TRYING HER STRENGTH.

["The one certain result of the elections will be to give increased stability to the Republic."—Daily Chronicle.]

Ouf! What a pull! Who said my muscularity

Was dwindling? It is truly Amazonian!

Ma foi! Phraseurs are not all blessed with clarity,

Even when their eloquence is Ciceronian.

How now, Millevoye? How now, mad Déroulède?

And what of the grim prophecies you made?

Both out of it—as prophets and as Strong-Men!

Discredited, disqualified, defeated!

The Ralliés too! Results prove them the wrong men.

How the Gazette de France has blared and bleated!

What lots of foes have I left in the lurch!—

Thanks largely to "the attitude of the Church"!

"Cléricalisme, voilà l'ennemi?" Non!

That phrase, oft-quoted, comes not now so readily.

Perennially beautiful as Ninon,

I've proved my claim to power of pulling steadily;

Just like my rowing lads upon the Seine,

Who've shown big Bull that strength can go with brain.

From Revolution round to firm Stability!!

Upon my word, I think that pull is splendid.

Les dames, long pooh-poohed, now display ability

To do—most things as well as ever men did.

Because I'm gai and witty, fools—of course—

Fancied me destitute of sinewy force.

Ah, Delahaye, Drumont, and Andrieux, verily

You've found the game was hardly worth the—scandal!

My firebrand foes played up that game right merrily;

Against me anything would serve as handle;

Yet, after Wilson, Panama, (and Siam),

They find that if there is an athlete, I am.

Babblers of "British Gold," canard-concocters,

Reactionaries, Ralliés, Rowdies, Royalists—

All who would act as my exclusive doctors—

You find the Voters are the real loyalists,

And, spite of partial failures in the past,

I've pulled this State Machine right round—at last!

On a "False Foe" my venom I may spend,

But what of my "Right Honourable Friend"?

Ask "the ironic fiend." He'll give an answer,

Neatly combining Scorpio with Cancer,

As "Right" I'll prove him ever in the wrong;

As "Honourable," trickiest of the throng;

While as "my friend," well there, I would not swagger,

But Cæsar sharpest found the "friendly" dagger!