startle travellers by his sudden and terror-striking appearances.
Hence sudden fright, without any visible cause, was ascribed to Pan,
and called a Panic fear.]

* * * * *

SIR GEORGE AND THE DRAG ON.

_BY A WRITER OF BOOKS._

[Sir GEORGE TREVELYAN, speaking to the Institute of
Journalists, said that "No one was under the obligation of
writing books, unless he was absolutely called to do so by a
commanding genius."]

Oh! tell me quickly--not if Planet Mars
Is quite the best for journalistic pars,
Not if the cholera will play Old Harry,
Not why to-day young men don't and won't marry--
For these I do not care. Not to dissemble,
My pen is, as they say, "all of a tremble"--
The pen that once enthralled the myriad crowd,
The pen that critics one and all allowed
Wrote pleasantly and well, was often funny,
The pen that brought renown, and--better--money.
My pen is stilled. That happy time is o'er,
Like that old English King, I smile no more.
Now that Sir (Secretary) GEORGE has spoken,
My fortunes (and alas! my heart) are broken;
For though I may not lack all understanding,