"General SPINNER and some of his female Treasury clerks went to the
Great Falls to-day to catch black bass."

Redolent of all that is rural and sweet, is the idea of SPINNER,
surrounded by a bevy of his "female Treasury clerks," reclining upon a
shady rock just over the Great Falls. We behold SPINNER, with our mind's
eye, "fixing" a bait for one of the lovely young fisherwomen, while half
a dozen of the others are engaged in fanning him and "Shoo-ing" the
flies away from his expressive nose. The picture is a very pretty one,
recalling to mind some brilliant pastoral by WATTEAU. There are numerous
accessories arranged in the foreground, such as hampers of cold chicken
pie, hams of the richest pink and yellow hues, and baskets of champagne,
and it would be interesting to know who pays for all. "Spinning a
minnow," as the anglers term it, for black bass, is a very appropriate
pastime for SPINNER, but, for a fresh-water fisherman, there is
something very Salt Lakey in that arrangement regarding the "female
Treasury clerks."

* * * * *

"LOT" ON A LOT OF PROVERBS.

DEAR PUNCHINELLO: One of my friends, who, much to the disgust of his
fellow boarders, is constantly playing an adagio movement in B flat upon
a flute, (that may not be the correct musical term, but no one will ever
know it unless you tell,) informs me that you are astute; another
friend, who makes cigar stumps into chewing tobacco, says, you're "up to
snuff." Assuming the truth of those statements, I apply to you for
information. You have the ability, have you also the inclination, to aid