Drift under the clumps of the water-weeds,
And broken bottles invade the reeds,
And the wavy swell of the many-barged tug
Breaks, and befouls the green Thames' bank.
And the steady decrease of the snow-plumed throng
That sail the upper Thames reaches among,
Was prophesied in that plaintive song.

* * * * *

DOING IT CHEAPLY.

A re-action against the extravagance which marked the entertainments
of the London Season of 1890 having set in, the following rules and
regulations will be observed in the Metropolis until further notice.

1. Persons invited to dinner parties will be expected to furnish their
own plate and linen, and some of the viands and wines to be used at
the feast.

2. To carry out the above, a _menu_ of the proposed meal will form a
part of every card of invitation, which will run as follows:--"Mr. and
Mrs. ---- request the honour of Mr. and Mrs. ----'s company to dinner,
on ---- when they will kindly bring with them enough for twelve
persons of the dish marked ---- on the accompanying _Menu_, P.T.O."

3. Persons invited to a Ball will treat the supper as a pic-nic, to
which all the guests are expected to contribute.

4. On taking leave of a hostess every guest will slip into her hand a