=Rather Difficult for him= 107 _November 14th, 1900._ =The Ruling Passion= 108 _August 7th, 1901._ =Tit for Tat= 109 _April 15th, 1903._ =All the Difference= 110 _November 6th, 1901._ =Strong Language= 111 _July 29th, 1903._ =Shakespeare Illustrated (_King John_, Act III., Sc. 4)= 112 _July 22nd, 1903._ Sketches by Phil May From “PUNCH.” [Illustration: “=AND _SHE_ OUGHT TO KNOW!=” “THAT’S SUPPOSED TO BE A PORTOGRAPH OF LADY SOLSBURY BUT, BLESS YER, IT AIN’T LIKE HER A BIT IN PRIVATE!” [_First contribution to “Punch.“_] [Illustration: =SELF-CRITICISM.= _First Genius to Second Genius._ “WHY ON EARTH DO YOU DO YOUR HAIR IN THAT ABSURD FASHION, SMITH?”] [Illustration: =THE FINISHING-TOUCH.= “ARF A POUND ER MARGARINE, PLEASE; AN’ MOTHER SAYS WILL YER PUT THE COW ON IT, ’COS SHE’S GOT COMPANY!”] [Illustration: =Q. E. D.= “WHAT’S UP WI’ SAL?” “AIN’T YER ’ERD? SHE’S MARRIED AGIN!”] [Illustration: =THE PLUNGER.= _First Boy (much interested in the game of Buttons)._ “’AS ’E LOST?” _Second Ditto._ “YES; ’E LOST ALL THEM BUTTONS WHAT ’E WON OFF TOMMY CROWTHER YESTERDAY, AN’ THEN ’E CUT ALL THE BUTTONS OFF ’IS CLOTHES, AND ’E ’S LOST THEM TOO!”] [Illustration: =AN IMPORTANT ’JUNCTION.= “YOU MIND YOUR FADER GETS MY BOOTS REDDY BY FOUR O’CLOCK, ’COS I’M GOIN’ TO A PARTY”] [Illustration: =WASTED EFFORTS.= _New Assistant (after hair-cutting, to Jones, who has been away for a couple of weeks)._ “YOUR ’AIR IS VERY THIN BE’IND, SIR. TRY SINGEING!” _Jones (after a pause)._ “YES, I THINK I WILL.” _N. A. (after singeing)._ “SHAMPOO, SIR? GOOD FOR THE ’AIR, SIR.” _Jones._ “THANK YOU. YES.” _N. A._ “YOUR MOUSTACHES CURLED?” _Jones._ “PLEASE.” _N. A._ “MAY I GIVE YOU A FRICTION?” _Jones._ “THANK YOU.” _N. A._ “WILL YOU TRY SOME OF OUR--” _Manager (who has just sighted his man, in Stage whisper)._ “YOU IDIOT! _HE_’S A SUBSCRIBER!!”] [Illustration: =A SUNDAY DINNER.= _Father of Family (who has accidentally shot the leg of a Fowl under the table)._ “MIND T’DOG DOESN’T GET IT!” _Young Hopeful (triumphantly)._ “ALL RIGHT, FEYTHER! I’VE GOTTEN ME FOOT ON IT!”] [Illustration: =BLASÉ.= _Kitty (reading a fairy tale)._ “‘ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A FROG----’“ _Mabel (interrupting)._ “I BET IT’S A PRINCESS! GO ON!”] [Illustration: =MUCH ADO.= “MAMMA-A-A! BOO-HOO! WE’S CRYING! TUM UP ’TAIRS AN’ SEE WHAT’S DE MATTER WIV US!”] [Illustration: =”A SOFT ANSWER,” &c.= _Importunate Street Urchin (for the tenth time)._ “GI’ US A COPPER, SIR! GI’ US A COPPER!” _Testy Individual (losing patience)._ “OH, GO TO“--(_substitutes a milder form_)--“BLAZES!” _Street Urchin._ “SURE THIN AN’ I WOULD IN THIS BASTLY COULD WEATHER, IF I WAS ONLY CERTAIN O’ COMIN’ BACK AGAIN!” [_Individual’s testiness overcome and Urchin rewarded._] [Illustration: =NOT WHAT HE MEANT.=