Benevolent Lady (who has with infinite trouble organised a Country Excursion for some overworked London Dressmakers). "Then mind you're at the Station at Nine to-morrow, Eliza. I do hope it won't Rain!"
"Rine, Miss! I 'owp not, to be sure! The Country's bad enough when it's Foine, yn't it, Miss?"
CUE FOR CANVASSERS.
(By a Cynic.)
["In all the doubtful constituencies the result may be regarded as depending largely upon the persuasion and argument brought to bear upon individual electors."—The Yorkshire Post.]
Persuasion? Argument? Very nice names
For Radical Caucusites, Primrose Dames,
And other retailers of party riddles,
Ex parte statements, and taradiddles!
Gregarious voters, of old bribes did you all;
Now argument deals with the "individual."
With the man—or his wife—you must seek occasion,
Canvasser clever, to try "persuasion."
To "argue" that Bloggs is the likeliest chap
To pour prosperity into your lap;
To "persuade" the Missus that that McQuirk
Will deprive her "man" of his beer and work!
Oh, sweet are the virtues, upon occasion,
Of moral (or even immoral) 'suasion!
When blankets run out and when money's all spent,
Then, then comes the value of "argument."
And if the "argument" takes the form
Of orders and jobs in a perfect storm;
And when "persuasion" the future gauges
A promise of liquor and higher wages;
Why, then the result is the same almost,
'Twixt you and me, and the (Yorkshire) Post!
A Daly Sacrifice to Shakspeare.—Again, thanks to the enterprise of Mr. Augustin Daly, one of Shakspeare's comedies is rendered resplendent with appropriate accessories. A Midsummer Night's Dream, furnished with new illustrations, and sparingly curtailed by necessary "cuts," becomes more poetical than ever. Miss Ada Rehan is a "dream" in herself, and Mr. Lewis, as an American playing in England, becomes "translated" every evening to the complete satisfaction of an appreciating and crowded audience. The play should run from Midsummer into Michaelmas.