[_Disappointed and misunderstood Uncle subsides, and thinks it best to make no comments._] ] * * * * * THE NINTH OF NOVEMBER. The Lord Mayor's Show, I saw it from the Strand, I stood and waited there an hour or so, Till from afar there came with blare of band The Lord Mayor's Show. In civic splendour and with footstep slow Passed the procession, glorious and grand! I liked the soldiers well enough, although The men from Deal looked quite at home on land. Yet I confess that when I came to go, I said that once a year's enough to stand The Lord Mayor's Show. * * * * * "THE BLACK ART" REVIVED!--"The best specimen of the Black Art," quoth the Baron de B. W., "that I have lately seen, is the republication of the works of the Wizard of the North, _alias_ Sir WALTER SCOTT, Bart., in a series of substantial library-shelve-ish volumes, printed in good clear type." * * * * * Q. E. D. Don't tell me of "room at the top!" It's a case, I'm sure, of "no thoroughfare." I'm at the base! Does that not suffice you? There only remains Some "room at the top" of your head, man, for brains. * * * * * A DICKENSIAN QUESTION.--At the date when _Martin Chuzzlewit_ was written, what may fairly be assumed to have been the fashionable hour for dining? * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P. _House of Commons, Monday, November 6._--PRINCE ARTHUR in fine form to-night; made one of those speeches that distinctly enhance Parliamentary reputation. Ticklish situation for Leader of Opposition in face of Parish Councils Bill. Won't do, with General Election within measurable distance, to declare plump against it; still less will it suit party to support one of principal measures of a Government whose successive steps, however devious, are all bent upon goal of Home Rule. For two nights men rising from Opposition benches have endeavoured to wriggle through this difficulty; been more or less unsuccessful; PRINCE ARTHUR, with sure aim and light touch, does and says exactly right thing.