_A._ Certainly; but that fact does not dispense with the necessity of reform in existing institutions. _Q._ Then you consider the raising of other issues is merely a plan to confuse and obliterate the original contention? _A._ Assuredly; and it is a policy that has been tried before with success to obstructors and failure to the grievance-mongers. _Q._ So as two blacks do not make one white you and all believe that Rotten Row should be carefully inspected and the causes of the recent accidents ascertained and remedied? _A._ I do; and, further, am convinced that such a course would be for the benefit of the public in general and riders in Rotten Row in particular. * * * * * [Illustration: "PERSONALLY CONDUCTED."] * * * * * "PERSONALLY CONDUCTED." 'Tis a norrible tale I'm a-going to narrate; It happened--vell, each vone can fill in the date! It's a heartrending tale of three babbies so fine. Whom to spifflicate promptly their foes did incline. Ven they vos qvite infants they lost their mamma; They vos left all alone in the vorld vith their pa. But to vatch o'er his babbies vos always _his_ plan-- (_Chorus_)-- 'Cos their daddy he vos sich a keerful old man! He took those three kiddies all into his charge, And kep them together so they shouldn't "go large." Two hung to his coat-tails along the hard track. And the third one, he clung to his neck pick-a-back. The foes of those kiddies they longed for their bleed, And they swore that to carry 'em _he_ shouldn't succeed, But to save them poor babbies he hit on a plan-- (_Chorus_)-- 'Cos their dadda he vos sich a artful old man! Some hoped, from exposure, the kids would ketch cold, And that croup or rheumatics would lay 'em in the mould; But they seemed to survive every babbyish disease, Vich their venomous enemies did not qvite please. But, in course, sich hard lines did the kiddies no good; They got vet in the storm, they got lost in the vood, But their dad cried, "I'll yet save these kids if I can!"-- (_Chorus_)-- 'Cos their feyther he vos sich a dogged old man! Foes hoped he'd go out of his depth,--or his mind,-- Or, cutting his stick, leave his babbies behind, Ven they came to the margin of a vide roaring stream. And the kids, being frightened, began for to scream. But he cries, cheery like, "Stash that hullabulloo! _Keep your eye on your father, and HE'll pull you through!!_"-- Vich some thinks he _vill_ do--if any von can-- (Chorus)-- 'Cos Sir VILLYUM he is sich a walliant old man! * * * * * LYRE AND LANCET. (_A Story in Scenes._) PART V.--CROSS-PURPOSES. SCENE VI.--_A First-Class Compartment._