theatre-tickets, he becomes more active; he implores you not to resort
to "De Boxing Office, vare you pay premiums, you see;" but he has one
or two left for sale. Should you be weak enough to yield, you will
find that the worst seats at the highest prices are yours; and, if you
remonstrate next day, he will sigh wearily, and remark,--"Is acheslant
places, Sar; but was Gala Night, you see,"--an enigma, which those who
run may read. He is always offering to do something, and doing _you_
instead. He is absolutely unnecessary, for there is seldom anyone in a
Grand Hôtel to "chuck out," and this would be his only justification.

* * * * *

THE "BLOWER" BURST UP!

The "Blower" came down, like the braggart he was,
And of winning the fight was peculiarly "poz;"
And the voice of his backers was loud in their glee;--
"We shall lick him in two rounds--or certainly three!"

Like the "Champion Slugger," in trunks of bright green,
The "Big Fellow" at Eight fifty-two might be seen:
Like a truculent Titan, blind, baffled, and blown,
At Ten thirty-seven the brute was o'erthrown.

For CORBETT smote fiercely, and CORBETT fought fast,
And the bullying bounder was beaten at last;
And the cheeks of the coarse woman-puncher were chill,
He rolled over, and struggled to rise, and lay still.

And there stood his foe with his nostrils all wide,