Wherefore, my gay young shooters, you who week by week suck wisdom and conversational ability from these columns, it is borne in upon me that for your benefit I must treat of the Smoking-room in its connection with shooting-parties. Thus, perhaps, you may learn not so much what you ought to say, as what you ought not to say, and your discretion shall be the admiration of a whole country-side. "The Smoking-room: with which is incorporated 'Anecdotes.'" What a rollicking, cheerful, after-dinner sound there is about it. SHABRACK might say it was like the title of a cheap weekly, which as a matter of fact, it does resemble. But what of that? Next week we will begin upon it in good earnest. * * * * * ON THE BOXING KANGAROO. From SMITH and MITCHELL to a Kangaroo!!! The "noble art" _is_ going up! Whilloo! Stay, though! Since pugilist-man seems coward-clown, Perhaps 'tis the Marsupial coming down! * * * * * [Illustration: FELINE AMENITIES. "I'VE BROUGHT YOU SOME LACE FOR YOUR STALL AT THE BAZAAR, LIZZIE. I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT QUITE OLD ENOUGH TO BE _REALLY_ VALUABLE. I HAD IT WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL." "OH, _THAT'S_ OLD ENOUGH FOR _ANYTHING_, DEAREST! HOW LOVELY! THANKS SO _VERY_ MUCH!"] * * * * * "LE GRAND FRANCAIS." ["With all his faults, M. DE LESSEPS is perhaps the most remarkable--we may even say the most illustrious--of living Frenchmen."--_The Times_.] JACQUES BONHOMME _loquitur_:-- _Someone_ should suffer--yes, of course-- For the depletion of my stocking; But _Le Grand Francais_? Bah! Remorse Moves me to tears. It seems too shocking. Get back my money? _Pas de chance_! And then he is the pride of France! I raged, I know, four years ago, Against those Panama projectors. The law seemed slack, inquiry slow; How I denounced them, the Directors, Including _him_--in some vague fashion; But then--BONHOMME was in a passion! And now to see the _gendarme's_ hand-- Half-shrinkingly--upon _his_ shoulder, Our _Grand Francais_--_so_ old, _so_ grand! _Ma foi_, it palsies the beholder. And will it lessen my large loss To fix a stain on the Grand Cross? Too sanguine? Too seductive? Yes! But was it not such hopeful charming That led him to his old success? The thought is softening, and disarming; O'er Suez and the Red Sea glance, And see what he has done for France! _Peste_ on this Panama affair! Egyptian sands sucked not our savings As did those swamps. Still I can't bear To see _him_ suffer. 'Midst my cravings For _la revanche_, I'd fain not touch Our Greatest Frenchman--'tis too much! * * * * * SHORT AND SWEET. ["The Young Ladies of Nottingham have formed a Short-skirt League."--_Daily Graphic_.]