"That giddy whirl, that senseless splendour, Was dear, although I said it bored, Agnosticism I'd surrender Once, once again, to be adored! "I wished my brain had three more ounces, For them I bartered happiness; My heart the new _regime_ denounces, I wish it had three ounces less!" She woke. A subtle sense pervaded Her mind of being someone great; But very speedily it faded, Her brain regained its normal state. She said: "I'd beat them all at college If I could have those ounces back; Only--I should not like my knowledge To make me cleverer than--JACK!" * * * * * [Illustration: MARK TAPLEY REDIVIVUS. "CH-CH-K-K-KKKKK-N-N-NICE S-S-S-SEASONABLE WEATHER THIS, MATE--K-K-KKK!"] * * * * * ODYLLIC FORCE. (_Vide "Daily Graphic" passim._) Odyllic Force! O mystic power divine! O greater than magician's might!--of course You know the virtues of this gift of mine, Odyllic Force! I can command the vasty deep. I say Unto the elemental storm--"Be still!" It may be that the sea will not obey, But what of that? Deny it if ye may, Still I command; still, still by night and day Despite all scorn, I exercise my will And on the troubled surface of the main Fresh from my soul, fresh from its limpid source, I pour my subtle influence--I rain Odyllic Force. I say unto the weather--"Be thou fine!" And straightway, if it be not foul, 'tis fair. Nay, at my word the very sun will shine If it should haply chance no clouds are there. And should the temperature not fall below The freezing point, until the twenty-first Frost shall be all unknown, and ice and snow, And plumbers; and the taps shall freely flow, Nor shall the leaden pipes presume to show The shadow of a tendency to burst. Nay, if the weather be not somewhat cold It shall be warm. The budding gems of gold, Should they appear, we shortly may behold, Flashing amid the prickles of the gorse. So for the good of man, and beast, and flower I diligently use my mystic power, And ever exercise from hour to hour; Odyllic Force. Thus do the elements obey my call. Thus do I influence the Seasons' course Thus do I exercise for great and small, The king, the lord, the beggar, one and all, Odyllic Force. * * * * * [Illustration: ! ! ! ! ! _Lily_ (_from Devonshire, on a visit to her Scotch Cousin Margy in St. Andrews, N.B._). "WHAT A STRANGE THING FASHION IS, MARGY! FANCY A GAME LIKE GOLF REACHING UP AS FAR NORTH AS THIS!"] * * * * * "WHO SAID--'ATROCITIES'?" OR, "THERE'S LIFE IN THE OLD DOG YET."