* * * * *

[Illustration: OUR ARTISTS ARE SOMETIMES COMPENSATED FOR ALL THEY HAVE
TO PUT UP WITH.

_Young R.A._ (_newly-elected_). "WHAT, NOT SEEN OUR ROYAL ACADEMY YET,
MISS VON THUMP! DON'T YOU CARE FOR PICTURES, THEN?" _Fair American_.
"WELL, SOME. BUT YOUR ROYAL ACADEMY'S RATHER CROWDED, YOU KNOW!"

_Pictor Ignotus_ (_who hates the Academy like poison_), "PERHAPS MISS
VON TRUMP PREFERS OUR NATIONAL GALLERY. _THAT'S_ NOT INCONVENIENTLY
CROWDED!"

_Fair American_. "WELL, YES. I LIKE TO GO AND SIT IN A NICE, COOL,
QUIET, DESERTED SPOT, LIKE YOUR NATIONAL GALLERY,--WITH A BOUND-UP
VOLUME OF _PUNCH_! THAT'S MY IDEA OF PICTURES!"]

* * * * *

"GENERAL ELECTION STAKES."

A COLLOQUY ON THE COURSE.

_Mr. Punch_. Your Stable, no doubt, has of late been a winning one;
Horses and Jockeys have both done their best.
_Trainer_. Yes; Guv'nor's black phiz--bless his heart!--is a grinning one;
_All_ our nags answer when put to the test.
_Mr. Punch_. All? That's a bit of a stretch, my dear fellow.
_Wheel Tax_ went wrong. _Compensation_ came down.