For when politics palled he referred to the years When his skill as a boxer was lauded; An allusion to gloves won him laughter and cheers, Which was more than the "point of his jaw" did. * * * * * In a provincial contemporary I find the following startling information, under the heading, "Mothers of Great Men." SCHUMANN'S mother was gifted in music; CHOPIN'S mother, like himself, was very delicate; WORDSWORTH'S mother had a character as peculiar as that of her gifted son; RALEIGH said that he owed all his politeness of deportment to his mother. There are other statements about other mothers, but those I have quoted may suffice in the meantime. What I want to know is why any reasonable human being should care, or be supposed to care, about these ridiculous scraps of information collected from a rubbish-heap of useless knowledge. Here is another that I cannot leave out: HAYDN dedicated one of his most important instrumental compositions to his mother. Amazing. * * * * * In the parish of Swaffham Bulbeck (Phoebus, what a name!) there are apparently two bridges. At the adjourned quarterly meeting of the Parish Council the other day, Mr. C. P. FYSON in the chair, "it was reported that Bridge No. 1 required to be re-built.... The Chairman reported Bridge No. 2 required the same treatment, and eventually the whole matter was adjourned"--presumably in the hope that in the interval the bridges would rebuild themselves. * * * * * HOW I LOST MY POLL. MR. PUNCH, HONOURED SIR,--By way of supplementing efforts of _Daily Chroncile_ to obtain authorised statements showing cause for defeat of certain distinguished candidates, have secured following satisfactory explanations, for authenticity of which I have pleasure in vouching. Have suppressed names of men and places, thus sacrificing verisimilitude on altar of discretion. A. explains:--Opponent started with every natural advantage, having only appeared in constituency three weeks and two days ago, and being entirely unknown. (_Omne ignotum pro benefico._) I, on other hand, had been on spot for five-and-twenty years, and was _only two well known_. B. explains:--Attribute my defeat (by exactly 4529 votes) to over-confidence on part of my supporters. Seems that recollection of ample margin of two (one voting-paper disputed) by which I was returned to late Parliament produced reckless and culpable apathy. C. explains:--Mistake to suppose that Local or any other Veto had appreciable bearing on result of election. Fact is that opposition chartered every available traction-engine to bring up rural electorate. All other traffic practically suspended. Terrorised owners refused to risk their stables in unequal struggle. Was reduced to average of one horse a piece for my four-in-hands. Also other man's wife prettier than mine.