ONLY FANCY!
In continuation of his interesting notes of incidents connected with the gathering of Ministers for the last Cabinet Council, Our Special Reporter states that the only contretemps arose in connection with the arrival of Mr. GOSCHEN. On alighting from his coupé the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER handed the driver a dirty crumpled piece of paper.
"Hi! wot's this?" shouted the Cabman.
"A one-pound note," said the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, blandly; "give me the change."
"Oh, no you don't," said the Cabman; "you try that on in the City, young feller. This is too far West."
Mr. GOSCHEN, evidently annoyed, carefully selected a worn-out shilling, and tossing it to the man, stalked haughtily into the Treasury. A moment later he hurriedly opened the door and looked out for the Cabman, but he had gone. It was understood, Our Reporter says, that the Right Hon. Gentleman had thought of a repartee.
The Morning Papers announce, with tantalising brevity, that "Lord STRATHEDEN AND CAMPBELL has (sic) returned to Bruton Street from Berlin." We are in a position to add that the occasion of the noble Lords' journey to Berlin was of international interest. It is no secret at the Foreign Office that their Lordships have for some time been uneasy at the turn events are taking in the East. They have endeavoured to disguise from each other their perturbed feelings. But STRATHEDEN felt that CAMPBELL's eye was upon him, whilst CAMPBELL at last abandoned the futile effort of dissembling his uneasiness under the cold steel-grey glance of STRATHEDEN. They finally agreed that the best thing they could do was to set forth for Berlin, making secret détours in order to call at other of the principal capitals, and confer with the Foreign Ministers. The result, we are pleased to learn, has been most beneficial, and has, so to speak, contributed a hodful of mortar to the foundation on which rests the peace of Europe.
Mrs. RAMSBOTHAM is disposed to regard HOMER as over-rated. The only book of his she ever read, she says, is Bombastical Furioso, and certainly that did not assuage her appetite for any more.
Mr. STEAD has been taking into his confidence a universe thrilled with interest, with respect to certain presentiments which from time to time have struck his mind. One he dates in October, 1883, at which time he was sub-editor of an evening journal which Mr. JOHN MORLEY then edited. He had, he records, a presentiment that at an early approaching date, Mr. MORLEY would have quitted the establishment—dead Mr. STEAD genially anticipated—and that he would reign in Stead. In view of the public interest involved in these confessions, we have interviewed a certain Right Hon. Gentleman as to his susceptibility to presentiments.
"Well," he replied, "they are not usual with me; but I remember that for some time before the date mentioned, I felt that either Mr. STEAD or I must leave the paper."
One of the earliest volumes issued in connection with the newly-devised Automatic Library in use on some lines of Railway, is entitled Beyond Escape. We understand that subsequent volumes will be Dashed to Pieces, The Broken Bridge, The Sprained Axle, The Wheelbox on Fire, The Gordon Guard, The Cruel Cowcatcher; or, Cut in Twain, The Colour-Blind Signalman, and Shunted and Shattered.