"FLYING VISIT OF MR. H. B. IRVING." * * * * * "Fashion Gossip" in _The Cambridge Chronicle_:-- "Black rats, however, are most in favour and bid fair to retain their popularity." It is no longer fashionable to see snakes. * * * * * "For supply of a body suitable for motor ambulance for Ipswich."--_Contract Journal._ Ipswich seems in a hurry. Surely it might wait for the accident to happen naturally. * * * * * GENERAL VILLA BREAKS INTO POETRY. [The following unpublished poem of General VILLA--not, of course, to be compared with the recently discovered compositions of KEATS--throws an interesting light on the attitude of that incomparable brigand towards the academic diplomatist of the White House. This correspondence, rendered into English, is now made public without prejudice to any change of policy that may occur during its passage through the press.] WILSON (or WOODROW, if I may), I blush to own that ere to-day I have described you as a "gringo"; For you are now my loved ally; We see together, eye to eye; The same usurper we defy. Each in his local lingo. Friends I have had in your fair land, Nice plutocrats who lent a hand (In view of possible concessions), But still I lacked official aid, And lived, with that embargo laid Upon the gunning border-trade, A prey to rude depressions. But, when you let the barrier drop, And all the frontier opened shop To deal in warlike apparatus, Much heartened by your friendly leave To storm and ravage, slay and reave, I felt my fighting bosom heave As with a fresh afflatus. Now closer still we join our stars; At Vera Cruz your valiant tars Have lately forced a bloody landing; No more you hold aloof to see The dirty work all done by me, You show by active sympathy A cordial understanding. Nor shall my loyal faith grow slack Although you put the embargo back; No doubt once more you'll countermand it; And anyhow this party scores Since, you'll supply the arms and stores The bill for which so rudely bores A constitutional bandit. At your expense, in fact, we go, We two, against a one-man foe (Of course you would not wish to hurt a Hair of our folk in vulgar broil; Your scheme is just to take and boil Inside a vat of native oil This vile impostor, HUERTA). Then here's my hand all warm and red, And we will march through fire and lead Waging the glorious war of Duty; Though impotent to read or write, I love the cause of Truth and Light, So God defend us in the fight For VILLA, Home and Beauty! O. S. * * * * * "A REVIEW OF THE PRIMATES. By DANIEL GERAUD ELLIOT. Three volumes.