I have received several letters. ELLA has had poetry sent to her by
her _fiancé_, and wishes to know if this would justify her in breaking
the engagement. I think not. She can never be quite certain that it is
the man's own make; and, besides, plenty of men are like that during
the engagement period, but never suffer from it afterwards. The other
letters must be answered privately.

* * * * *

"THE DEADLY CIGARETTE."

[Illustration]

Have you heard the Yankee threat to suppress the Cigarette?
Ten dollars tax per thousand--as the French would say, _par
mille_--
Is the scheme proposed, forsooth, to protect the Yankee youth
From poisons just discovered in his _papier pur fil_!

Such things might well have been in staring emerald green,
Or even in the paler tint that's christened "_Eau-de-Nil_,"
But it simply makes one sick to imagine arsenic
Is lurking in the spotless white of _papier pur fil_!

Strange the smoking French survive! Surely none should be alive;
Fair France should be one mighty _morgue_ from Biarritz to Lille,
If there's also phosphorus, bringing deadly loss for us,
In Hygiene's new victim, luckless _papier pur fil_.