MRS. R. has often had a cup of tea in a storm, but she cannot for the life of her see how there can possibly be a storm in a tea-cup. * * * * * [Illustration: INFELICITOUS =MIS=QUOTATIONS. _Hostess._ "YOU'VE EATEN HARDLY ANYTHING, MR. SIMPKINS!" _Mr. S._ "MY DEAR LADY, I'VE DINED '_WISELY, BUT NOT TOO WELL_!'"] * * * * * [Illustration: THE COREAN COCK-FIGHT. BRUIN. "HA!--WHICHEVER WINS, I SEE MY WAY TO A DINNER!"] * * * * * THE COREAN COCK-FIGHT. ["Russia's love of peace is outweighed by her duty to safeguard her vital interests, which would seriously suffer were Japan or China to modify the present state of things in Corea."--_Official Russian view of the Corean situation, given by "Daily Telegraph" Correspondent at St. Petersburg._] BRUIN, _loquitur_. "Duty to safeguard my interests?" Quite so! Nice way of putting it, yes, and so _moral_! Yet I love Peace! Pity game-cocks will fight so! Disfigures their plumes and their combs' healthy "coral." Big Cochin-China and Bantam of Jap Feel at each other they _must_ have a slap. _Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!_ Humph! I must keep a sharp eye on the two! Peace, now! She _is_ such a loveable darling! Goddess I worship in rapt contemplation. Spurring and crowing, and snapping and snarling, Wholly unworthy a bird--or a nation! Still there is Duty! I have an idea Mine lies in watching this fight in Corea. _Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!_ BULL yonder looks in a bit of a stew! Some say my destiny pointeth due North, Ice-caves are all very well--for a winter-rest. But BRUIN'S fond of adventuring forth; In the "Far East" he feels quite a warm interest; BULL doesn't like it at all. But then BULL Fancies that no one should feed when _he_'s full! _Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!_ I am still hungry, and love chicken-stew! To make the Corea a cock-pit, young Jappy, May suit you, or even that huge Cochin-China; But--fighting you know always makes _me_ unhappy. I feel, like poor _Villikins_ robbed of his _Dinah_, As if I could swallow a cup of "cold pison."-- But--still--these antagonists I _must_ keep eyes on. _Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!_ Cockfighting _is_ cruel,--but stirring fun, too! _Duty_, dear boys! Ah! there's nothing like Duty. Gives one "repose"--like that Blacksmith of LONGFELLOW! Go it, young Jap! That last drive was a beauty. But--your opponent's an awfully strong fellow. Little bit slow at first, sluggish and lumbering, But when he makes a fair start there's no slumbering. _Cock-a-doodle-do-o-o-o!!!_ Sakes! How his new steel spurs shone as he flew!