_A._ They are very quaint. Still I am not sure that I have not seen something very like them before. As for the Exhibition itself, there is as little doubt about its being French, as there was about last year's display being Spanish. _Q._ Have you been to the Flower Show at the Aquarium? _A._ I have; but did not find that home of scientific research quite so full as it was when the Directors were testing the powers of endurance of the Fasting Man. _Q._ Do you consider the Westminster Aquarium of material assistance in developing the latent civilisation of the nineteenth century? _A._ Indeed, I do; especially now that "the Royal Bears" are a feature in the daily programme. _Q._ Did you pass the Bank Holiday pleasantly? _A._ When I tell you that I seized the opportunity to go to Calais and back third-class excursion with a number of anti-temperance-movement fellow passengers, you will see at once that the festival must have been to me a source of unmixed enjoyment! * * * * * [Illustration: THE ARGUMENT BY ANALOGY. _Mariar Ann._ "WHAT A BEAUTIFUL 'OUSE, MISS! WHAT A LOT O' RENT YOU MUST 'AVE TO PAY! I SUPPOSE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN _DO_ PAY RENT?" _Daughter of the House._ "OF COURSE THEY DO." _Mariar Ann._ "WHAT A DEAL O' TROUBLE YOUR FATHER MUST 'AVE, TO GET IT TOGETHER EVERY WEEK!"] * * * * * "COUNTRY AND DUTY." OLD MORALITY (_in flannels_) _sings_;-- Ouf! Free from their "howlings and whinings" awhile, (Which, as the _Times_ tells us, are frightful--are frightful.) But here Nature smiles, a true Smithian smile, And the change from the House is delightful--delightful! A smile which, as GOSCHEN would say, one can _hear_; A _susurrus_ sweeps over the river--the river. Oh, Henley in May to my heart is as dear As to Spaniards the gay Guadalquivir--dalquivir! No doubt they are yelping and yapping like mad; In such hobbles cantankerous spleen lands--rous spleen lands. I peacefully sprawl on the turf, and am glad; The Blue Devils never reach Greenlands--reach Greenlands. By Jove, they have led me a doose of a life! Their conduct is sheer criminality--nality. Here, though, thank Heaven, I'm far from the strife, Here the wicked won't vex OLD MORALITY--RALITY! True, 'tisn't for long, a clear week at the most. They would worry us out of our Whitsuntide--Whitsuntide. But still we all feel, though I don't want to boast, Like Park-hacks in paddock, or "tits" untied--"tits" untied. They mock my wide smile, and my scantness of thatch; I think, though, in managing skill I am--skill I am, All things considered, much more than a match For swaggering, swashing Sir WILLIAM--WILL-I-AM!