Yet, were that all, some well might turn away With custom's passing courtliness, to-day, And bid a cold farewell To the great priest, shrewd marshaller of men, Subtle of verbal fence with tongue or pen, Ascetic of the cell. But there was more; and many a hundred hearts, Who not in cleric conflict played their parts, Will mourn him well and long, Friend of the poor, apart from creed or clique, And ardent champion of the struggling weak Against the selfish strong. Toiler for Temperance, hastener on of Light, In many a fray where right's at odds with might, Might's foes will miss their friend. Farewell! It moves the common heart to hear The crowning of so glorious a career By such a gracious end! * * * * * THE SANITARY CONGRESS AT VENICE.--Mrs. RAM's Nephew was talking on this subject, when his Aunt was heard murmuring to herself, "I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs;" then she looked up, and repeating the last word, observed, "Well, it never struck me before, often as I've heard that line quoted. But what an extraordinary thing to make a bridge of! I suppose it was painted over first, because I know that's how 'size' is commonly used." * * * * * [Illustration: _The Irish Curate_ (_to the New Vicar_). "THAT POOR MAN, SIR, HAS ALWAYS GOT A SKELETON JUST IN FRONT OF HIM THAT FOLLOWS HIM ABOUT WHEREVER HE GOES!"] * * * * * THE BOXING IMBROGLIO. Oh, SLAVIN, FRANK SLAVIN, you'd fain be a whacker Of SULLIVAN, JOHN, but you can't find a backer, While SULLIVAN, biggest of Yankee big fellows, Blows froth all the time from his own patent bellows. Well, fight if you must; I am sure you'll fight fair; Bag his wind if you can, FRANK, but don't beat the air. * * * * * ONLY FANCY! Mr. CHAPLIN has, we hear, entered with native enthusiasm into his mission to the Agricultural Labourer. It was entirely his own idea. "The Liberals have their Rural Conferences," he said at a recent Cabinet Council, "and we should do something of the same kind; only we must go one better. Of course the delegates liked their trip to London (expenses paid, their free breakfast, their shake of Mr. GLADSTONE's hand, and the opportunity of gazing on the supple form of Mr. SCHNADHORST.) That's all very well for them. But think of the hundreds of thousands green with jealousy because they weren't selected for the trip? These are all ripe to vote for us at the General Election if only delicately handled. What you want is a man of commanding presence, unfailing tact, a knowledge of horses, and some gift of oratory. If no one else occurs to you, I'll go." No one else did occur to the mind of the Cabinet. So the Minister of Agriculture set forth on his missionary enterprise. * * * * *