nation, which, acting on her information, proceeded to a rapid
mobilization.

The Minister of Finance unintentionally precipitated events. At the
moment, he was speculating for a fall, and in order to bring about
a panic on the Stock Exchange, he spread the rumour that war was now
inevitable. The neighbouring Empire, deceived by this action, and
expecting to see its territory invaded, mobilized its troops in all
haste. The terrified Chamber overthrew the Visire ministry by an
enormous majority (814 votes to 7, with 28 abstentions). It was too
late. The very day of this fall the neighbouring and hostile nation
recalled its ambassador and flung eight millions of men into Madame
Ceres' country. War became universal, and the whole world was drowned in
a torrent of blood.


THE ZENITH OF PENGUIN CIVILIZATION

Half a century after the events we have just related, Madame Ceres died
surrounded with respect and veneration, in the eighty-ninth year of her
age. She had long been the widow of a statesman whose name she bore with
dignity. Her modest and quiet funeral was followed by the orphans of the
parish and the sisters of the Sacred Compassion.

The deceased left all her property to the Charity of St. Orberosia.

"Alas!" sighed M. Monnoyer, a canon of St. Mael, as he received the
pious legacy, "it was high time for a generous benefactor to come to
the relief of our necessities. Rich and poor, learned and ignorant
are turning away from us. And when we try to lead back these misguided