"It's the way of the world."

"Well," said the Hon. MICHAEL, "I don't envy you. I shouldn't want to
owe him a debt of any kind."

"Why?" queried BLINKSOP.

"Because, sooner or later, you'll have to pay it, double over," was the
reply.

(To be continued.)

* * * * *

From Gay to Grave.

Here is a suggestive item from abroad:--

"On the Crown Prince's birthday he and his staff dined with the King of
Prussia at the Prefecture at Versailles, where covers were laid for
eighty."

Will PRUSSIA have the goodness to inform PUNCHINELLO (post-paid) how
many victims of the battle-field _covers_ have been laid for since the
beginning of the war?

* * * * *

Confidential.