Modesty, clearly, is somehow availing to Burke them of glory which should be their own, Modesty, morbid, excessive--a failing to Which, it's notorious, poets are prone. Only, he tells us, in Canada's latitude Honour to singers is duly allowed: Nay, how can Britons be backward in gratitude, Having LE GALLIENNE, are they not proud? Yes, when we Englishmen boast of our national Glories and deeds, though the scoffers deride, This is the greatest and really most rational Source of supreme and legitimate pride-- Not in the struggles or deeds of iniquity Wrought by our sires in desperate fray, Still less in SHAKSPEARE, or bards of antiquity, But in the poets amongst us to-day! Might we suggest, though, if, in the opinion of Mr. LE GALLIENNE, England's to blame, He and his comrades should seek the Dominion of Canada, where they'll be certain of fame? * * * * * [Illustration: NOT DONE YET. MASTER ARTY B-LF-R (_to_ MASTER BILL H-RC-T). "HA! YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY COCKY THIS HALF, BUT WAIT TILL 'MY BIG BROTHER' GETS HOLD OF YER!"] * * * * * [Illustration: SO VERY CONSIDERATE. _Stout Coster._ "WHERE ARE YER GOIN' TO, BILL?" _Bill._ "INTER THE COUNTRY FOR A NICE DRIVE, BEIN' BANK 'OLIDY." _Stout Coster._ "SAME 'ERE. I SY! DON'T YER THINK WE MIGHT SWOP MISSESES JUST FOR A FEW HOURS? IT WOULD BE SO MUCH KINDER TO THE HANIMILE!"] * * * * * CONCERNING A MISUSED TERM; _viz._, _"Art" as recently applied to a certain form of Literature_. Is this, then, "Art"--ineffable conceit, Plus worship of the Sadi-tainted phrase, Of pseud-Hellenic decadence, effete, Unvirile, of debased Petronian ways? Is _this_ your "Culture," to asphyxiate With upas-perfume sons of English race, With manhood-blighting cant-of-art to prate, The jargon of an epicene disgrace? Shall worse than pornographic stain degrade The name of "Beauty," Heav'n-imparted dower? Are _they_ fit devotees, who late displayed The symbol of a vitriol-tinted flower? And shall the sweet and kindly Muse be shamed By unsexed "Poetry" that defiles your page? Has Art a mission that may not be named, With "scarlet sins" to enervate the age? All honour to the rare and cleanly prints, Which have not filled our homes from day to day With garbage-epigrams and pois'nous hints How æsthete-hierophants fair Art betray! If such be "Artists," then may Philistines Arise, plain sturdy Britons as of yore, And sweep them off and purge away the signs That England e'er such noxious offspring bore! * * * * * THE CRY OF THE FREE LIBRARY FREQUENTER.--A Cheap Loaf. * * * * * "HOW TO CONTROL AND RECTIFY PUBLIC OPINION." ["It is impossible to bribe a French paper."--_Times, April 5, 1895._]