucester in 1849, and educated at the same city. In his early years (says _Men of the Time_) he suffered much from ill-health, and the first section of his _Book of Verses_ (1888: 4th ed. 1893), _In Hospital: Rhymes and Rhythms_, was a record of experiences in the Old Infirmary, Edinburgh, in 1873-5. In 1875 he began writing for the London magazines, and in 1877 was one of the founders as well as the editor of _London_. In this journal much of his early verse appeared. He was afterwards appointed editor of _The Magazine of Art_, and in 1889 of _The Scots_, afterwards _The National Observer_. To these journals, as well as to _The Athenaeum_ and _Saturday Review_ he has contributed many critical articles, a selection of which was published in 1890 under the title of _Views and Reviews_. In collaboration with Robert Louis Stevenson he has published a volume of plays, one of which, _Beau Austin_, was produced at the Haymarket Theatre in 1892. His second volume of verses--_The Song of the Sword_--marks a new departure in style. He has edited a fine collection of verses, _Lyra Heroica_, and, with Mr. Charles Whibley, an anthology of English prose. In 1893 Mr. Henley received the honour of an L.L.D. degree of St. Andrew's university. At the present time he is also editing _The New Review_, a series of _Tudor Translations_, a new _Byron_, a new _Burns_, and collaborating with Mr. J. S. Farmer in _Slang and its Analogues_; an historical dictionary of slang. "_Villon's Straight Tip_: Stanza I, line I. _Screeve_ = provide (or work with) begging-letters. Line 2. _Fake the broads_ = pack the cards. _Fig a nag_ = play the coper with an old horse and a fig of ginger. Line 3. _Knap a yack_ = steal a watch. Line 4. _Pitch a snide_ = pass a false coin. _Smash a rag_ = change a false note. Line 5. _Duff_ = sell sham smugglings. _Nose and lag_ = collect evidence for the police. Line 6. _Get the straight_ = get the office, and back a winner. Line 7. _Multy_ (expletive) = "bloody". Line 8. _Booze and the blowens cop the lot: cf_. "'Tis all to taverns and to lasses." (A. Lang). Stanza II, line 1. _Fiddle_ = swindle. _Fence_ = deal in stolen goods. _Mace_ = welsh. _Mack_ = pimp. Line 2. _Moskeneer_ = to pawn for more than the pledge is worth. _Flash the drag_ = wear women's clothes for an improper purpose. Line 3. _Dead-lurk a crib_ = house-break in church time. _Do a crack_--burgle with violence. Line 4. _Pad with a slang_ = tramp with a show. Line 5. _Mump and gag_ = beg and talk. Line 6. _Tats_ = dice. _Spot_, (at billiards). Line 7. _Stag_ = shilling. Stanza III, line 2. _Flash your flag_ = sport your apron. Line 4. _Mug_ = make faces. Line 5. _Nix_ = nothing. Line 6. _Graft_ = trade. Line 7. _Goblins_ = sovereigns. _Stravag_ = go astray.