"'Twere good you do so much for charity." _"Merchant of Venice," Act IV., Sc. 1._ Knight of St. John or Malta? Nay! But needs of a less knightly day The new Knight Hospitaller pleads. Once foremost in the press of fight. We find to-day the good grey knight Militant still--for human needs. No more with levelled lance in rest, But, the Cross still upon his breast, A knightly almoner is he. Not as of old with flashing steel, But flashing words, he makes appeal In the great Cause of--Charity. _Punch_ seconds it with warm goodwill. It sends a most unwelcome chill Through every generous heart to think That the great gift of THOMAS GUY Should suffer stint, or seem to die, Because lands fail and rentals sink. One hundred empty beds! Whilst wealth Swells in the west, and shaken health And sudden anguish scourge the east? It must not be, or how may we Who hold full stock and store in fee Enjoy the coming Christmas feast? Think! Fifteen hundred poor kept out, And left in lonely pain and doubt, Because the funds of Guy's so fail; The sufferer's peace, the surgeon's skill Checked, because Charity feels a chill! _Punch_ on his Public would prevail To step into the breach, and brim Guy's store again, as urged by him Who now no party plea prefers, But a far wider, higher plea, In the great cause of Charity, Newest of Knight Hospitallers![A] [Footnote A: "Those who respond to Mr. GLADSTONE'S appeal will not merely be ministering to the needs of a charity, and supplying the wants of the poor, but they will be strengthening the hands of the medical profession in its life-long battle with disease, and will be assisting to secure the blessings of health to all who are in danger of being deprived of them."--_The Times._] * * * * * [Illustration: A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE LECTURE ON CRIMINAL LAW. [The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE suggests the opening of the Lectures on Legal Subjects to the general public.] ] * * * * *