But horror! my agonised fingers curl, Did I say it to her? I think It must have been to that other girl In the delicate shrimp-sauce pink. Shall I chance it again! I must! I will! With a stammer I've half begun-- Saved! saved! the music at last is still. Thank goodness, the dance is done. * * * * * [Illustration: A CASE OF SELF-SACRIFICE. _Mrs. Grimes._ "NO, SIR, MR. SMITH AIN'T A-BIN IN 'IS CHAMBERS NOT FOR A WEEK, SIR." _Mr. Broom._ "OH! YOU'RE SURE NOW YOU KNOW THE GENTLEMAN I MEAN--MR. MELDON SMITH?" _Mrs. Grimes._ "_HI_ KNOWS 'IM RIGHT ENOUGH. WY, I DOES ALL 'IS WASHIN' AND MENDIN' FOR 'IM!"] * * * * * A WINTER WEDDING. When bleak, bluff, blatant blizzards blew, And hats from storm-tossed heads were carried, My enterprising friend, then you Got married! Soon spring had come, when doves can coo, And flowers blossom, had you tarried; Instead, in January you Got married. Then in your honeymoon you two The gloom and snow of winter parried; It's two to one two won when you Were married. And thus henceforward may you do; By life's rough storms be never harried, Together face them all now you Are married. * * * * * More Anglomania! [M. FÉLIX FAURE, having gone out into the garden at about six o'clock in the evening, was making for the door leading to his private apartments, when he was stopped by a sentinel. The President could not give the pass-word, and was accordingly marched off to the Elysée guard-room, where he was fortunately recognised.--_Daily Paper._] That Gallic statesmen rather like Trade Union methods can we doubt? President PERIER went "on strike"; Now, FAURE has been "locked out." * * * * * DEUX MOTS.--The retirement of one of the oldest and most popular actors of the Comédie Française may be summed up in two words, "GOT: gone." * * * * * "ART IS LONG----" The _Daily Graphic_ of February 1, commenting on the time-contest between two pianists, suggests that exponents of the other fine arts should follow their example. The idea has been taken up at the Royal Aquarium with great success, as will be seen from the following press-cuttings:-- _From the "Magazine of Art."_