* * * * *

A "DARK CONTINENT" HINT.--Mr. STANLEY, it is said, now wishes he had
gone on his exploration journey quite alone, without any travelling
TROUP. It is a curious fact, but worth mentioning here, that, up to
now, the only mention of difficulties with a "Travelling Troupe" is
to be found in a little shilling book recently published by Messrs.
TRISCHLER & CO., at present nearing its fifty thousandth copy,
entitled, _A New Light thrown across the Darkest Africa_. Whether H.M.
STANLEY will appeal to this as evidence remains to be seen. We must
have the whole truth out about STANLEY'S Rear Column before we rear a
column to STANLEY.

* * * * *

The "NORFOLK BROADS," according to the _Standard_, are in future to be
the English cradle of the German "Bass." Not beer, but fish. There are
to be "no takers" at present, so the cradle will not be a Bass-in-net.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE "LAIDLY WORM" OF LONDON--AND YOUNG COUNTY COUNCIL.]

* * * * *

[Illustration: HUNTING PREDICAMENTS. No. 1.

_Miss Nelly (to her Slave, in the middle of the best thing of the
Season_). "OH, MR. ROWEL, DO YOU MIND GOING BACK? I DROPPED MY WHIP AT
THE LAST FENCE!"]