_Scilly Islands, Wednesday._--Blue sea, lovely weather. Delightful to have left all worries, all politics, far behind, and to---- Boat seen approaching from land. Man says he has a telegram for me! Oh, hang telegrams! Wish I were well out at sea. What can it be about? Japan? Siam? Chitral? No. Only to tell me result of Walworth and West Dorset elections! Hem! Seems I _am_ at sea--politically. Thoughtless of ASQUITH to have wired me on the subject. HOMER handsomely beaten. Why didn't he stick to his Iliad? And READE--deserves the Old Bailey for being licked by the new one! Question now is--where's our majority? Ask SPENCER. SPENCER replies it's "as plain as a marlinspike." Says Walworth lost because not enough money spent on Navy. Assures me Navy "much more important than Army; in fact, it's the Predominant Partner." This is _too_ much! Ask SPENCER, as a favour, to maroon me on some desolate isle--say Lundy. Won't do it. Bribe a sailor. Landed at Lizard. Off to town! Next time I want sea air, shall run down to Clacton on the "Belle." * * * * * OXFORD DEGREES.--Certainly Messrs. DAN LENO and ALBERT CHEVALIER should have Masterships of Arts conferred on them. The "_Voces Stellarum_" at the Oxford Observatory (otherwise Music Hall) are well worth hearing. Mr. BURNETT (J. P.) has just issued a brochure on this Music-Astronomical subject, chiefly remarkable for a brief essay on "The Pantomimic Art," by PAUL MARTINETTI, whose right to speak on such a theme, as an authority, may be arrived at by any one who sees this most artistic pantomimist in a short melodramatic piece--a piece which thoroughly tells its own tale without words--now being performed nightly at the Oxford. It is admirable. If action can do so much, then why not a Shakspearian play in action, and "the student" could read the words to himself at home? We recommend the idea to Mr. PAUL MARTINETTI, and should advise him to re-arrange _Don Quixote_, as "a piece without words," for Mr. HENRY IRVING, who now looks and acts the part to perfection; the piece itself might then be of the actor, that is,--if action were substituted for its very poor dialogue. * * * * * POLITICS À LA PERKYN MIDDLEWICK.--The Radical wire-pullers now regard the middle-class Walworth voters (for Mr. BAILEY) as "Shop 'uns," and the county division which returned Colonel WILLIAMS as "inferior Dosset"! * * * * * [Illustration: "GREAT CRY AND LITTLE WO(O)L-MER!" BATHING WOMAN. "COME ALONG, MASTER SELBORNE, AND TAKE YOUR DIP LIKE A LITTLE NOBLEMAN!"] * * * * * THE SCARLET PARASOL.