2. _Of Gardens._--Very delightful for sweetness is the Wallflower; likewise the Bonny Briar-Patch. But of those flowers such as the Aster and the Carnation, of which the perfume is such that they are best trodden upon and bruised, there is yet another that you shall take heed of. It is the Sweet Earl Lavender. You shall pass by a whole alley of them and find nothing of their sweetness: they are like precocious odours, most desirable when incensed or crushed. * * * * * Sortes Shakspearianæ. SHAKSPEARE in the Commons-- "God speed the Parliament! Who shall be the Speaker?" _Henry the Sixth,_ Part I., Act iii., Sc. 2. * * * * * A FORGOTTEN MELODY.--A once popular negro song that might come in as a chorus if Mr. BANNERMAN does _not_ accept the Speakership, is to the tune of "_Old Bob Ridley, O!_" and could be evidently neatly adapted to "O WHITE RIDLEY, O!" * * * * * * * * * * [Illustration: SITTING ON HIM. _Mr. Slowman Sopht._ "OH COME, I SAY, MISS MAWY, YOU ON FOOT? WHY, IF HOUNDS RUN, A FELLAH'LL NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN ALL DAY!" _Miss Mary._ "DEAR, DEAR, HOW TRYING IT IS! BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN _I RIDE_ AND HOUNDS RUN, I NEVER SEEM TO SEE _YOU_ AGAIN ALL DAY!"] * * * * * AWFUL REVELATIONS! [Mr. LESLIE STEPHEN, speaking at Toynbee Hall the other day, stated that the members of the Athenæum had deserted the classics for the pages of _Punch_ and the latest French novel.] SCENE--_The Library of a well-known Club, where are discovered a few Bishops, Judges, M.P.'s, and other persons "distinguished in literature or art."_ _Academician_ (_chuckling over_ MARCEL PRÉVOST'S _latest audacity, to_ M.P., _who is puzzling out the "Journal du prince" in_ DAUDET'S "_La Petite Paroisse_"). I say, old man, lend me your pocket dictionary for a moment, will you? _M.P._ Certainly; only it doesn't give half the words. (_Sighs, aside._) Why didn't I learn more French at Eton! These _moeurs conjugales_ beat me every now and then at the most interesting point! _A Professor of Metaphysics_ (_who has concealed_ J. H. ROSNY'S _"Renouveau" behind a file of the "Times," and is sitting on_ LAVEDAN'S _"Les Marionettes," to himself_). I really cannot go home till I have cleared up the relations between _Chagny_ and _Madame d'Argonne!_ _A Judge_ (_caught reading "Le Mariage de Chiffon" by a Bishop, apologetically_). Ah, I find my French gets rusty without systematic daily practice. Why, would you believe it, I found yesterday I had forgotten what _en goguettes_ meant! _Bishop._ Ahem, I believe it is a synonym for _en ribote_, with nearly the vulgar connotation of _gris_ or _soul_--tipsy, you know! (_Hastily, to_ Waiter, _aware that he has displayed a rather too close acquaintance with Gallic slang_.) Kindly fetch me to-day's number of _Punch_. _Waiter._ They are all engaged, my Lord.