_Madame la Baronne_ (_who WILL speak English_). "AND TELL ME, MISTRESS BROWN, YOUR CLEVARE 'USBAND, WHO 'AVE A SO BEAUTIFUL TALENT--IS HE YET OF ZE ROYAL ACADEMY?" _Our Artist's Wife_ (_who WILL speak French_). "OH NON, MADAME, HELAS! SEULEMENT, IL EST _PENDU_ CETTE ANNEE, VOUS SAVEZ!" _Madame la Baronne_ (_relapsing into her native language_). "OH--MADAME--QUELLE AFFREUSE NOUVELLE!"] A MIDSUMMER DAY-DREAM. [_The Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition has started._] PUNCH sleeps. The cheerful Sage has heard That JACKSON is about to start. His sympathies are warmly stirred, He hath the _Windward's_ weal at heart. He dreams: That block of dinner ice Stirs arctic fancies in his breast. He travels Pole-ward in a trice; He joins the JACKSON-HARMSWORTH quest. * * * "All precious things, discovered late To those that seek them issue forth."-- To find her may be JACKSON'S fate, That Sleeping Beauty of the North! She lieth in her icy cave As still as sleep, as white as death. Her look might stagger the most brave, And make the stoutest hold his breath. "The bodies and the bones of those That strove in other days to pass," Are scattered o'er the spreading snows, Are bleached about that sea of glass. He gazes on the silent dead: "They perished in their daring deeds." The proverb flashes through his head, "The many fail: the one succeeds." * * * _Punch_ wakes: lo! it is but a dream-- A vision of the Frozen Sea; Yet may be it may hold a gleam Of prophecy. So mote it be! To JACKSON and to HARMSWORTH too He brims a well-earnt bumper. "Skoal!" Here's health to them and their brave crew! And safe return from well-won goal! * * * * * THE MINX.--A POEM IN PROSE. [Illustration] _Poet._ It's so good of you to see me. I merely wished to ask one or two questions as to your career. You must have led a most interesting life. _Sphinx._ You are very inquisitive and extremely indiscreet, and I have always carefully avoided being interviewed. However, go on. _Poet._ I believe you can read hieroglyphs? _Sphinx._ Oh yes; I _can_, fluently, But I never do. I assure you they are not in the least amusing. _Poet._ No doubt you have talked with hippogriffs and basilisks? _Sphinx_ (_modestly_). I certainly _was_ in rather a smart set at one time. As they say, I have "known better days." _Poet._ Did you ever have any conversation with THOTH? _Sphinx_ (_loftily_). Oh, dear no! (_Mimicking._) Thoth he wath not conthidered quite a nice perthon. I would not allow him to be introduced to me. _Poet._ You were very particular? _Sphinx._ One has to be careful. The world is so censorious. _Poet._ I wonder, would you give me the pleasure of singing to me? "_Adrian's Gilded Barge_," for instance?