By smiling pick-thanks and base newsmongers."
Sweet WILLIAM (of Avon, bien entendu), hath armed us in advance against even the latest developments of the detestable. The "base newsmongers" of the day are to be shunned as carefully as the "smiling pick-thanks." They would set strife between the two sides of a sixpence or a sovereign. In vain, let us hope! Than that Uncle should admire Nephew, and Nephew respect Uncle, who could wish more or better—for both? We Three!!! My Emperors and Heirs-Apparents, pray charge your glasses! Something like a Triple Alliance! A Veritable League of Peace! Kaiser; at least this is as pleasant as the proceedings on board the Cobra during her passage down the Elbe, n'est-ce pas? No formal appending of Statecraft's Scarlet Seals, or scrawly Imperial Signs-manual need we for our Amicable Treaty. A handclasp and a Loving-cup shall suffice us for marking the happy accord of Peace—Goodfellowship—Mirth!!! These be verily the "Central Powers," which RUDINI might have referred to when he said,—"Our Alliance, firmly and sincerely maintained, will assure the Peace of Europe for a long time to come." So mote it be! Let us toast them—in a Bumper!
[Left doing so.
A TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
"THE PRINCE OF WALES DOTH JOIN WITH ALL THE WORLD IN PRAISE OF—KAISER WILHELM; BY MY HOPES, I DO NOT THINK A BRAVER GENTLEMAN,
"MORE ACTIVE-VALIANT, OR MORE VALIANT-YOUNG, MORE DARING, OR MORE BOLD, IS NOW ALIVE TO GRACE THIS LATTER AGE WITH NOBLE DEEDS."