[Illustration: NATURE V. ART.

_Æsthetic Friend._ "YES, THIS ROOM'S RATHER NICE, ALL BUT THE WINDOW,
WITH THESE LARGE BLANK PANES OF PLATE-GLASS! I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME
SORT OF PATTERN ON THEM--LITTLE SQUARES OR LOZENGES OR ARABESQUES--"

_Philistine._ "WELL, BUT THOSE LOVELY CHERRY BLOSSOMS, AND THE LAKE,
AND THE DISTANT MOUNTAIN, AND THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS, AND THE PURPLE
CLOUDS--ISN'T THAT PATTERN ENOUGH?"]

* * * * *

THE MORNING OF THE DERBY.--_Hamlet_ considering whether he shall go
to Epsom for the great race or not, soliloquises, "Der-_be_ or not
Der-_be_, that is the question." [N.B.--As to the other lines, go as
you please. "The rest is silence."]

* * * * *

"MARRIED AND SINGLE" should be played by Lady-Cricketers. No single
young person under seventeen should be permitted an innings, as any
two sweet sixteens would be "not out," and there would be no chance
for the other side. Match-makers are only interested in the Single.

* * * * *

LADY GAY'S SELECTIONS.

DEAR MR. PUNCH,--For the first time have I seen myself in print!--and