Governess, "AN" was a misprint for "no." This information will relieve
a vast number of perplexed inquirers.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE GENTLE EGOTIST.

_The Doctor_. "AND WHICH OF YOU TWO LADIES IS THE INVALID?"

_Elder Sister_. "I'M SORRY TO SAY IT'S _ME_, DOCTOR!"]

* * * * *

THE ROAD TO RUIN;

_OR, THE REAL MILITARY LONG-DISTANCE RIDE._

["A quarter of a century hence, France will have more than
four million trained soldiers, and Russia more than four
millions and a half. We may deplore, as we will, this
conversion of Europe into a vast camp, but the German
Government, witnessing the development of such colossal armies
on either hand, cannot be said to propose anything excessive
or unnecessary when it asks, as it now does, for the
means of raising the trained soldiers of the Empire to
4,400,000."--_The "Times" on the German Army Bills._]

Ride on! Ride on! "Tis a pace will kill!
Like Smuggler BILL and Exciseman GILL,
In the _Ingoldsby Legends_, you ride a race