_Second Official_. Then you evidently knew his name all along. Why on earth did you ask me? _First Official_. You see, it's like this. I had a bet on with a man at the Club that out of ten Government officials not more than one would know the Minister's name. You didn't, and you happen to be the ninth who didn't, so I've won my bet. By the way, do you know what has become of the _chef_ at the Giorgione? _Second Official_. You mean old Savary, who was always gassing about his descent from NAPOLEON'S General? I think he went back to Paris some time ago. _First Official_. Thanks; then I win my second bet--that out of ten Government officials five would know _his_ name. * * * * * UNNATURAL HISTORY. From a _feuilleton:_-- "She watched him catch the sticklebacks which were one day to turn into frogs." _Church Family Newspaper_. * * * * * "The Crown Prince expressed hope he would one day be able to return to Germany and live there as a sample citizen."--_Bath Herald_. We don't think quite so badly of the Germans as all that. * * * * * "To Property Owners and Hotel Proprietors.--Start Redecorating and Repairs now, before the rush comes, and gives the boys returning a chance for work."--_Provincial Paper_. Personally, we shall postpone our order until the boys do come home. * * * * * [Illustration: _Artist_. "I CAN'T AFFORD TEN POUNDS. MY BANK TELLS ME I'M OVERDRAWN NOW." _His Wife_. "SURELY YOU CAN GET IT AT ANOTHER BANK? THEY CAN'T ALL BE AS HARD UP AS THAT."] * * * * * A CONSPIRACY IN THE POULTRY-YARD. DEAR MR. PUNCH,--I suppose it must be conceded that practical jokes have not the vogue that they once enjoyed. No longer do you discover some fine morning that the street in which you live is blockaded with furniture vans, all endeavouring to deliver furniture you don't require and never heard of before, while your staircase is a mass of flowers and fruit constantly increasing upon you and threatening to smother you with their amount no less than with their scent. It would gradually appear that the deliveries both of the flowers and the furniture were being executed in accordance with the orders of one of your friends, and that you had to grin and bear it as best you might. I cannot say that the victim or the general public, when they heard of it, looked upon it with any excess of enthusiasm. Anyhow, practical jokes have gone out. Yet there is a kind of practical joke which, so far as I know, has never been played upon anybody, and which, if it wore played, might provoke a considerable volume of laughter and no small inconvenience. I have schemed it out and venture to submit the plan to you.