rivals, could be called decorative, whatever they might have been in
their youth. They needed laurels, for the same reason as JULIUS CÆSAR.
The wreath was therefore offered (by a Plébiscite conducted in a
newspaper) to the young Lady-poet whose verses and photograph secured
the greatest number of votes; the Laureate, in every case, to resign,
on attaining her twenty-fifth birthday. The beautiful and accomplished
Mrs. JINGLEY JONES triumphed in this truly modern competition, and
her book was rushed into a sale of two hundred and fifty copies. After
this check the writing of poetry ceased to attract male enterprise--to
the extreme joy of Publishers and Reviewers; though the market for
waste-paper received a shock from which it never rallied. The youthful
male population of England determined never to become Poets, unless
they were born Poets, a resolution on which, at all times, a minority
of the race had acted, with the best results.

* * * * *

[Illustration: Mr. J.L. "Walker" Toole and "Full Company."]

"NOTES AND PAPER."--There is a lot of "paper" about from
"Walker--London." No, Mr. JOHNNIE TOOLE, Sir, not your "paper," for
_your_ House is crammed and your "paper" is at a premium. But this
particular WALKER, of Warwick House, London, sends forth "Society
Stationery"--"which," as _Mrs. Gamp_ would have said, "spelling of
it with an 'a' instead of an 'e,' Society never is." Among the lot
there's an "Antique Society Paper," which should be a Society Paper
as old as the world itself, or it might be used by a Fossilised Fogey
Club. WALKER & Co.'s new "Society Paper," whether antique or modern,
is pretty and quite harmless--till pen and ink are at work on it; and
then--but that's another story.