A somewhat painful impression was created by the publication of an interview with a well-known dramatic critic in the periodical known as _Great Scott's Thoughts_. This eminent authority gave it as his unhesitating opinion that the Wenuses were not fit persons to associate with actors, actresses, or dramatic critics, and that if, as was announced, they had been engaged at Covent Garden to lend realistic verisimilitude to the Venusberg scene in _Tannhäuser_, it was his firm resolve to give up his long crusade against Ibsen, emigrate to Norway, and change his name to that of John Gabriel Borkman. A prolonged sojourn in Poppyland, however, resulted in the withdrawal of this dreadful threat, and, some few weeks after the extinction of the Wenuses, his reconciliation with the dramatic profession was celebrated at a public meeting, where, after embracing all the actor-managers in turn, he was presented by them with a magnificent silver butter-boat, filled to the brim with melted butter ready for immediate use. APPENDIX B. APPENDIX B. My mother has obtained permission from the Laureate's publishers to reprint the following stanzas from "The Pale Pink Raid":-- "Wrong? O of coarse it's heinous, But we're going, girls, you just bet! Do they think that the Wars of Wenus Can be stopped by an epithet? When the henpecked Earth-men pray us To join them at afternoon tea, Not rhyme nor reason can stay us From flying to set them free. * * * * * "When the men on that hapless planet, Handsome and kind and true, Cry out, 'Hurry up!' O hang it! What else can a Wenus do? I suppose it was rather bad form, girls, But really we didn't care, For our planet was growing too warm, girls, And we wanted a change of air. * * * * * "Mrs. Grundy may go on snarling, But still, at the Judgment Day, The author of _England's Darling_ I think won't give us away. We failed, but we chose to chance it, And as one of the beaten side, I'd rather have made that transit Than written _Jameson's Ride!_" THE END. PRINTING OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER