Like CÆSAR, he swims. "Now mate, put on your best stroke!"
Sings out faithful SMIFFY, his pilot. "One spurt,
My SOL! Two or three more strong strokes and 'tis done;
Our Long Swim, for the Buoy is at hand, and we've won!"
OPERATIC BIRDS.—M. MAUREL can sing but didn't wish to sing in Mr. ISIDORE DE TRA-LA-LARA's new Opera, The Light of Asia. Where was TRA-LA-LARA when The Light of Asia didn't come out? M. MAUREL seems to have said, that, if the Opera were produced this season, he'd be blowed if he sang, and the Opera would probably be damned, theatrically and operatically speaking. That's the Moral or MAUREL of the story. The Light of Asia mustn't be snuffed out altogether, but it may want trimming a bit, in order to shine as brightly as TRA-LA-LARA expects it to do next season. There's a good time coming, and good tunes too, we hope.
AMENDE HONORABLE.—In making up the list of outside contributors, Mr. Punch's Private Secretary regrets having omitted the name of JOHN HOLLINGSHEAD, the friend of the Bloomsburians, and the determined foe of Mud Salad Market and Monopolisers. "J.H.," or, to reverse the initials, "HONEST JOHN," will now be satisfied.