Then, France, thou shouldst be lavish of thy flowers For all our dead and thine, And for all women's tears, or thine or ours, Put forth some tender sign-- Heartsease or eglantine. * * * * * CHILDREN'S TALES FOR GROWN-UPS. THE JUDGMENT OF THE ASS. VII. It was in the year that the donkey was elected judge, because only he and the mule came to vote and the mule spoiled his voting-paper. The weasel came before the court to make a serious complaint against the rat. "Most learned judge," said the weasel, "the rat came to me for advice. 'Tell me,' he said, 'how I can obtain a delicious piece of cheese I have seen.' I showed him how he could get it. He ate the cheese, and since then he has not ceased to revile me." "Most unjust," said the judge. "What has the rat to say?" "The rat does not appear," said the mule, who was usher. "And why not?" asked the judge. "He is still in the trap," said the usher. "I showed him the way in," said the weasel proudly. "But not the way out," said the rat's prospective widow. "He only asked me how he could get the cheese, and I showed him," said the weasel. "The weasel shall have the reward of virtue," said the judge. "As for the rat I shall fine him for contempt of court in not appearing." "Justice!" cried the rat's prospective widow. "I demand my husband." "You shall have him," said the ass. "I order the weasel to show you the way into the trap." * * * * * An Indian Circus handbill:-- "Programme of the Bengal Grand Cirkcus Co: Performings begin P.P.M. PART I. 1. Some horses will make very good tricks. 2. The Klown will come and talk with the horses therefore audience will laugh itself very much. 3. The lady will walk on horses back when horses jumping very much. 4. The Klown will make a joking word and lady will become too angry, then Klown will run himself away. 5. The boy he will throw a ball to upside and he will catch the ball in downward journey. 6. This is very jumping tricks. PART II. 1. One man will make so tricks on trapees that audience will fraid himself very much. 2. Some dogs will play and role himself in the mud. 3. This is the grand display of tricks. 4. The lady will make himself so bend that everyone he will think that he is rubber lady. 5. The man will walk on wire tight. He is doing so nicely because he is professor of that. 6. Then will come grand dramatic. NOTICE. No stick will be allowed in the spectators and he shall not smoke also." * * * * * EXCELSIOR. "Our ascent to the sun makes our enemy envious."--_Koelnische Zeitung._ The night fell fast, but faster still A youth came down the darkening hill, A super-youth, whose super-flag Flaunted the strange but hackneyed brag, "Excelsior!"