Just a few kicks and they're off in full sail (Science of old wasn't hard on her votary, So little mention you find in the tale Made of propeller or joy-stick or rotary); Silently skimming along in the air Spoke the paternal and prototype pioneer, "Mind that your altitude's low, and beware Fiery Phoebus you don't go and fly a-near!" Cautious the counsel, but Icarus flouted it, Flew in the face of his father and scouted it. Lifting his nose in the eye of the sun, Waved he his hand to his wary progenitor; Higher and higher he banked and he spun, Mounting aloft as away from his ken he tore. "Who's this," said Phoebus, "my kingdom affronts? Doubtless, young fellow, your conduct you think witty; I'll find a method of stopping your stunts; Dear shall you pay for precocious propinquity." Forth shot his beams ere the flier detected 'em, Melting the wax on his wings (that connected 'em). Down to the depths of the bottomless sea Icarus crashed with a lightning celerity, Leaving a name for the ages to be. "Ha!" chortled Phoebus, "that comes of temerity." See from the sequel the fitness of things: Nearly forgotten this early adventure is; Phoebus is beaten; Time's whirligig brings Still its revenge in the course of the centuries. Over the sky, from the east to the west of it, Man has decidedly now got the best of it. R.A.F. * * * * * TO PSYCHICAL MEDIUMS. Extract from a tradesman's circular:-- "Mr. ----, who has just been disembodied, hopes to call quite shortly and will, we trust, be allowed to book forward your Spring term requirements." * * * * * "A letter sent by a Government Department to the Hornsey Borough Council was so long that it was not read at all."--_Daily Paper_. But if you think that will discourage them you don't know our bureaucrats. * * * * * [Illustration: THE FOCH-TERRIER. "I KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT SILLY DOG IN ÆSOP. I'M NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES."] * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. _Monday, March 3rd_.--The terrors of the Statute of Anne having been temporarily removed, Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN headed a little _queue_ of Ministers coming up to take the Oath. How the already crowded Treasury Bench is to accommodate the new-comers it is difficult to see, but presumably a system of reliefs will be arranged. The present epidemic was discussed by Captain NEWMAN and Sir JOHN REES who were not agreed as to whether port is a "preventative" or a "preventive" of influenza, but were unanimous in thinking that far too little of it was available. [Illustration: MR. MCCALLUM SCOTT. "SH-H! DON'T YOU KNOW THERE'S A DEMOBILISATION ON?"]