That Hydra again! Monster huge, hydro-cephalous, Haunting our city of blunders and jobs, Born, it would seem, to bewilder and baffle us, _Who_'ll give you "one" for your numerous nobs. Many have menaced you, some had a shy at you; SALISBURY stout, and bespectacled CROSS, Each in his season has joined in the cry at you, Little, 'twould seem, to your damage or loss. Still you eight-headed and lanky-limbed monster, you Sprawl and monopolise, spread and devour. Many assail you, but hitherto, none stir you. Say, _has_ the hero arrived, and the hour? No Infant Hercules, surely, can tackle you, Ancient abortion, with hope of success. It needeth a true full-grown hero to shackle you, Jupiter's son, and Alcmene's, no less! Our civic Hercules smacks of the nursery, Not three years old, though ambitious, no doubt; _You_'ll scarce be captured by tentatives cursory. Snared by a "motion," or scared by a "spout," Hera's pet, offspring of Typhon, the lion-clad Hero assailed, _con amore_; but _you_, Callous as Behemoth, hard as an iron-clad, "Conciliation" with coldness will view Fancy "approaching" the Hydra with honey-bait, Tempting the monster to parley and purr! How will Monopoly look on a money-bait? Hercules, too, who would "like to defer?" Not quite a true hard-shell hero--in attitude-- Hercules (County) Concilians looks; Thinks he to move a true Hydra to gratitude? Real Leviathan chortles at hooks! "Come, pretty Hydra! 'Agreement provisional,' Properly baited with sound _L.S.D._, Ought to entice you!" He's scorn and derision all, Hydra, if true to his breed. We shall see! Just so a groom, with the bridle behind him, Tempts a free horse with some corn in a sieve. Will London's Hydra let "tentatives" blind him, Snap at the bait, and the tempter believe? Or will the "hero"--in form of Committee-- Really prove wax for the Hydra to mould? Yes, there's the club, but it's rather a pity Hercules seems a bit feeble of hold. Tentative heroes may suit modern urgency, LUBBOCK may win where a Hercules fails. If we now hunt, upon public emergency, Stymphalian Birds, 'tis with salt for their tails! * * * * * "YE GODS, WHAT A TERRIBLE TWIST!"