"Work for mere _love!_" So the butterflies say, (Though they commonly stoop to the casual pay), Well, love _is_ blind--this sort of it. To teach for pin-money possibly's fun To those who're but dabblers when all is done, But the workers, when wages go down with a run, Can hardly see the sport of it. To play at philanthropy's mischievous, much, For sciolists mar whatsoever they touch; What if some Flower Girl Mission Destroy a trade, which seeks other lands, Or throw out of work some thousands of hands? Philanthropy hath no vision Save of its pretty and picturesque fad; And the destitute drudges, angry and sad, Whom deft flower-mounting once fed and clad Shall find redress a rarity. Don't play at Reform, it you love your neighbour! But well-to-do women, your "playing at Labour" Works worse than playing at Charity! Work? Well doubtless 'tis pleasant and "funny" For well,--"just a little pocket-money," To ape the bees who _must_ make the honey Day in, day out, for a living. But workers who labour for "bread and cheese," And not as a change from mere lady-like ease, Regard all such amateur, sham, busy-bees As needing, not praise, but forgiving. What if your work-dabbling, now quite the rage, Cut down the genuine workwoman's wage, Or pinch the poor ill-paid school teacher? "Every woman should work all she's able"? Maybe you need a new species of fable, A sager than copy-book preacher. "The Ant and the Grasshopper"? There lurketh Cant! If Grasshopper labour-spurts starve the poor Ant. If well-to-do woman work helps to spread want, This new-born blind zeal sense should bridle. There's fit work for all, some with spade, some with tabor; But Madam, if feminine "playing at Labour," Whilst needless to you, wrecks one workwoman neighbour, By Jove, you had better be idle! [A] "In every branch of work we see well-to-do women crowding into the ranks of competition, in consequence of which wages are lowered, and women who really want work are left to starve." _Same Letter._ * * * * * "ALAS, POOR YORICK!"--HARRY PAYNE, the last of the good old JOEY-GRIMALDI school of Pantomime Clowns, "joined the majority," Friday. Sept. 27. For many years past the Clown's Christmas welcome, "Here we are again!" has been omitted, and, in the future, we are not likely to hear the exclamation revived. Farewell, HARRY PAYNE, "a fellow of infinite jest, and of excellent fancy!" * * * ENGLAND AND AMERICA.--Successful MARLBOROUGH Match, following upon unsatisfactory DUNRAVEN race. Miss VANDERBILT decidedly winning. _Entente cordiale_ restored. * * * * * [Illustration: A MOOT POINT.