Nothing could have been more impressive than the closing scene of a trial that was one of the features of the present Sessions. The Counsel for the Prisoner made no pretence of hiding his emotion, and freely used his pocket-handkerchief. Many ladies who had until now been occupied in using opera-glasses, at this point relinquished those assistants to the eyesight, to fall back upon the restorative properties of bottles filled with smelling-salts. Even his Lordship on the Bench was seemingly touched to the very quick by the Prisoner's dignified appeal for mercy. Before passing sentence, the Judge glanced for a moment at the number of titled and other highly respectable witnesses who had testified to the integrity of the accused. Then he addressed the Prisoner:-- "You have pleaded guilty to an indictment which charges you with having misappropriated trust moneys. You have reduced a fortune of £28,000 to £7,000. This means a wretched pittance to beneficiaries who, before your fraud, were enjoying a fairly decent income. I am aware that you are a distinguished Magistrate,--that you have belonged to many Clubs,--that there is not a slur upon the cooking that used to distinguish your dinner-parties. I know the severity of the sentence I am about to pass, and I wish my conscience would permit me to give you a lighter punishment. But I cannot." The accused was then sentenced to five years' penal servitude. A little later another prisoner was put in the dock for stealing twenty shillings. The prisoner (who was a sailor) was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude, and seven years' police supervision. The case was of no public interest. * * * * * THE MODESTY OF GENIUS. When TRAILL his list of Minor Poets drew, SPRUGGE's friends exclaimed, "Why, SPRUGGE, he's left out you!" To which SPRUGGE calmly answered, "Yes, I know it; And he is right. I'm not a Minor Poet." * * * * * [Illustration] FROM AN IRISH REPORTER IN A TROUBLED DISTRICT.--"The Police patrolled the street all night, but for all that there was no disturbance." * * * * * NEW SONG OF TRIUMPH FOR SALVATIONISTS AT EASTBOURNE, ACCOMPANIED BY DRUM AND IRRELIGIOUS CYMBALS.--"_Tra-la-la-Booth-te-ray_!" * * * * * DEMEANING THEMSELVES so!--Mrs. R. cannot understand our aristocracy being constantly Chairmen at public dinners. _She_ wouldn't be a Chairwoman for anything. * * * * * WHERE "GHOSTS" OUGHT TO EXIST.--"_Haunt 'un_ Street, W." It's an artistic quarter. [Is this Hornton Street? Possibly.--ED.] * * * * * PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ALL THE BETTER FOR BECOMING TEMPERANCE MEN.--"The Lushais." * * * * * [Illustration: "DIVIDED DUTY." _Right Hon. the Minister for War_. "SURELY, MY LORD CHANCELLOR, YOU CAN EXEMPT HIM FROM JURIES. THE 'REGULARS'--"