The British South-African Company's shares _May_ be at a discount--(Trade-martyrs!--trade-martyrs!)-- But he, our Colossus, strides on, he declares, Whether with or without chums or charters--or charters. Hooray! We brave Britons are still to the front-- Provided we've someone to boss us--to boss us; And Scuttlers will have their work cut out to shunt This stalwart, far-striding Colossus--Colossus! * * * * * [Illustration: =A HEARTY WELCOME.= _Local Flyman_ (_who also officiates at Funerals_). "Mornin', Sir. Glad to see you out again! Really thought I should 'a' had the honor of drivin' you to the cemetery, Sir!"] * * * * * TAXES. A HOARDING AND SAVING CLAUSE.--_A propos_ of an article in the _Times_ on this subject, and a paragraph of _Mr. Punch's_, last week, anent "Hoardings," we may now put a supplementary question in this form, "As Government taxes _Savings_, would it not be quite consistent to tax _Hoardings_?" Since the answer must, logically, be in the affirmative, let Government begin at once with all the Hoardings displaying any kind of hideous pictorial advertisement. * * * * * "HE rumbles so in his conversation," observed Mrs. R. of an orator whose sentences were considerably involved, "that I can seldom catch the grist of what he says." * * * * * PRACTICAL THEOSOPHY. MRS. BESANT is said to have told a representative of a daily paper, that "an adept in Theosophy uses his supernatural powers solely for his own convenience, just as ordinary people avail themselves of a messenger, or the telephone or telegraph." We have it on the very best of authority that the discharge of handbills from aerial bombs is to be entirely surpassed as a method for advertising a commodity, by a new and protected process. "A Company is being formed," so runs the prospectus, "for the express purpose of importing Mahatmas of the very best vintage (guaranteed _extra sec_), direct from Thibet, where an exceptionally luxuriant crop has been produced during past years. "They will be shipped to any port in the United Kingdom, and delivered to any address, carriage free, at prices which will compare most favourably with those quoted by foreign firms for inferior articles. "The trade supplied by special contract. "They will prove invaluable to advertisers and others. "No family should be without one. Order early. "They can be used for a variety of purposes; but they will be found most particularly serviceable for distributing handbills and posters, especially in inaccessible places. "_Domestic servants entirely superseded by them._ "Prompt and accurate delivery of any object may be effected by their agency, owing to their marvellous powers of precipitation. "Full instructions for working, and instruments for repairing, supplied with each specimen.